Fox Barrel Cider Company

I haven’t tried all the varieties of cider they make, but so far every one I have has been refreshing crisp with just the right effervescence. The dry ciders are not bitter, but balanced and with a great nose. As a gluten free dieter, I can’t drink beer so cider is something I enjoy quite often and out of the ones in the market, this is definitely a 9 out of 10. You guys rock.

Whenever I see this in a shop it is a must purchase. A few times a year it is nice to have a sixer of this in the fridge. I am from the foothills and usually only find this in Nevada City /​Grass Valley & it is well worth the purchase.
Cider is not a chick drink, sure it is a little sweet — but when done right (as Fox Barrel does) it can be the perfect refresher. This is a smoothly-​Crisp drink reminiscent of English Ciders.
Fox Barrel uses local Apples which are fermented to perfection.

Fox Barrel Cider Company Makes for a Refreshing Time
SITREP
[Companion Review with Crispin Cider Company — Minneapolis, MN]
It started with a beautiful Fall drive up into the Sierra Nevadas and ended at SIENNA, a picturesque restaurant set down in the middle some beautiful landscape.
This was the location of our recent Unilocal elitie-​event «An Evening in the Foothills» where more than 100 of us Unilocalers experienced a wonderful selection of food-​bites and great drinks, including a selection of «CRISPIN CIDERS», a wonderful company located out of Minneapolis, MN, but with a «Research & Development» arm located in Colfax, CA under the name «Fox Barrel Cider Company.»
CIDER SELECTIONS
Crispin had an array of different ciders to sample and I focused on both the Apple-​cider and the Pear-​cider. I must admit that I was quite partial to the Pear-​cider because I found it much CRISPer (no pun intended… well…actually it WAS!) ;^D
MIXING & MATCHING «TASTY»
As a beverage that stands on it’s own, Crispin ciders are absolutely delicious. However, like Champagne (as opposed to beer, for example) what I must note about hard-​ciders in general — and especially Crispin more specifically — is their total versatility as a base or even a mixer. In this vein, I am a huge fan of bottomless mamosas, and I admit curiosity that I must follow-​up sometime to see if I can switch the cider with the champagne and see how it goes with orange juice.
However, what I DID successfully engage this evening: with the Pear Cider, a shot of raspberry liquor mixed in made this beverage into an absolute tongue-​gasm of sweet decadence! However, if your tastes go more for the tart, the Apple Cider provided a most welcome «medium» for crushed strawberries. I was actually very pleased with both.
THE LOWDOWN
Fox Barrel Cider Company provided crisp cider refreshment and, indeed, IMHO deserve to be enjoyed with other items outside the bottles that contain them.

Fox Barrel cidery in Colfax is the R&D wing of the Crispin brand. There was a recent OYE at the Sienna restaurant and bar in EDH. They had two beers for tasting — the pear cider and the apple cider. The apple tasted like a grown up Martinellis whereas the pear cider tasted like a very clean, crisp, refreshing sweet beer. I really liked how refined the flavors were and would be something that I could take to a dinner party or give as a gift and having the person actually enjoy it. Perfect for people who normally don’t like the standard beer flavors and a good choice for people with Celiac’s disease (gluten allergy). I went down to BevMo after the event and picked up a few bottles to have on standby. Can get pricey in a hurry, but would do great for special occasions.

Awesome place, totally off the beaten path. Everyone was very nice, and extremely generous and knowledgeable at the tasting. I wish I still lived nearby. I’d be here all the time. Be sure to try all of the Crispin ciders!

I loved the apple cider in six packs for about nine dollars. Now they don’t even make apple and sell funky flavors for eight in a four pack. They have lost a customer to ace or woodchuck apple.

Went back in for re-​stocking of their yummy pear cider!
This place is still one of my hidden gem favorites!

I have gluten intolerance (celiac disease) and can’t drink many alcoholic beverages other than wine or potato voka (not my thing…). Once I discovered Fox Barrel Cider at Matteo’s in my home town of Nevada City I was hooked. I found a store that stocked all 3 versions, also serve to my guests and they also love them. A big THANK YOU to Fox Barrel. Theresa

Absolutely delightful hard cider in an unlikely location.
They have 3 usual offerings; apple, pear, and black currant. Each version is unique and subtle and extremely drinkable. They are in the English style which is slightly on the sweet side.
Made with local, Placer County apples, this cider will appeal to a wide audience, especially those who appreciate a smooth, subtle, low alcohol drink.
Last year they had a mulling cider which really knocked my socks off.
In addition to the cinnamon and cloves, it had an addition of local Colfax grown lavender. Absolutely amazing!!!

This little brewery’s tasting room is a bit tough to find, but when you get there you’ll be rewarded for the effort. As a small production craft cidery, all they’ve got is a little tasting room, t-​shirts, friendly staff, and tasty cider. The pear is delicious — fruity, refreshing, but not too sweet. — waaaay better than anything you’ll find the supermarket. As the leaves turn and turkeys start making their way to the table, Fox Barrel’s mulled cider is sublime as well (drink it warm or cold). My husband and I liked it so much, we bought a few cases for our wedding. They also sell kegs full o’ the tastey stuff for special events.