The 5 Best Ciders to Enjoy This Fall

With its state fruit being the apple, it’s no wonder that Washington is home to a number of fantastic cider breweries. One company is Locust Cider. Locust can be found at various retailers and grocery stores in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, Alaska, Montana, and Kansas. They offer a number of flavored ciders, but two that truly encapsulate the spirit of the fall season are the Chai (blending the classic apple flavor with chai spices like cinnamon and clove) and Cinn-ful Cran (notes of cinnamon, cranberry, and blood orange). Locust has also raised over $10,000 annually since 2016 by donating $0.25 of every case purchase to the Hydrocephalus Association, a mission they continue to this day.

Sincere Ciders are made and canned in California with apples from the Yakima Valley in southern Washington. Available in select stores in California and Nevada, as well as online, Sincere offers three flavors to appreciate year-round and one seasonal flavor: Dry Apple, Ginger Agave, Granada (with pomegranate and Seville orange flavors), and the limited-time Blood Orange. Enjoy these 5.9% ABV beverages as a complement to your favorite fall dishes.

In August, Ace Cider announced the return of their pumpkin cider via Instagram, a combination of two classic fall flavors. Sick of all things pumpkin? Not to worry; Ace offers a variety of other twists on the classic apple cider including pineapple, guava, and mango. Their beverages can be purchased at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Total Wine, and other select retailers across the country. The brand offers 5% ABV “Sessionable” ciders and 8% ABV “Imperial” ciders.

Another company hailing from the Evergreen state is Yonder Cider. Yonder sources their apples from Wenatchee Valley in central Washington but ships to 40 states, according to their website. Though their packaging may be simple, their flavors are anything but. Some of their best offerings for the fall season include Wassail and Cashmere. Wassail comes in at 6.9% ABV and includes hints of clove, cinnamon, and orange peel. Cashmere, like its namesake, is warm: a 6.5% ABV blend of apple, cranberry, bitter orange, and cherry.

Stem Ciders is a Colorado-based company with ciders available in 39 states, according to their website. The ciders come in a variety of unique flavor combinations like Harvest Peach, Apricot Haze, Blueberry Lime, and Chile Guava, as well as the classic Real Dry cider. They also offer Apricot Haze and Blueberry Lime in non-alcoholic versions, made with fresh pressed apple juice and other fruit flavors.