Aroma: A flavorful cider with robust apple character, strong alcohol, and derivative flavors from sugar additives; traditionally dry.
Appearance: Clear to brilliant, pale to medium yellow.
Flavor: A flavorful cider with robust apple character, strong alcohol, and derivative flavors from sugar additives; traditionally dry.
Mouthfeel: Substantial, alcoholic. Moderate tannin.
Impression: Substantial body and character. Typically relatively dry, but can be somewhat sweet if in balance and not containing hot alcohol.
Comments: Additives may include white and brown sugars, molasses, small amounts of honey, and raisins. Additives are intended to raise OG well above that which would be achieved by apples alone. This style is sometimes barrel-aged, in which case there will be oak character as with a barrel-aged wine. If the barrel was formerly used to age spirits, some flavor notes from the spirit (e.g., whisky or rum) may also be present, but must be subtle.
Varieties: Northern Spy, Roxbury Russet, Golden Russet, Baldwin, etc.; many traditional New England apples.
Entry Instructions: Entrants MUST specify if the cider was barrel-fermented or aged. Entrants MUST specify carbonation level (3 levels). Entrants MUST specify sweetness (5 levels).
Commercial Examples: [US] Snowdrift Semi-Dry (WA), Blackbird Cider Works New England Style (NY).