Best Hard Cider to Drink

Most of the country has apple trees, and fall is the best time to eat and drink apples. Hard cider is a tasty drink made from the juice of apples. There are hard cider makers in the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, and New England. Hard cider is no longer the sweeter alternative to beer. Today, traditional hard ciders have evolved into ciders that push the limits in the same way that beer does.

Cider takes a lot of good things from a few different types of alcohol. Soham Bhatt, one of the co-founders of Artifact Project Cider and one of the people who make it, says, “It’s the perfect mix of low alcohol, complex flavour, and sprightly acid to keep your mouth watering.” All you need are a few apples and the idea that you want to make something tasty. Apples aren’t the only thing that goes into cider all the time. Cideries aren’t afraid to do things like add other fruits or hop their drinks like beer.

Although yeast is undoubtedly isolated and cultured for fermentation, modern cider manufacturing hasn’t altered that much. Although the classification of cider apples varies from region to region, it is always based on three essential characteristics: sugar content, acidity, and tannin levels. Traditional cider apples are essentially inedible—sour, bitter, or astringent, depending on the type—unlike a supermarket apple (think Red Delicious or Granny Smith). Although a bittersharp apple may be difficult to chew due to its high tannin content, it is excellent to drink.

What is Exactly Hard Cider?

Because their usage varies by place or context, the phrases cider, apple cider, soft cider, and hard cider are frequently unclear. Furthermore, it can be challenging to distinguish between hard cider and many other similarly linked beverages.

Fruit juice is fermented to create hard cider, an alcoholic beverage. Even though hard ciders are a fairly broad category, they are most frequently manufactured from apples. Many expertly made bottles rival wines, though the hard ciders most frequently found in beer coolers are the most prevalent. These small cideries traditionally produce it using small batches of fruit harvested nearby. Hard ciders are simple to consume, with an ABV of 6 percent on average, and some also contain other fruits besides apples. Others are fantastic for dinner parties or as cocktail mixers, while some are a refreshing substitute for beer.

Bringing your Hard Cider Home

Can hard cider be stored in the same way that beer is? Everyone knows that beer should be kept chilled, and yes is the clear-cut response. You want to prevent further fermentation of the hard cider and pressure buildup inside the bottle. Cleaned cider is not something anyone wants to do. Don’t worry if you leave it outside for a few hours, but it’s better to ensure it’s in a cool, dry area.

Compared to other types of alcohol, hard cider has a shorter shelf life. The typical shelf life of a bottle of cider is one to two years, but there’s no need to wait to open a six-pack or large bottle because the flavors won’t change much, if at all, over that period. If left too long or ignored, most hard ciders will come to resemble apple cider vinegar if they are chilled. When you bring your hard cider home, be aware of any smaller windows that may apply, which may be as short as fewer than 12 months.

Best Hard Cider to Drink

Here are some of the best hard cider to drink:

Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Hard Cider

Features:

• Crisp Apple is the category-defining cider from Angry Orchard
• This crisp and refreshing cider offers sweet apple notes up front with a subtle dryness at the finish for a balanced cider taste

Stella Artois Cidre

Features:

• A six-pack of 12 fl oz bottles of Stella Artois Cidre
• Dry, European-style hard cider
• Perfectly dry, balanced cider that isn’t overly sweet
• Made with hand-picked apples from wine-growing regions
• 4.5% ABV per serving

BrewDemon 1 Gal. Lemon-Strawberry Hard Seltzer

Features:

• Unlike other kits, our recipes take just minutes to prepare, and the results are scary-good!
• BrewDemon hard seltzers contain non-GMO sugar and all-natural flavoring, which helps makes these recipes taste amazing! A twisted tale as old as good and evil itself. The tart and sour lemon intertwine with the refreshingly sweet strawberry in the most intriguing ways in this curious bubbly.
• This recipe was designed to refill our BrewDemon 1-gallon conical kits but can be made using any 1-gallon system.
• This kit includes the ingredients to make this 1-gallon recipe.
• Enjoy great-tasting homemade hard seltzer from your kitchen – only with BrewDemon!

BrewDemon 1 Gal. Hard Grape Recipe Kit

Features:

• Unlike other kits, our recipes take just minutes to prepare, and the results are scary-good!
• BrewDemon hard sodas taste amazing! Both tangy and sweet, it permeates the air with that unique aromatic scent that is undeniably rapacious.
• His recipes were designed to refill our BrewDemon 1-gallon conical kits but can be made using any 1-gallon system.
• This kit includes the ingredients to make this 1-gallon recipe.
• Enjoy great-tasting homemade hard soda from your kitchen – only with BrewDemon!

Topo Chico Hard Seltzer Variety Pack

Features:

• You’ll get one 12-count variety pack with 12-ounce cans of Topo Chico Hard Seltzer featuring four flavors: (3) Strawberry Guava, (3) Tangy Lemon Lime, (3) Exotic Pineapple, (3) Tropical Mango
• Topo Chico Hard Seltzer with 4.7% ABV is the only spiked sparkling water inspired by the legendary taste of Topo Chico Mineral Water.
• Topo Chico Hard Seltzer has a hint of citrus flavor and added minerals for a smooth taste.
• Topo Chico Hard Seltzer is gluten-free and contains 2g of sugar and 100 calories per can.
• Pick up a Topo Chico Hard Seltzer 12-pack to share with friends at your next pool party, backyard barbecue, beach day, or night out.

What to Look for in Hard Ciders?

Here are some factors to consider while choosing hard ciders:

Sweetness

Hard ciders come in a variety of sweetness levels, just like wine. Cider’s residual sugar content is determined using the “Brix scale.” Cider gets sweeter when the number is higher. You must choose whether you want your cider to be sweet or dry. To better understand how sweet that cider truly is, read the labels and speak with the bartender.

Smell

These ciders will typically smell like apples, but other flavors may also be present. Depending on the hard cider, you might smell pear, spices, herbs, and other fruits, such as grapes or berries.

Taste

The main sensations that make us like what we’re drinking or eating are smell and taste. Check to see whether you can taste the ingredients in hard cider when you sip it. You may judge if you like or despise a cider by its level of sweetness and sourness. But before you decide, take more than one taste.

ABV

Hard cider has a range of alcohol by volume (ABV), with the majority falling between 3 and 8 percent. Check the labels or ask the bartender what the hard cider you’re ordering is because some have an ABV as high as 12 percent.

What Food Goes Well with Hard Cider?

Here are the top 8 foods which go well with hard cider:

Apple Pie

Although hard cider has a range of alcohol by volume (ABV), the majority ranges from 3 to 8 percent. The ABV of the hard cider you’re ordering should be found on the label or by asking the bartender because some have an ABV of as much as 12 percent.

Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts

Doughnuts’ cinnamon and nutmeg complement cider like they do in apple pie. Additionally, a cool, fizzy beverage goes well with any fried dish.

Pancakes

You forget how good mimosas and Caesars are with brunch if you believe it’s too early to have a drink before noon. Use cider in your mimosa instead of sparkling wine for a less alcoholic beverage.

Squash Soup

A cider would go well with a hearty soup like this because we all know that apples and squash are the season’s predominant flavors.

Blue Cheese (or any dish where blue cheese is a prominent ingredient)

Like on a cheese platter, a small amount of fruit compote or a slice of pear or apple works best to counteract the strong flavor of blue cheese. A sip of cider will help bring all of those strong, distinct flavors together if you’re eating blue cheese risotto or spaghetti with a bit of a sour and nutty bite.