Bottled 11/23, good for 20 years after that date. Corked and capped, 375 mL.

Pale golden pour with the head that you would expect.

Medium body, perhaps a little bigger and softer than I had first expected.

Some light acidity up front, but this is overwhelmingly apples and English cider from the get go. Tremendously fruity with lots of drying apple notes. Very vinous with a ton of juicy, apple character being the main takeaway. If I didn’t know better, this is almost a beer that I might think is an actual cider.

The grape must is very fruity, and delicious. As the beer warms the grape element starts to supersede the apple element, and the beer almost takes on another life. Champagne notes as expected too, and a vinous finish. Finishes dry as well of course, but the beer never grates and the fruit always feels as if its present. Alcohol (at this level) is nowhere to be seen.

This is exactly what I’m looking for in a beer of this type, and it’s truly beautiful. Great, great example.