Like This? Drink That! – Cider Edition
The world of cider goes so much deeper than the cloying sweet hard cider that many craft beer and wine drinkers are familiar with. Rich in old-world tradition with plenty of exciting innovations happening right here in Minnesota, there's never been a better time to get into cider. But where should you start? We selected 12 different beverages and compared them to their analogues in the world of cider–all of which are available at Dabbler Depot!
Until Sunday 10/20, take 30% off any one cider product when you buy one or more apple spirits products. In-store only!
If you like shandy or radler, try Sociable Road Rash
Located in the heart of Northeast Minneapolis’ brewery district, all of Sociable’s ciders make an awesome entry point for craft beer drinkers—and not just because they come in tallboy cans! Their Road Rash Raspberry Lemon is a perfect cider for beer drinkers who love the light, refreshing, fruit-forward taste of shandies and radlers, such as Hop and Barrel’s Lemon Breaker Shandy or Konig’s Grapefruit Radler. Breezy and crisp, with a playful sweet-tart balance, Road Rash is perfect for embracing those warm afternoons while we’ve still got ‘em.
If you like Coffee-infused lagers or ales, try Duluth Cider Las Lajas
Coffee-infused beers that aren’t darkly malty styles like stouts or porters are an underrated niche of the beer world, bringing the nutty and occasionally fruity flavors of coffee to the fore and marrying them to a light body and crisp finish. If you love beers like Modist’s First Call Coffee Lager, you’re going to really enjoy Duluth Cider’s java-infused Las Lajas. This sweet and aromatic cider was made with Duluth Coffee Co. beans from the Las Lajas farm in Costa Rica.
If you like Gueuze, try ANXO Grand Cru
Photo by Jordan Wipf
Tart, tangy, and drier than an Andalusian summer, Spanish-style cider is so distinctly different from the sweet, mass-produced cider that most Americans are familiar with that it’s almost a different beverage. If you like the funky, musty qualities offered by Gueueze and other lambics, you’re going to love Washington D.C.-based ANXO cider’s offerings, especially their Grand Cru. ANXO produces this cider by blending several varietals, similar to how a Belgian brewery would blend multiple lambics to produce their Gueuze.
If you like Berliner weiss, try Mayador Espumante
The whole category of Spanish cider going to be a boon for beer drinkers who enjoy the fizzy, acidic charms of sour beers, but we recommend Mayador Espumante for those who prefer the light tartness of a traditional Berliner weiss or a gose. Semi-dry, effervescent, and dripping with old-world class, this sidra is produced in Spain’s verdant northern region of Asturias and offers a refined, lemony acid that pairs excellently with food.
If you like Beaujolais, try Sweetland Cherry Rhubarb
Beaujolais is a unique star amongst the constellation of French red varieties, awash in vibrant cherry and berry flavors. Sweetland Orchard’s Cherry Rhubarb cider accentuates some of those same tart fruit notes and adds in the earthy tang of rhubarb to create a semi-dry cider with plenty of acidity. Produced in Webster, Minnesota, this cider makes an ideal late-summer crusher.
If you like Holiday Ales, try Wild State Apple Pie
Photo by Jordan Wipf
Whether or not we’d like to admit it, the holidays will soon be here and that means winter warmers and other holiday-spiced beers will be arriving on shelves any minute now. Produced in Duluth, Wild State Cider’s Apple Pie variety is a great substitute for holiday beers like Deschutes Jubelale or Sierra Nevada Celebration, with a spice-infused sweetness that pairs perfectly with a crackling fire, festive desserts, and goofy sweaters.
If you like Brandy, try Yellow Belly Bourbon Barrel Aged cider
If you love the slightly sweet, warming qualities of brandy, try pouring yourself a sniff of Sapsucker Farms’ Yellow Belly Bourbon Barrel Aged Cider. Produced in Mora, MN, Yellow Belly makes several different ciders, but our favorite is their award-winning Bourbon Barrel Aged variety, which spends time in bourbon barrels to add a slightly boozy and oaky flavor to the semi-dry base cider. Coming in at a respectable-but-not-overwhelming 6.5% ABV, this cider makes the perfect shoulder-season sipper that works equally well on warm days and cold nights.
If you like Champagne, try Eden Brut Nature
Synonymous with celebrations and highfalutin’ flair, Champagne is the king of sparkling wines. Eden Cider’s Brut Nature might be made in Vermont rather than France, but the cider uses a painstaking Champagne-style production process that takes two whole years from harvest to glass. The result is a sublimely balanced, clean-drinking dry cider that wears the same easy gravitas offered by Champagne—and it's just as versatile for food pairings too. Snag a bottle, break out the flutes, and let yourself get a little fancy.
If you like Pinot Noir, try Restoration Cider Co. Door County Cherry
Photo by Brian Kaufenberg
Lighter in body and chock-full of red fruit flavors, pinot noir is a crowd-pleasing red that still has plenty of complexity to offer, and that’s a great shorthand for Restoration Cider Co.’s Door County Cherry as well! Semi-dry with a slight sweetness and tart tang from the addition of Wisconsin-grown cherries, this cider is lightly effervescent and rewards repeated, nose-first sipping in a proper glass.
If you like boxed Sauvignon Blanc, try a Milk & Honey Golden Russet Bagnum
If you’re like us, then a box of Sauv Blanc is probably a summertime staple in your fridge. Next time, swap that box out for a “Bagnum” (yep, we love the name too) of Milk & Honey Cider’s Golden Russet cider. Flush with tropical fruity notes while still maintaining a balance of acidity, Golden Russet is a still (not sparkling) cider, which further accentuates its similarities to white wine. Produced right here in St. Joseph, Minnesota, this Bagnum is worthy of a permanent spot in your fridge rotation.
If you like Moscato, try Le Bruin Poiré
Fans of the delicate, semi-sweet, and fruity charms provided by Moscato should turn their eyes to France’s Normandy region, where pears grow in abundance and poiré is king. Perry has a higher degree of perceived sweetness due to the unfermentable sugars found in the fruit, and registers at a mild ABV, just like Moscato. Floral and fruit-forward, Le Bruin Poiré is also a sparkling cider with a gentle carbonation profile making it a light, refined beverage for all occasions.
If you like Sauternes, try Eden Ice Cider
Got a sweet tooth for white dessert wines like Sauternes? Try ice cider! Made in a similar manner to ice wine, ice cider is produced by freezing and thawing cider to remove its water content and concentrate its natural sweetness. Crafted using local produce (and local cold winters) in Vermont, Eden’s Ice Cider has a slightly acidic backbone that prevents the beverage’s natural sweetness from becoming overwhelming. Try it with a dessert cheese plate, and try not to smile.
