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In recent years, hard cider has gone from a niche beverage to a full-blown industry. More craft cider operations seem to be opening up every week and famed breweries like Rogue are even trying their hands at the cider game.
For those who don’t know, hard cider is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples. Hard cider has been a popular drink in the United Kingdom for decades. The people in the UK drink and produce more hard cider than any other area in the world. The recent increase in popularity in the US has led to more varieties in the market.
Also: Can’t Make Up Your Mind On What Craft Beer To Buy? Brew Your Own
Here are some of the best to try this fall:
The Muse (Angry Orchard)
Angry Orchard is one of the most famous cider makers out there. Recently, on top of their usually ciders, they’ve begun producing their “Cider House Collection” including Strawman (farmhouse cider), Iceman (ice cider) and The Muse. The last offering is more like a sparkling wine than a cider. This 7.7% ABV cider is made from bittersweet and cooking apples before being aged in French oak casks, imparting flavors like vanilla, cinnamon and other fall flavors.
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Fruit Salad (Rogue)
This 6.4% ABV hard cider contains much more than just apples. It also contains pears, plums, cherries, marionberries, apricots and peaches. All fruits are from the on-premise Rogue Farms. Fruit Salad comes in a 22 ounce bottle so it’s easily shareable with that special someone.
The Anvil (Sonoma)
This 6% ABV hard cider has a special, tasty kick. The owners of Sonoma Cider love bourbon almost as much as they love cider so it made perfect sense to add bourbon flavor to create The Anvil. The whiskey flavor imparts a smoky, rich flavor to this memorable hard cider.
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Joker (Ace)
If you enjoy your hard ciders dry, you’ll love Joker. Similar to The Muse, Joker is more like a champagne than a cider. At 6.9% ABV and made from 100% apple juice, Joker has been produced by Ace since 2008 and is one of their best selling ciders.
Venus Reigns (Crispin)
This 6.9% ABV hard cider was inspired by the story of Prometheus. He distracted the gods while he stole fire to give to the mortals. Do distract them, he threw a golden pear into the courtyard on top of Mount Olympus. The pear was given to Venus, the goddess of love. This pear cider is made in her honor and is best imbibed while reading Greek mythology or sitting on a patio on a warm, fall day.
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The Full Nelson (Citizen Cider)
This 6.9% ABV hard cider is made from juice pressed at Happy Valley Orchard in Middlebury, Vermont. It was dry-hopped using Nelson Sauvin Hops and pairs well with cheese and crackers and good times.
First Press (CiderBoys)
This 5% ABV, easy drinking hard cider comes from Stevens Point, Wisconsin’s CiderBoys. This classic hard cider has won numerous awards including a gold medal at the 2014 World Beer championships.
Prince Hal (Virtue)
This 5.8% Welsh style hard cider was made in honor of Henry, Prince of Wales. This trip around the world in a bottle is made with Michigan apples before being fermented with British yeast and then aged in French oak casks.
