2 Towns Ciderhouse is on a roll this year, and that’s only a little bit pun intended (see first review). The Corvallis, Oregon cider maker has rolled out several new ciders in 2020, not to mention picking up Nectar Creek Mead and partnering on a canned wine. I’ve got a number of reviews for the cidery in the queue, but for this post I’m focusing on two of 2 Towns’ fruited ciders released this year—the first a limited summer seasonal, the other a new year-round cider.

Frankly, both were just excellent, super drinkable ciders, and it feels like 2 Towns has really perfected the “cider with other fruit” concept. Let’s get to it.

Good Limes Roll – Agave Lime Cider

Good Limes Roll was included in the package I received from the cidery over the summer that included the aforementioned mead and wine. It was an easy-drinking 5.6% ABV and the website description reads:

Fresh & Tangy, let the Good Limes Roll with this easy-drinking cider crafted with fresh-pressed apples, key lime & organic blue agave. This lime-ited release is sure to help make your next summertime adventure your best one yet!

And for a bit more, here’s a longer pull from the press release:

With an exceptionally aromatic profile, the fresh-pressed apple juice blends beautifully with the agave and lime aromas. One whiff and you suddenly find yourself lazily sitting in the shade of a hot, sandy beach with emerald waves leisurely rolling their way to shore. The profile is business up front and a party in the back, with a pop of sweet agave and apple flavor that cuts at the end to a deliciously sharp citrus tang. Truly every sip is like going on the vacation we all wish we were on right now.

Appearance: Clear, bright gold color. Lightly bubbly with slow but steady bubbles.

Smell: Gentle lime zestiness over a caramel-sweet note, with a subtle fresh fruity character that’s almost spicy. Clean apple juiciness.

Taste: Bright, sweet in a key lime pie (curd) direction, refreshing and lightly tart in a juicy way that makes the apple pop. Really nice and clean with a burnt sugar and lime sweetness (think broiled grapefruit).

Mouthfeel: Light, semi-petillant, quite clean, with a sweet and lightly apple-y aftertaste.

Overall: Really good, fresh and bright and almost dessert-like. If you like key lime pie, this is one to look for when it comes back around.

Tropical Mayhem – Imperial Passionfruit Pineapple Cider

It’s not every day a 9% ABV cider (or beer, for that matter) gets added to the year-round lineup, but that’s what 2 Towns did with Tropical Mayhem. The cidery sent me a couple of bottles last month, and I felt this opening paragraph from the press release maybe more than any other PR/description this year:

This year has been a ride. And not in the good way. Plans changed, vacations cancelled, and the stress of a pandemic plus every day adulting has never been higher. Needless to say, everyone could use a bit of a break, even if just for a little bit.

Here’s the website description:

Tangy & loud, Tropical Mayhem comes in like a wrecking ball to knock out the stress of adulting. Northwest apples and ripe Yellow Maracuya passion fruit come together to create a deliciously complex imperial profile that’s ready to engage vacay mode whenever you are.

The pineapples are sourced from Costa Rica, apparently.

Appearance: Crystal clear golden color, bright, lightly sparkling.

Smell: Bright pop of tart passionfruit, and some sweet pineapple juice. Tropical note of warm fruit salad, kind of a Waldorf salad thing going on with green apple. Sweet notes.

Taste: Pineapple juice, fresh-cut pineapple with earthy rind. Sweet without being cloying, a touch of tart/acid at the back, some apple skin that finishes dry. Fresh fruit, passionfruit syrup; almost like a tropical cocktail with lots of fresh fruit and juice character. Some alcohol notes but nothing too pronounced.

Mouthfeel: Semi-sweet with a dry finish, touch of alcohol heat at the back, semi-petillant.

Overall: Another excellent cider, full of passionfruit and pineapple and it hides the alcohol well (it comes out a bit more as it warms). You definitely need to pick up some of this mayhem.