Bottle & glass of Spire Mountain Dark & Dry

I’ll give this one “dark” — it’s about the color of strong black tea, or perhaps the ice-diluted ends of a glass of Coke — but “dry” it ain’t. It’s flavorful, and smooth going down, but very sweet, on par with an Angry Orchard or Woodchuck at least.

There’s a distinct brown sugar aspect to its sweetness, though I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “molasses” as the Spire Mountain website does. The aroma is also a little sweet, but crisp and clear, not cloying.

There’s some tartness rounding out the flavor, but no bitterness, woodiness, or earthiness, and the aftertaste lingers for a little while before fading.

It’s low fizz but foams up quite a bit when poured, with more foam lingering around the rim than I see with most ciders even after the head subsides.

At only 5% ABV it’s more suitable for an extended drinking session than most of the other ciders I’ve reviewed. If I had to pick a single word, I’d call the Dark & Dry “mellow.”

Other than the inaccuracy of its name, I have no particular qualms with it, though I’m sure its sweetness won’t appeal to some. It’s the kind of cider I might like to drink in the dark, on a cool evening, after spending a hot day working outside.

Spire Mountain doesn’t have a locator widget on their site, but they’re based in Olympia and I’ve seen them around at plenty of stores as well as eating and drinking establishments. If you’re in the area, I’m sure you’ll be able to find some; if you’re not, well, come visit!