The Gold Coast Bulletin

BRANCH OUT TO A CIDER

While you’re normally here for beer, this refreshing, scrumpy-style cider may tempt you to stray

- WITH BOB ANTHONY

WHILE the name of this column refers to beers, I have often said that cider is beer’s cousin due to some similariti­es in the brewing process if done properly. So this week I am taking a slight detour and venturing into the world of cider, having knocked the top off a bottle of Twisted Branch Dry Apple Cider.

This Queensland product comes in a champagne-style bottle, setting it apart from the masses on the market.

It’s from the Granite Belt Cider Company at Warwick and boasts 100 per cent local apples — delivering an authentic apple cider taste and character.

If you are partial to the sweet, syrup mix brews, which come in a variety of flavours and colours, you will be disappoint­ed.

It is very cloudy in appearance, with a thin head but a compelling green apple aroma that leaves no doubt what’s ahead. I’m partial to dry ciders (none of that sweet stuff for this reviewer) and Twist Branch ticked all the boxes in that regard.

The flavour is green apples with the expected degree of tartness. It’s refreshing from the first mouthful and only becomes more so.

This is more like a scrumpysty­le cider – it’s heavier than the mass-produced stuff and, at 6 per cent, slightly stronger.

It is a more traditiona­l cider and a good thirst quencher, however, the quantity this brewery can produce puts it into a “craft” price range; something for a special occasion. If you are after an authentic cider, Twisted Branch is well worth the effort of finding.

“THE FLAVOUR IS GREEN APPLES WITH THE EXPECTED DEGREE OF TARTNESS.”

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