The 5 Best Hard Ciders You Need To Try

People love hard cider no matter where you go—and it shows.

The alcoholic beverage, which is famous worldwide, especially in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, has remained a favorite of consumers for over 2,000 years.

Whether you’re new to hard cider or interested in trying out different brands, we rounded out the best six hard ciders on the market right now. Keep reading to learn what they are and what makes them special!

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5 Best Hard Ciders on the market

Get to know some of the best hard ciders on the market. These five beverages are all distinct from one another, with refreshing flavors you’re sure to savor.

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3. Blake’s Triple Jam Hard Cider

Blake’s Triple Jam Hard Cider shines a spotlight on a delicious trifecta of berries: strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Refreshingly fruity yet semi-sweet, it’s made using all-natural ingredients grown on Blake Farms, a farm in Armada, Michigan, founded by the Blake Family in 1946.

More than seven decades later, the family farm spans 800 acres and includes an orchard, tasting room, and hard cider production facility.

Because the berries are grown and made into cider on the same property, Blake’s hard cider fans can visit the Blake Farm themselves and truly make a day of the experience!

The only downside to Blake’s Triple Jam Hard Cider is that it isn’t available nationally—at least not yet. Fortunately, the company sells the cider in about half the U.S., including Minnesota.

• ABV: 6.5%
• Flavor palette: fruity, semi-sweet
• Pros: all-natural ingredients, gluten-free

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4. Austin Eastciders’ Spiced Cider

If you’re on the hunt for a hard cider to warm your belly, you’ll want to cozy up with a can or two of Austin Eastciders’ Spiced Cider. With a flavor that calls on fall spices, celebrating cinnamon, cardamon, and clove, this cider is sweet and satisfyingly spicy with a smooth finish.

Made from a blend of European bittersweet apples, American dessert apples, and seven spices, you can enjoy this delicious cider with dinner, dessert, or a snack. The drink is naturally flavored, appealing to many, and free of artificial sweeteners.

Austin Eastciders’ Spiced Cider is brewed in Austin, Texas, and is available nationally at department store chains, including Target.

• ABV: 5%
• Flavor palette: cinnamon, cardamom, and clove; sweet, crisp, and slightly spicy
• Pros: made with real fruit, no artificial sweeteners, gluten-free,

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5. Samuel Smith’s Organic Cider

Suppose you’re looking for something light, fruity, and refreshing. In that case, you’ll want to try Samuel Smith’s Organic Cider. It’s made with five simple ingredients and has a crisp, clean apple flavor and apple blossom finish, which truly allows the fruit to shine.

Samuel Smith’s Organic Cider is produced at a small independent brewery known as the oldest brewery in Yorkshire, England, but fortunately, the hard cider is available in most U.S. states. It’s vegetarian and registered with the vegan society, so it’s vegan, making it an excellent option for everyone.

• ABV: 5%
• Flavor palette: fresh, light; apple, apple blossom
• Pros: vegetarian and vegan, gluten-free

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Flavors For Everyone

Invented by none other than the ancient Greeks, there are many reasons why people enjoy making, selling, and drinking it, and have for so many years. The flavor is one of them.

In the United States, hard cider is associated primarily with apples and the fall season, but the adult drink can be made using any combination of different fruits. Some of the many fruits that can be used are:

• berries, i.e., blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries
• black currant
• cherries
• grapefruit
• mango
• peaches
• pears
• pineapple
• pumpkin

Hard cider is also a common ingredient used to make other cocktails, like this hard cider ice cream float. (Yum!)

With so many flavors, you’ll definitely find a few tasty combinations you’ll love.

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Pro Tip: Storing and Serving Hard Cider

Hard cider doesn’t need to be refrigerated before opening to ensure the best taste; it should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place. Hard ciders will last in a bottle for up to two years.

Though the ideal temperature to serve hard cider typically sits between 50- to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, it can vary for different brands. Check the outside of the box, can, or bottle for instructions, or refer to the brand’s website.

Hard cider is best served chilled, not ice-cold, and not warm. Ice isn’t added to cider because it dilutes the flavor. Once opened, it can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Hard Cider As A Way To Use Apples

Apples are the primary fruit used to make hard cider and essentially make up the drink’s origin story.

Contrary to popular belief, not all apples are sweet and juicy, some are small and bitter.

In Colonial America, the climate conditions weren’t ideal for growing products like barley to make beer or grapes to make wine. Apple trees were prevalent, which was another reason for their popularity.

Because hard cider is a bubbly, boozy beverage, it was also a safer alternative to drinking much of the water available then, which contained harmful bacteria.

Back then, the average American drank 36 gallons of hard cider a year, or slightly more than 1.5 cups a day! There was even a version of hard cider made for children that contained less alcohol, known as “applekin.”

Modern-Day Popularity

Hard cider became popular with consumers again in the 1990s and has steadily gained fans over the years. Together with hard seltzers, the adult beverage saw a resurgence during the pandemic, and its popularity is only expected to rise.

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Let Loose or Wind Down With Hard Cider

Try one of these six top-rated hard ciders when you’re not in the mood for beer or wine! Light, crisp, and flavorful, you can experiment with an array of fruit combinations and try out ciders made from fruits grown locally to you.

Or you can make cider at home from the ground up!

Our page on Apple Trees covers everything you need to know about growing your apple trees at home, from grafting to fertilizers, pruning, apple-picking baskets, and more—along with information on 94 different apple tree varieties!