Cider Review: Samuel Smith Organic Cider

First off, let me say that Samuel Smith is a brewery located in England. Breweries have a tendency to use just one yeast in all their products, and even though cider is technically a wine like product and not beer, Samuel Smith still tosses in beer yeast, which affects the taste of their cider.

The first time I had Samuel Smith Organic Cider, I thought it was okay, but I never got around to purchasing it again. Then, when I was attending a cidermaking class by Peter Mitchell, it was served to me again. You see, there is a sickness that strikes cider called mouse that causes mild to major off flavors depending on the severity. Some think of it as a mouse-cage or bread, but it is hard to really know if you have a mild mouse infection in cider if you have never really experienced it before. Cue Samuel Adams Organic Cider. It has a mild popcorn taste going on in the background because the cider has a mouse infection. Mitchell said he told them, but Samual Smith brewery has not seemed to care enough to make fixes.

If you try a Samuel Smith Organic Cider and can’t taste the popcorn, have no fear. I’ve been told numerous times that young and women are able to sense smell and taste easier, but I wasn’t able to detect mild mouse infections on my own until it was pointed out to me in this simple yet strange way:

1. Take one teaspoon of baking soda and put it into one cup of water and mix.
2. Swish the solution in your mouth and then spit it out.
3. Finally, take a drink of the Samuel Smith Organic Cider.

This little parlor trick is good for parties, because after you swallow the cider, all you can taste is popcorn. Of course, you won’t want to finish the cider then, but maybe it was never worth finishing.

Further reading: Cider Workshop – Testing for Mouse