Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock Add Tasting Table on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover Whether you're a fall apple cider person or someone who likes it year-round, label-reading alone doesn't always tell you whether you're choosing just an okay hard apple cider or one that's truly going to knock your socks off. That first taste of a really great hard apple cider is something you don't forget, and the ones on this list are the ones customers come back to buy again and again.
If you've been stuck on just one cider brand or only what your grocery store carries, you might not have realized how wide the range of options is. You've got ones that focus just on really great apples, ones that include other fruits, and ones that even play with the concept by adding unexpected ingredients like tannins and spicy heat.
There are also ones with different sweetness levels. Three on our list are sweet, three are dry, and five seem balanced between the two extremes. Of course, you'll see some mainstream ciders on this list that appeal to the masses, but you'll also likely see some in categories that will broaden your hard apple cider horizons. These eleven hard apple ciders are ones that customers seem to love most, talk about positively on social media, and give the highest ratings.
Angry Orchard If you've tried a hard apple cider, chances are it was Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Hard Cider, as we've seen this one shows up as the default in grocery stores, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants. Don't think that just because it's a mainstream hard apple cider that it's not good. It's a crowd-pleaser and a good intro to hard apple cider. Plenty of people count it as their favorite and say it's the best apple cider they've ever tried. It doesn't hurt that it's on the sweet side, which is probably the reason people who consider themselves serious cider connoisseurs like to hate on it. Still, it absolutely belongs on this list because of its popularity.
The company advertises it as providing the same flavor experience that you'd get from biting into a crisp, fresh apple. Customers agree that the flavor has a crispness. Since it reminds them of apple juice, some people don't see it as a true cider, which can often offer a yeasty flavor.
This cider uses both culinary and cider apples so that the flavor is more balanced between sweet and tart. Customers tend to categorize it as a medium-sweet cider and find it to be smooth, light, and refreshing. For this one, you shouldn't expect a craft-level cider but one that's become the standard for mass appeal. Its ABV (alcohol by volume) is 5%, which is about the same amount as a regular beer.
Magners When people think of Irish hard apple cider, Magners Irish Hard Cider is usually the first that comes to mind. So, it can be very nostalgic for those who have lived in or visited Ireland. For many, it's the gold standard of hard dry apple ciders, especially for those looking for a more European-style cider rather than a sweet U.S.-style one.
Magners considers its cider to be "Ireland's only truly authentic cider." The company first sold this hard apple cider in Clonmel, Ireland, in 1935, changing the idea of cider from a thick, dark drink to a refreshing, thirst-quenching drink served over ice. The company set out to offer a well-balanced flavor that wasn't too sweet or too acidic by choosing 17 different apples for its flavor mix. Its ABV (alcohol by volume) is 4.5%, placing it between a light and regular beer.
