Let’s talk about cider. It’s hot: the weather and the beverage. What could be more perfect than fermented apple juice? I was recently sent a couple sample bottles of Le Brun Cidre that are perfect for summer love. Or lurv. Whatever.
What makes them so seasonally delightful besides their obvious refreshing ways? Well, how about their low alcohol content? The duo I enjoyed clock in at a mere 4.0 and 5.5% ABV. That’s like a session-able beer and lower than a lot of boozy, sweet IPAs. Time to apple-up your life.
Le Brun Cidre de Bretagne Brut and Organic
The Le Brun Cidre de Bretagne Brut (5.5% ABV) is dry and has a cool balance between an earthy apple skin-y thing (kind of sourdough-esque) and a tart, fresh fruity punch. A punch like a kick. Well, not so violent. A nudge. Perhaps a love tap. There’s also a lot of lingering pie spice on the finish. (Sidebar: Whenever I’m feeling a bit blue I slowly recite lingering pie spice a half-dozen times and it perks me right up.)
With an SRP of 9 bucks for a big 750ml (same size as a wine bottle) and this much flavor, the Le Brun Cidre Brut has many culinary uses as well. I’d love to deglaze a pan that just had pork chops in it and make a mustard-y, pan gravy. You could also steam some mussels in this cider, deploy butter in the resulting broth, and break out the crusty bread. Then your life would be complete. (Note: Results may vary as far as feelings of total serenity in all facets of being.)
But perhaps you’d like something with a little sweetness? Boom. The Le Brun Organic Cidre is the ticket. A more fruity and exuberant cider to boot. It is the definition of brunch-tastic. Which is a made-up word, but you get my drift. SRP is $10.
My notes on the Le Brun Organic Cidre say “sexy smell success”. And then I have some scribblings about Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster. Huh? Oh yeah, the classic Hollywood film, “The Sweet Smell of Success“. What, you haven’t seen it?!? Here’s a synopsis:
J.J. Hunsecker, the most powerful newspaper columnist in New York, is determined to prevent his sister from marrying Steve Dallas, a jazz musician. He therefore covertly employs Sidney Falco, a sleazy and unscrupulous press agent, to break up the affair by any means possible.
Anyway, where was I? Cider, right! Le Brun de Bretagne Cidre, dry or slightly sweet, is a perfect option for warm summer nights or air-conditioned brunches. Also, blunches.
What’s that? More cider you say? How about a MONTH OF CIDER?
Read an interview with Eleanor Léger of Vermont’s Eden Specialty Ciders
Mmm, cider. I haven’t had that in quite a while… I don’t think I even had any over the winter. I’ll have to get some of this to try.
The mere idea of Brittany cider makes me want to go to Brittany and sit down at a creperie and drink it there in its homeland. Good to know about a couple options that propose the pleasure at a much lower ticket price.
Cynthia,
Cider and crepes? Yes, please.
Jameson