
Does Hard Cider Fit Into Your Lifestyle?
December 11, 2019
Cider Soap by Flatirons Soap Works
December 19, 2019‘Twas the night before Christmas and all of the ciders were tucked into their fridges. I love Christmas and there is no better way to celebrate the holidays than with a cider by my side. This year I created a list of the 12 must-have ciders of the holiday season:
1) LONE TREE DARK
- Made In: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Style: Dry + Hints of Sweet Dark Fruits
- ABV: 5.5%
This one is new as of a couple of months ago and packs a punch with dry apple and dark cherries and berries.
2) THORNBURY SPICED APPLE CIDER
- Made In: Thornbury, Ontario, Canada
- Style: Sweeter than Pie
- ABV: 5.5%
This one is a fan favourite (or one of my favourites) and it popped up into my holiday list in 2018 as well!
3) BRICKWORKS BURGUNDY EFFECT
- Made In: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Style: Semi-Dry, Crafted with Black Currant Hints
- ABV: 5%
The trend this season seems to be those lovely dark fruit hints and this one does not disappoint. It is a nice semi-dry that you can enjoy in the place of a strong red wine.
4) POMMIES CRANBERRY
- Made In: Caledon, Ontario, Canada
- Style: Tart + Sweet
- ABV: 5.5%
Cranberry is another grand flavour of the season and Pommies is here to deliver. This cider is also vegan and gluten-free.
5) ERNEST WINTER’S BLUSH
- Made In: Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
- Style: Spiced Fruit
- ABV: 5.5%
This cider is a nice wintery-spiced cider, flavoured with cranberry and orange.
6) KOPPARBERG MIXED FRUIT
- Made In: Kopparberg, Sweden
- Style: Sweet
- ABV: 4%
This one is light on alcohol as it is full of sweetness. This one tastes like one of my favourite candies, the dark wine gum. You need your sweet tooth for this one.
7) WEST AVENUE CHERRIOSITY CIDER
- Made In: Freelton, Ontario, Canada
- Style: Dry
- ABV: 6.5%
This cider with cherry hints is on the drier side of the scale, and the stronger one. This cider house makes numerous different ciders, including a couple of ice ciders that have the perfect flavour of the holidays.
8) TWO RIVERS POMEGRANATE
- Made In: Sacramento, California, USA
- Style: Sweet Treat
- ABV: 4.5%
This sweet pomegranate cider I tried on a trip of mine to Cali. It was a beautiful colour with a tart but sweet taste to match.
9) SARAH COLE MOUNTIE CIDER
- Made In: Lachute, Quebec, Canada
- Style: Sweet and Crisp
- ABV: 0%
This non-alcoholic cider is the perfect treat for those who aren’t drinking this season. It is sweet, refreshing and another fav of mine.
10) ZEFFER CRISP APPLE
- Made In: Fernhill, New Zealand
- Style: Crisp Apple
- ABV: 5%
This cider from far, far away, is a nice classic apple cider to enjoy during the season. You get the sweet and clean taste along with the crispness (like the winter breeze).
11) ACE GINGER
- Made In: Sebastopol, California, USA
- Style: Ginger (of course)
- ABV: 6%
This strong flavour cider reminds me of a ginger beer. Ginger is also another holiday flavour and the flavour of my favourite cookie: the gingerbread.
12) BULWARK BLUSH
- Made In: New Ross, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Style: Light & Fresh
- ABV: 5.8%
This berry apple cider is a berry good addition to the holiday list. For those who like a light drink to sip on, with a fruit twist- this is your friend.