Beverage style guidelines are used with the permission of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). BJCP Style Guidelines Copyright © BJCP, Inc. The most current guidelines are available at www.bjcp.org.
Vital statistics
| Original gravity | 1.045 – 1.065 (11.2 – 15.9 °P) |
|---|---|
| Final gravity | 1.005 – 1.020 (1.3 – 5.1 °P) |
| Alcohol | 3.0 – 6.0% ABV |
Overall impression
Medium to sweet, full-bodied, rich and somewhat fruity. May show background phenolic, smoky, or farmyard character.
Aroma
Fruity and rich; sweetness common. Optional light MLF notes (spicy-smoky, phenolic, lightly funky, farmyard).
Appearance
Clear to brilliant. Medium yellow to amber; often deeper color. Higher carbonation can give brief foam stand.
Flavor
Sweetness balances tannins; rich apple flavor. MLF complexity possible but not required, and must remain subtle.
Mouthfeel
Medium to full body. Moderate tannin more as palate fullness/astringency than bitterness. Carbonation moderate to champagne-like; must not gush.
Comments
May employ défécation (keeving) to slow/limit fermentation; bottle-conditioned common. French examples favor subtler MLF character.
History
Regional style from Normandy/Brittany using bittersweet/bittersharp apples; MLF may occur but is subtler than English.
Characteristic ingredients
Bittersweet/bittersharp apples (e.g., Nehou, Muscadet de Dieppe, Reine des Pommes, Michelin). Possible keeving.
Style comparison
Sweeter and fuller than English, with subtler MLF; more tannin than Common.
Entry instructions
Entrants MUST specify carbonation. Entrants MUST specify sweetness (medium to sweet). Entrants MAY specify apple varieties.
Commercial examples
Bellot Vintage Cider, Domaine Dupont Cidre Bouché, Écusson Cidre Bio Doux, Eric Bordelet Sidre Tendre, Etienne Dupoint Brut, Maison Hérout Cuvée Tradition