The first Dutch cider I tasted was the very good and strong offering by Elegast. At 7.2% it is the strongest cider I have tasted. It doesn't taste strong, but the dryness gives it a bite. Has a very good initial and aftertaste. This is made in farmhouse style so it is a little cloudy and mine had a tiny amount of must at the bottom. 7.5/10
Bear cider from Beerzepoort, The Netherlands is an off-dry cider with a nice apple flavour that continues to a long finish that is drier. I had the original "cloudy" unfiltered farmhouse style (but no must). Quite good. 7/10
Ruwet is from Geraardsbergen, Belgium. I tried both the regular and brut versions of their ciders. Both are made from 100% Jonagold apples. The brut was quite dry (but not insanely dry)—just right for me. After 3-4 sips it seemed less dry. It has a light apple flavour initially but the fruit lingers, and it has a nice foam head. 9/10
The regular cider is off-dry with a light apple flavour that starts sweeter and finishes off-dry. Has a very faint allspice nose barely noticeable in the taste. 6.5/10
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From France comes Wignac, a very French style full-bodied organic cider. Located in the Ardennes, they also make a rosé and a non-alcoholic cider. It is amber coloured with a distinct apple bouquet. A full apple flavour, just off-dry, finishes with a slight astringency. Now my favourite cider. 9.5/10
I tried these at the Royal Bath & West Show at their booth: a medium cider, a perry and a sparkling perry. The medium apple cider was very good with medium flavour strength and smooth - 7/10. The sparkling perry was good - 6.5/10. The still perry was slightly sweet (as most perries are) with a very slight astringency on the finish - just right to help cut the sweetness. Now my favourite perry! 9.5/10
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I tried this at Coopers Mill pub in Yeovil, Somerset, England. From nearby Frome comes this full flavoured cider from Lilley's with a hint of mango. It is sweeter than I like, but is excellent. 7.5/10
I bought in Valletta, Malta this Swedish, so called, "premium" cider. It was disappointing — being too sweet and though it had a light pear taste had an artificial pear aftertaste. The company makes many varieties of flavoured ciders but I won't likely try any of them. 4/10.
