Hard Cider Review

Nothing signals the start of winter like the smell of freshly brewed cider. Of course, with that lovely smell comes the reminder of oncoming family dinners, gifting hunting through hoards of stampeding shoppers, and constant blaring of holiday music. Luckily we have festive hard cider that can help us get through it all. Here are some of the best brands that will help us make it through one more year of forced merriment and cheer:

 

Original Sin Premium Hard Cider – Clearer than apple juice, very smooth. Tastes about like someone spiked their apple juice box, but much more fun to drink from a bottle than a sippy cup. Pulls no punches, tastes like a granny smith but somewhat sweeter. A very enjoyable cider.

 

Wandering Aengus Cider Wickson Single Varietal – Smells very sweet, but with a very dry after taste. Apparently this variety of cider is made from the Wickson Crab Apple that has a higher level of sugar and acidity, the acidity definitely comes through whereas the sugar doesn’t. It’s a more distinct flavor, like someone crafted it. You might not like the craft, but there’s definitely love behind it. The only downside? It’s fairly expensive.

 

Wandering Aengus Cider Bloom – Ahh, now this is a way sweeter and smoother cider from Wandering Aengus. It’s more playful than the single variety, invoking a more traditional beer aesthetic than anything. Ever been punched by an apple? Probably not, but just imagine that and imagine that it felt good. That’s what this beer tastes like.

 

Samuel Smith’s Organic Cider – This is an interesting cider. I don’t know if it’s the organic apples it’s made from or the fact that it comes a pint to a bottle – but I like it. The flavor comes at you immediately and sticks with you long after. And don’t worry, it’s a very good flavor. For whatever reason, it reminds me of apple wood. Fairly pleasant, I have to admit. It’s a fun drink to have and the organic apples have to make you feel good, right?

 

J.K. Scrumpy Hard Cider – Have you ever had cold apple pie? Well, cold apple pie that gets you drunk? That’s kind of what drinking this cider is like. It’s about as smooth as Clooney, as tasty as Kate Upton, and a better aftertaste than a night out with Tim Tebow. This is a really sweet and smooth drink, quite easy to drink. This is definitely like spiked apple juice. And it’s organic? Color me an environmentalist. It’s a murky color, but that’s probably the flavor.

 

Doc’s Draft Original Hard Apple Cider – Not the best. The flavor hits your like an unflavorful sponge. But then again, have you ever had a flavorful sponge? Probably not. There’s apple for sure, but the cider hits your mouth like an exploding manila envelope. This cider is made with champagne yeast, which explains why it tastes almost like champagne. With apples.

 

William’s Sir Perry – Pear cider is a close cousin of hard apple cider and across the pond it’s known as Perry. Much like how a pear offers a fuller and less sweet taste than an apple, Perry has a distinct taste that is definitely cider but it lacks the sweetness of an apple. Sir Perry could almost be described as the Sprite of cider. Unprovacative, but still refreshing on it’s own accord. As the only import on this list, I was hoping for something with a big more kick. But I’m sure there’s a more potent cider in her majesty’s kingdom.

 

Original Sin Pear Cider – Now you would think that fermenting such sweet fruits as pears and apples would derive a similarly sweet alcoholic beverage. As we’ve seen above, many ciders are sweet but Original Sin Pear Cider is the first to taste almost like candy. If Jolly Ranchers ever made an alcoholic beverage it would probably taste like this drink. And it doesn’t even have to be a pear Jolly Rancher, this could easily pass for apple if you’re taste buds aren’t firing on full cylinders when you drink it. Definitely a fun drink.

 

So what’s your favorite hard cider to sip?