Scape Goat Cider is labelled as a premium cider. I doubt it, but I’m going to drink it to find out.
I’m pretty suspicious about this cider. The label on the bottle, says it is made by Mccashins Brewery in New Zealand for Pinnacle Drinks in Australia. The problem here is that neither company lists this beverage on their website. Are they ashamed? Well, let’s dive into the tasting notes.
The Nose
Nothing. There is nothing.
This is odd. I’ve written about over 250 ciders and this is the first time I’ve attempted to smell a scentless cider. I put my nose in so deep some of the liquid hits my sinuses. I think my nose tasted something slightly appley but you get more scent from pool water.
The Taste
Vaguely Apple flavoured lemonade. This is a waste of time. This isn’t anything to do with cider. The Sugar flavour exhibits more terroir of a north Queensland sugarcane field than a New Zealand apple orchard. What little apple flavour exists is a cheap copy of the genuine article, it’s thin and watery. It clings to your mouth further extending the disappointment. 
Final Thoughts on the Scape Goat Cider
Where to start, where to start? Well let’s be positive – the glass bottle is recyclable, I claimed my 10c return and earn at the recycling centre. Not being listed on either producer’s website is unsurprising after I’ve experienced the “flavour”. I wouldn’t want to admit I created it either.
Normally there is just one scapegoat that everyone blames, however, this industry has so many of these anonymous rubbish products out there at the moment that all deserve the blame for bringing Ciders’ name down. My gut feeling is that this label won’t be on the market for too long. It will be pulled and rebadged with some other faux hand-drawn craft-ish label and you’ll ask me to drink that rubbish in 9 months’ time. It is a pointless drink, no need to consider it on your shopping list.
| Product | Scape Goat Cider |
| Company | Pinnacle Drinks |
| Sweetness | Sweet |
| Alc/Vol | 4.5% |
| Website | No website at the time of publishing but maybe https://www.pinnacledrinks.com.au/ |
| Country of Origin | New Zealand |
| Region | Unknown |
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December 4, 2019
Awesome article on Fat Lamb.
Can you take it to channel 7???
I trust your judgement of other products based on this quite entertaining journey of unexposed truths.
Thank you
November 21, 2020
My wife loves Scapegoat Apple Cider as it is so much milder than all the rest , she doesn’t like the strong tang of most others . Your opinion might be the same as some but not all .
April 13, 2021
I hate it. It tastes more like a dark liquor than a cider. I can’t drink dark liquors without feeling sick. This makes me think they add alcohol to the apple cordial to create the ‘cider’ but there is no ingredients list to know how they make it.
April 15, 2021
You hit the nail on the head
May 14, 2022
I think your review is rubbish, this cider is made from red apples and tastes accordingly. Think people are used to drinking preservative ridden cider to the point where they wouldn’t know any different.
November 12, 2021
The taste is great, but the labels & alcohol / volume is a little confusing. Bought a six pack on Wed, 10/11/21, & the label said 4.5% Alc/Vol. This was in WHITE letters/numbers on the bottom of the label. Bought another 6 pack today 12/11/21, & in BLACK letters it says 2.0 Alc/Vol. If this is correct, it is a bit confusing.
November 13, 2021
2% is very low for a regular cider. I wonder if is now marketed as a low alcohol cider? as that is a growing market.
March 11, 2023
No mention of sugar content or any other ingredients. It would be good to know how much sugar this cider contains.
August 20, 2023
I would love to know that too. Unfortunately, they don’t need to publish that information. Alcohol products don’t need to disclose that information like the rest of the food and beverage need to. I think it would be in everyone’s benefit to see it published on the packaging.
June 30, 2023
Your review is phucking rubbish. The three of us that tried it all loved it.