Endless Cider, without a doubt is the stripiest cider I’ve reviewed so far. Inspired by a trip to the UK, The Endless Apple Cider takes apples from Gippsland and turns them into a cider designed to convert people into cider fans. What a great idea, but did they pull it off?
Endless Cider used that trip to the UK to learn what traditional cider was all about. So the juice from Gippsland apple is fermented “using traditional artisan techniques”. I assume this means fermented in small batches then blended to taste. The brake with tradition comes with the use of champagne yeast; with a background in wine the choice seems appropriate. Of course they couldn’t use grapes instead Red Delicious, Golden Delicious & Granny Smith make up the juice for cider.
The Nose
You can tell there is a strong sense of British influence here. The smell is like that old-fashioned farm-house cider smell only a little bit softer and sweeter. More hobby farm than cattle station.
The Taste
Wow, the sweetness really took me by surprise. With that smell I was expecting something much dryer from Endless’s lightly sparking pail blonde nearly pink cider. A gentle amount of tartness tries to shine but there is just so much sweetness it barely comes into play. The sweetness is not simply raw sugariness; there are baked apple and toffee tones. There is no denying the wonderfully fresh green apple flavour forming the foundation of this cider. The Granny must make up a large percentage.
Final Thoughts on Endless Apple Cider
So they set out with a goal of making a cider to convert people. The bright coloured label and sweetness should attract the alcopop crowd. That farmhouse smell though is the real key, if you’re new to cider this should be your gateway into seeking out other ciders and becoming a true cider fan.
For me, this cider is too sweet, but I’m a dry cider fan. Saying that I don’t think I’m the target market as a fully-fledged cider fan. I did start off as a sweet cider fan. The serving suggestions recommend it is best over “mountains of ice” or with a wedge of citrus. Maybe these ideas would help balance the sweetness.
Endless Apple cider does seem like a great cider to introduce your sweet alcopop drinking friends into the world of cider. The only problem is this enough to keep them drinking Endless Cider? I’d like to see what Endless can do with a drier cider.
| Product | Endless Apple Cider |
| Company | Endless Cider |
| Sweetness | Sweet |
| Alc/Vol | 4.9% |
| Website | EndlessCider.com.au |
| Country of Origin | Australia |
| Region | Gippsland, Victoria |
A sample bottle was provided by D’or Cellars, Parent Company to Endless Cider.
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March 14, 2015
Good review. I found this cider, like you say, an alcopop replacement. Sickly sweet, with an extraordinarily out-of-fashing bottle label design. It looks like something made in the late 90s, and I don’t even know if the alcopops crowd would take to it given the sheer dagginess. Cider demand is flatlining in Australia, due I believe to two things:
1. the gimmick factor – it was exciting for a while, but beer (quality and range) has improved significantly since cider took off a few years ago. For most people, cider was a novelty, and they’re getting a bit tired of it.
2. The entry of so many second rate ciders made/imported by the monsters (CUB/Kirin etc.). Like all their other products (and this cider too I reckon), they’re designed for the lowest common denominator mass market and are consequently mild in flavour, and totally over-sweetened. They are also made cheaply, and it shows in the taste of the fruit used: someone’s apple offcuts!
Given brand recollection is so low for things like cider (they all have similar hokey/homey labels – except this Gippsland cider, which is merely unfashionably out of date!), these nasty drinks have ruined it for the quality ciders because people don’t really remember what they had last.
I approach new ciders now with trepidation: I assume it will be a phony crafted cider made by a brewing giant, will be made cheaply, and will be sickenly sweet. For people like me, who enjoy cider, but are not overly active cider afficionados, the concept has been almost wrecked, and interest is waning. Which is a great shame for some of the magnificent cider makers out there. I hope they survive the downturn (which has arrived) by differentiating their product in the market place from the big, crappy brands doing their best to genericise this most unique and ancient drink!
Lastly, love your site – you write very well, and your reviews are highly informative, if a little generous at times!
March 14, 2015
Thanks for the feed back. I agree saturating the market with toffee apple juice is not doing anyone any favours. The market in the UK both craft and marco cider is much sweeter than it is here but they have the tannis to offset it, we don’t have the trees to do that yet. The way forward for Aussie cider is dry and crisp. I think the 750ml bottle is going to be a big hit. Paired with a meal in the same way you would a white wine. It’s lower in alcohol which is a plus for me. The market just need education. Bar tenders need education.
July 20, 2015
Hi Guys,
happy to say that we have just launched to market our new apple cider that is now 20% less sweet. Our present lovely customers are enjoying it and we are happy to say that we have grabbed a whole new fan base as well. Can’t wait for you to try it 🙂 We haven’t written it on the label, but it should be at your local store by now 🙂 Endless fun !!