Adam's Apples

The gang of hard-cider bloggers is having so much fun I had to write at least one cider review of my own. Besides, I do get thirsty. Bampkins pours pale straw from a 22-ounce bottle. In some light the cider in the glass has silvery green highlights. There are aromas of apples, cheese, and apple vinegar. This cider is very dry and mildly astringent, fruity-sour with just a little funk. Carbonation adds punch, but the absence of sugar makes this a subtle drink. These flavors are clear and refreshing, with a clean finish mixed with the tiniest bit of beer sour. We enjoyed ours with a chicken dinner.

It seems like years since it's been here. Apples growing in the sun yesterday at Hutchins Farm in Concord, Mass.

This large and ribbed variety has deep red streaks inside a crimson blush that nearly covers a yellow base. In places the blush is spread thinly enough over the yellow that the result is more orange than red. Tiny light lenticels are not very prominent but provide some contrast, and the calyx (which is closed) is rimmed with a base of 5 prominent "chins." Smitten is generally round, but most are a bit elongated. In some ways the shape suggests that of a hefty Red Delicious . The fruit is firm in hand and smells sweetly and mildly of cider with a little spice.