Top 10 Favorite Ciders in 2023

The Winter Solstice has come and gone but we’re still in the dark days of the year but hopefully accompanied by good friends and festive meals with delicious ciders. I can scarcely believe that this is my 11th year of sharing a list of my favorite ten ciders to celebrate the coming of a new year. No matter what sort of year it’s been, I do enjoy settling in to think about the ciders that have delighted and surprised me the most. 

Here are all of my earlier gatherings of favorite ciders, year by year.

2022: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2022/12/

2021 Top 5: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/12/my-favorite-5-ciders-of-

2021.html

2021: My 10-5 countdown: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/12/5-of-my-favorite-10-ciders-of-2021.html

2020: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/12/my-10-favorite-ciders-of-2020.html

2019: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/12/my-10-favourite-ciders-of-2019.html

2018: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/12/my-favourite-10-ciders-of-2018.html

2017: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-10-favorite-ciders-of-2017.html

2016: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/12/my-10-favorite-ciders-of-2016.html

2015: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2015/12/my-10-favorite-ciders-of-2015.html

2014: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-10-favorite-ciders-of-2014.html

And the one that started it all, 2013: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2013/12/my-10-favorite-ciders-of-2013.html

Here’s a short recap of how it works. I only choose one cider per company, because my tastes are consistent enough that there would be many fewer cideries celebrated otherwise. I’m only human! My tastes belong to me, and I don’t think everyone would make the same choices. Still I want to spread the love to as many different cideries each year as I can. I can choose any cider I’ve reviewed in 2023. Lastly, I’ll quote from last year, “I want to reiterate that these are my favorites; these are just ten ciders that wowed me the most this past year.”  

Let's start with something different. For the first time, I want to give an Honorable Mention to Portland Cider Co.'s Cranberry Mule.

https://www.portlandcider.com/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/12/cider-review-portland-cider-cos.html

This cider got edged out of my top ten, but just barely. It’s also really different from the profiles I tend to like most consistently. The Cranberry Mule marries ginger spice, apple fruitiness, cranberry zing, with just a kick of lime. This is a fun seasonal that I highly recommend! 

10. Western Cider’s Dry and Dandy

https://westerncider.com/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/10/cider-review-western-cider-cos-dry-and.html

The Dry and Dandy had me excited from the first whiff of aroma. I loved it’s floral bitterness, complexity, and green wood finish. 

9. Alde Cider from Hardanger

https://www.aldesider.no/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/07/yesterday-i-weeded-in-garden.html

What a treat, trying two ciders from Norway! The Alde Cider from Hardanger was sweet without being simple, and I found it totally beguiling with it’s tropical fruit notes and creamy mouthfeel. 

8. Seminary Hill: Delaware Dry

https://www.seminaryhill.co/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/12/cider-review-seminary-hill-ciders.html

Seminary Hill Cider has found a fan in me. I love the style of restrained, tannic, high acid ciders that come from this place. The Delaware Dry was utterly fantastic with it’s austere minerality and edge of bitterness. I can’t wait to taste more.

7.Aga Sideri’s Bøddel Sider

https://www.agasideri.no/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/05/cider-review-sider-aga-boddel.html

My Norwegian battle axe cider! This felt like one of the biggest unknowns when I reached for this cider and yet it was completely rewarding. It was part of our rescue from an unexpectedly snowy cold night on our visit along with Norwegian pizza. The cider brought awesome dryness, fresh fun acidity, and some complex tannins into the mix. I think this cider would be a big hit here! 

6. Big Fish Cider Co.’s Monterey Maple

https://www.bigfishcider.com/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/02/cider-review-big-fish-cider-cos.html

This cider was part of my winter holiday celebrations with the Tall One and my father last year. I think it’s my favorite maple cider ever. It utilizes apple brandy barrels as well as maple to beautiful effect. I loved the hints of apple butter and baking spice as well as the aromas contributed by the maple and barrel.  

5. Runcible Cider's Idyll Acres

https://www.runciblecider.com/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/05/cider-revew-runcible-ciders-idyll-acres.html

The Idyll Acres was a barrel-aged beauty I tasted this Summer. It was refreshingly dry while still managing to brim over with ripe fruit notes. Check out the full review to see the amazing list of apples that made up this sophisticated and delicious cider. 

4. Snow Capped Cider’s Dabinett

https://snowcappedcider.com/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/02/cider-review-snow-capped-ciders-dabinett.html

This semi-sweet cider brought gorgeous overripe apple and yeast notes to my glass and just enough funk to keep things interesting. I loved the leathery finish and high acidity.  It was a real treat with takeout Ethiopian food, but would pair well with a lot of spicy dishes!

3. Haykin Family Cider’s Method Ancestrale Jonathan 2018

https://www.haykinfamilycider.com/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/10/cider-review-haykin-family-ciders.html

This is Haykin Family Cider’s second time landing a third place spot in my favorites list, but this time it’s for their Method Ancenstrale Jonathan cider from 2018. This cider was all about acidity, ripe apple, and floral notes. It reminded me of citrus and honey in the best possible ways. Delish!

2. Troddenvale’s Countryside Farm (100% Harrison)

https://www.troddenvale.com/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/02/cider-review-troddenvales-countryside.html

My dearest brought me this cider (I am so lucky), because it uses 100% Harrison apples. The scent was powerfully woody and enticing. It had a full mouthfeel, subtle barrel character, and beautiful phenolics. I guess I should stop second-guessing single varietal ciders!

1. Albemarle Ciderworks’ Brut D’Albemarle Hewes Crab

https://www.albemarleciderworks.com/

https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/09/cider-review-albemarle-ciderworks-brut.html

What a cider! I knew when I tasted it in September that it would be on this list, and I’m not surprised that it remained unsurpassed for the final months of the year. Ths cider managed to bring gorgeous fruitiness, tannins, and perfect bubbles together in a way that simply sang. It was a complete winner in every regard. I loved it. There is nothing like the concentration of beautiful flavor possible with skillful fermentation of crabapples! 

Looking back, this is an astonishingly strong line up. Two Virginia single-varietals at the top of my list! That tells me I might be overdue for a trip to explore Virginia cider country.

Thanks so so much, cider friends! I didn’t get to see nearly enough of you in person this year, but know that I’m so grateful for everyone in our little corner of the world. May your Winters be peaceful with time for rest and may Spring come gently this year. I hope our paths can cross in 2024. Until next time, cheers!

Cider Review: Portland Cider Co.'s Cranberry Mule

This past week, I took two and a half days for a writer’s retreat at a local non-profit: Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts. It was incredible. I wrote, edited, hiked, read and absorbed so much quiet. What a wonderful opportunity. I kept it very simple. I set a few reasonable goals for my time, downloaded a few podcast episodes related to writing and relevant research topics for the project, brought two fun reading books and one writing book with me and brought a laptop with my project. I highly recommend it or doing something like it for yourself if you want to move a project ahead and take time for yourself simultaneously. 

If you’re curious about what I’m writing, I recommend patience. It’s not cider related, but I’ve been working on the project for about 10 months so far. It still needs many stages of work, but I can now see the shape of the whole project. That feels good.

If you want to read more about Saltonstall, apply for a residency in 2024, or support their programs, please visit here: https://www.saltonstall.org/about-us/about-saltonstall/

Before I left, I knew I wanted to have a fun and complex cider with a simple snack and some Star Trek Discovery (I’m just starting the first season). I was happy to reach for Portland Cider Co.’s Cranberry Mule to accompany my spiced popcorn!

I’ve reviewed many Portland Cider Co. beverages over the years, and many of my earlier entries give more background on this Oregon cidery. Check out the full list below. 

Imperial Abbey Apple: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/11/cider-review-portland-cider-cos.html

Bloody Hell: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/07/cider-review-portland-cider-cos-bloody.html

Lemon-Lime Ciderade: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/06/cider-review-portland-cider-companys.html

Crangerine: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/12/cider-review-portland-cider-companys.html

Razzberry: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/06/cider-review-once-upon-tree-wild-flight.html

Peach Berry: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/04/cider-review-portland-cider-companys.html

Kinda Dry: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2015/05/cider-review-portland-cider-company.html

Pineapple: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/02/cider-review-portland-cider-company.html

Cranberry: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/03/cider-review-seed-stone-cidery-heritage.html

Pumpkin Spice: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/10/cider-review-portland-cider-co-pumpkin.html

Pineapple Rose: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/07/cider-reviews-portland-cider-cos.html

This is where to find Portland Cider Co. online: https://www.portlandcider.com/home

Here’s how Portland Cider Co. describes the the Cranberry Mule:

Vibrant Cranberries Sparkle

Ripe cranberries, juicy lime, and a hint of fresh ginger sing in this cocktail-inspired cider. Pouring a vibrant ruby hue, every pint adds a sparkle to your festivities.

Tasting Notes
Subtle apple notes, ripe cranberry, citrus and ginger zest nose, bright lemon tang, earthy ginger, and a tart, fresh finish.

Pairing Suggestions
Roasted turkey, brie, pumpkin pie, honey baked ham, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies.
6% ABV

This is a seasonal release for them, available from November through January.

Appearance: intense brick red, bubbly, brilliant

This is a gorgeous cider! Wow! I love the deep brick red of the color. I can see some visible bubbles at the surface of the cider, but not a lot below. Still, I’m expecting some sparkle. The cider is totally brilliant. 

Aromas: cranberry, apple, rock candy, ginger, and lime

The Cranberry Mule smells not unlike I would expect. The scents are reminiscent of the cocktail that inspired the cider’s name. I get notes of cranberry, apple, rock candy, ginger, and lime.

Sweetness/Dryness: Sweet

This cider is sweet but in a juicy, fruity way that’s balanced by zesty acid!

Flavors and drinking experience: Tart cranberry, sweet apple, ginger, lime!

This is absolutely like a Cranberry Mule backed up with a sweet core of apple. I think the cidery has done exactly as they planned. I couldn’t hope for a more appealing balance of cranberry tartness, apple sweetness, with two respective kicks of ginger and lime.

The high acid and sweetness of this cider makes it work beautifully. The overall experience is fruity, bubbly and well suited for holiday revelry! The ginger comes out more with repeated sips.

While apple isn’t the central or more forward note, I do appreciate that I can consistently taste the apple in this cocktail-like cider.

This is an amazing treat with spicy popcorn!

Cider Review: Brother Monk Ciderworks' Blacklick Hard Cider

I’m freshly home from a cider adventure in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Late last week, I was lucky enough to get to judge cider for the PA Farm Show. I’ve joined this group for 6 years now, as long as the competition has been running. I like the people tremendously, and I’ve been introduced to some wonderful cideries this way. And if you’re in the Harrisburg area in January, check out the PA Farm Show event! 

PA Farm Show: https://www.farmshow.pa.gov/pafarmshow/Pages/default.aspx

One of the ciders I was able to bring home this year was Brother Monk Ciderworks’ Blacklick Hard Cider. It’s my first time ever reviewing this PA cidery. The cider comes to us from Northern Cambria where this cidery and orchard were started in 2017.

Here’s a little info about Brother Monk Ciderworks from the website.

Our Approach

We specialize in hand-crafted hard cider, cider-style fruit wine, and mead.  The trees we planted in our orchard were selected especially for hard cider. This includes apple varieties like Roxbury Russet, Kingston Black, St. Martins, Hewes Crab, Harrison, Bulman’s Norman, and Dabinett.  These cultivars, add a tremendous amount of complexity and richness to the ciders.   We have taken over the management of an older orchard, which has allowed us to add other apples to our hard ciders.  These apple varieties include Winesap, Cameo, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, and Macintosh.

Visit the Brother Monk Ciderworks website to keep up with all the cider releases and news: https://brothermonk.com/

Here’s the official description I found for the Blacklick Hard Cider

Blacklick Hard Cider

This limited release cider is an off-dry traditional cidr made from locally-sourced, specially selected apples. Blacklick cider was barrel aged which imparted a subtle soft tannin note. This cider is a balanced combination of tannins, tartness, and moderate sweetness. 6.5% ABV.

Appearance: hazy, varying shades of warm gold, few visible bubbles

I found it so interesting that when I poured two glasses of this cider the first came out a more intense and rich shade of warm peachy gold and the second was lighter and yellower. The change wasn’t overwhelming, but it was noticeable.

Aromas: Funky, barrel, stone fruit

I don’t get the strongest aromas from the Blacklick, but I do notice some wild tanginess, barrel character, and stone fruits. This gives me hope for something exciting and complex.

Dryness/Sweetness: Semi-Dry

The cider’s label calls it off dry, but for me the cider registers as a semi-dry. That can be perceptually different for different drinkers, so I am not that surprised to see it called off dry. What sweetness is present comes across as more attached to the barrel aging of the cider than other elements. 

Flavors and drinking experience:  Barrel, high acid, peach and ripe apple

The first note that absolutely shouts in the Blacklick hard cider is a wild edge of acetic acid tartness. It’s a rangy and zesty little spike that evens out on the midpalate. That’s where more of the cider’s barrel-aged qualities come to the fore. Yes, it’s still high acid, but the structure and bread crumb notes emerge. In terms of fruit, the Blacklick offers up plentiful peach and apple notes with a background of twiggy green wood tannins.

I appreciate the fine bubble and round sweetness, which complement one another nicely. The cider’s finish is a return of the barrel with a gentle vanilla send off. It is indeed a complex cider with loads going on! I would love to see these elements pull together in a more integrated way; the tannins, acids, and sweetness stand alone more than combine into a recognizable cider profile. I like what’s here plenty.

I paired this cider with spinach tortellini and broccoli and a simple side salad. I think the acid was especially good with pasta, and I’d recommend that pairing for sure!

Cider Review: Seminary Hill Cider's Delaware Dry

It’s wet, chilly, and blustery outside. I am so glad to be home and warm. Not only that, I have a plate of delicious pizza and a cider that I’m very excited to review. Tonight, I’m sharing my thoughts on Seminary Hill Cider's Delaware Dry. I can feel the number of times I’ve ensconced myself and whatever writing machine I’m using for exactly this sort of evening. What a familiar sort of contentment. I love the nights when I know that I’ll be opening a very tasty cider indeed. 

Seminary Hill Cider comes to us from the Catskills region of New York. The cidery was founded in 2012, but I only got to experience the place and the cider for the first time earlier this year. 

Round up of several Seminary Hill ciders including, 2021 Beechwoods, Nicksen,  2020 Semi-Sweet Cackling Hen, Tom’s Beard,  Spy Who Came in From the Cold: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2023/10/cider-review-seminary-hill-cider-roundup.html

Here’s how to find the cidery, restaurant, and hotel online: https://www.seminaryhill.co/

Tonight I’m sharing about the Delaware Dry. Here’s all the info about this cider available from Seminary Hill’s website. 

2020 Delaware Dry

Silver Medal GLINTCAP

Alcohol 8.2%

pH 3.76

Titratable Acidity (TA) 7.47 g/L

Bottling Date 6.22.21

Bone dry, floral, spice, mild bitterness, medium body, good acid

Blend: Chisel Jersey 42%, Baldwin 26% Golden Russet 20% Northern Spy 12%

Appearance: brilliant, intense popcorn yellow, few visible bubbles

This cider brings absolute ferocity of color. It reminds me of popcorn kernels tonight, but the warm toned yellow can be found all over autumn.

Aromas: Lemon peel, candied orange, minerals

The Delaware Dry smells amazing and delectable. I get notes of lemon peel, candied orange, and minerals. 

Dryness/sweetness: Dry

This is absolutely a dry cider. It needs no sweetness to be absolutely flavorful and completely itself. 

Flavors and drinking experience: Dry, bubbly, tannic, high acid, vivid, citrus and minerals

Whoa. The Delaware Dry tastes so vivid and minerally, it’s almost savory. Specifically I get notes of slate. This dry cider has a clean edge of bitterness, but the bubbly high acid carry it. I find it totally delicious. I’m so grateful for the clean fermentation. The fruitiness is present but restrained; I’m reminded of beautifully ripe grapefruit.

I had this tonight with pineapple pizza, but I remember enjoying with the ripest of late-season tomatoes and perfect sourdough bread. Both are incredible. I'd also serve it with a creamy chowder. There are so many good options for such a delightful food-friendly cider.