20+ Hopped Hard Ciders You Need To Try
Getting to Know Duluth Cider
March 17, 2021
Starcut Cider Reviews: Pulsar & Mosa
March 23, 2021
As big beer fans, we were excited to discover that hops made their way into the world of cider. Often, beer does not sit well in my stomach even if I desire all the hoppy IPA qualities that beers have to offer. Good news for all of us, not only do hopped cider exists, but they are also all over the United States… and they do not hurt my stomach! Win/win on my end. So, without further ado, we present 20+ of the counties best hopped hard ciders. Even if cider isn’t beer, they can share some traits.
What is hopped cider?
A hopped cider uses the same hops that are often used in IPA beers. Galaxy, cascade, and centennial hops are often used to pair with ciders to create a similar experience and mouthfeel as certain beers. It is worth noting that even individuals that do not like hoppy beers have been known to enjoy ciders than contain hops. Drinkable like a cider with an element of beer. Cheers to that!
Hopped Ciders You Should Try!
Virtue Cider’s Northcider | Fennville, Michigan | 6.7% ABV
Northcider is a blend of Michigan apples fermented on-site at Virtue Cider and dry-hopped with Centennial and Cascade hops. A delicate hop aroma and nicely balanced. Crisp and refreshing.
www.virtuecider.com
Abandon Hard Cider’s Hopped | Woodstock, New York | 6% ABV
Aged on the lees for up to one year, and dry-hopped with whole cone cascade hops, this cider is a lively blend of hoppy flavor and a crisp apple mouth feel. With a big nose of lemon peel and honeydew melon, this fruit-forward dry cider is both complex and highly crushable!
www.abandonedcider.com
Rocky Ground Cider’s Hop Zuzu | Newburgh, Maine | 6.9% ABV
This cider is steeped in hops with piney and grassy elements. Juice comes from 40 wild apple seedlings, fermented in oak for 11 months then steeped in hops. Subtle hop influence. Bottle fermented with maple syrup.
rockygroundcider.com
Incline Cider’s Hopped | Tacoma, Washington | 6.5% ABV
Lightly dry hopped with a blend of Citra, Cascade, and Galaxy hops to pull out citrus aromas. Balanced, bright, refreshing, and certainly not too sweet. Winner of a 2017, 2018, and 2019 CLINTCAP Silver Medal.
www.inclinecider.com
1911 Cider’s New England IPC Hopped | Lafayette, NY | 8% ABV
1911 New England Style I.P.C. is a supremely aromatic sparkling cider made with NY State apples and hops. Harvested from Hop Haven in Skaneateles, NY, we use only the finest Cascade, Nugget and Chinook hops, for a bold and juicy flavor profile.
1911established.com/
Jack’s Hopped Cider | Gettysburg, Pennsylvania | 5.5% ABV
Adding classic American craft brewing hops throughout the fermentation process of this dry cider base lends pleasant citrus and herbal aromas and flavors. Uses Falnconer Flight 7C hops.
www.jackshardcider.com/
Stormalong Cider’s Light of the Sun | Sherborn, Massachusetts | 6.5% ABV
A citrusy, refreshing cider dry-hopped with Citra & Ekuanot hops. At the time of dry-hopping we add guava to enhance the tropical, citrusy taste which is on the drier side.
www.stormalong.com
Diskin Cider’s WeHo | Nashville, Tennessee | 6.4% ABV
WeHo is an homage to all things we hold dear – our makers neighborhood of Wedgewood Houston in Nashville; and hops, lots of hops. WeHo is semi-dry and dry-hopped with a heavy-handed dose of our hop blend that evokes a luscious green aroma and flavors of tropical and citrus fruit.
www.diskincider.com
Citizen Cider’s The Lake Hopper | Burlington, Vermont | 6.2% ABV
The Lake Hopper is a tribute to those things that connect us. Many good farmers, one landscape, one cider. Made with 100% local cascade hops and blended with apples pressed location in Burlington, VT.
www.citizencider.com
Union Hill Cider’s Hopped & Hazy | East Wenatchee, Washington | 7.8% ABV
A Union of Muscadet de Lens, MN55 (Honeycrisp + MonArk) and Snowdrift Crabapples. We add Mosaic and Liberty hops, wet and dry hopping to extract as much flavor as possible. Citrus forward and medium bodied with aromas of tropical fruit and a slightly bitter finish. Our tag line for this one is “If you like IPA then this is your cider, if you don’t like IPA then this is still your cider.”
www.unionhillciderco.com
Meriwether Cider’s Hopshot | Garden City, Idaho | 6.9% ABV
his hopped cider sparkles on the tongue with distinct citrus and floral notes. Hop Shot is a semi-dry cider dry-hopped with citra hops. Easy drinking for all craft beverage lovers.
www.meriwethercider.com/ciders
Blake’s Hard Cider’s FIDO | Armada, Michigan | 6.8% ABV
FIDO (Latin for faithfulness) is the second release in our #KinderCider series. Enjoy this hopped raspberry and grapefruit hard cider made in support of non-profits that pairs veterans and shelter animals.
www.blakeshardcider.com
Ace Cider’s Hazy Hop | Sebastopol, California | 6% ABV
Oft thought to be polarizing quaffs, many of us enjoy both cider and beer. Introduced at the intersection of bitter and sweet, this is an unfiltered dry cider with Mosaic Hops, making for a juicy and tropical concert featuring fruit and flower.
www.acecider.com
Stowe Cider’s Safety Meeting | Stowe, Vermont | 6.5% ABV
Loaded with Citra and Galaxy hops to add complete notes of tropical and citrus fruit. No it’s not beer. No it’s not bitter. It’s just awesome.
www.stowecider.com
Brix’s IPC Hopped Cider | Mt Horeb, Wisconsin
With an ever-changing menu, Brix seems to always have a hopped hard cider offering. Currently, we see a semi-sweet, hopped cider make from Pink Lady apples and Mackinac Hops from Tenacious Badger.
brixcider.com
Duluth Cider’s Greenstone | Duluth, Minnesota | 6.4% ABV
A hoppy off dry cider with aromatic crystal hops and notes of pine and apricots. Also a gold medal winner for the U.S. Open Cider Championship!
duluthcider.com
2Fool’s Pinehopple | Naperville, Illinois | 6.9% ABV
Modern Style Specialty Cider. Dry hopped with Cascade and Amarillo hops, with fresh pineapple and blood orange, very juicy, citrusy, easy drinking Summer cider. Refreshingly crisp and tart from the apples and citrusy from the mix of pineapple, blood orange and hops.
2foolscider.com
Noble Cider’s The Royal Peach | Asheville, North Carolina | 6.5% ABV
This summer seasonal is a wonderfully dry cider with delicate peach aromas & the subtle bitterness of hops. Pair with dinner salads & grilled salmon. Our ode to the delights of Summer from Asheville, North Carolina!
www.noblecider.com
Daidala Cider’s Green Glory | Asheville, North Carolina
Because they are based in a city known for its craft beer, Daidala was inspired to create a hard cider that would feel at home in Asheville. Green Glory is an aggressively-hopped cider made for IPA-lovers. Brewed like an IPA with several hop additions during the boil as well as dry-hopping, it’s their most full-bodied cider with hop forwardness from front to finish. An ideal fusion of the Asheville cider and brewing culture!
www.daidalaciders.com
Potter Cider’s Hopped | Free Union, Virginia | 8.5% ABV
Australian grown Galaxy hops bring aromas of peach, lemon peel and pineapple to this cider. The fruit forward hops are complimented by the bright acidity of Rome, York and Jonagold apples.
www.potterscraftcider.com
Finnriver Farm’s Dry Hopped Cider | Chimacum, Washington | 6.5% ABV
A crisp, refreshing hopped cider featuring the floral and citrus flavors of Cascade hops. Dry, bright and grassy with grapefruit and pine notes. A cider tribute to the Northwest IPA.
www.finnriver.com
Bad Seed Cider’s India Pale Cider (IPC) | Highland, New York | 6.9% ABV
Fermented with and American Ale yeast and Dry Hopped with Cascade hops for a bright grapefruit flavor of a fresh IPA.
www.badseedhardcider.com
Reverend Nat’s Hallelujah Hopricot | Portland, Oregon | 6.7% ABV
Once per year, when the hop harvest is underway, Reverend Nat makes a very special batch of his award-winning Hallelujah Hopricot using fresh-from-the-field Cascade hops. This version is a limited release and sells out quickly to all the hop heads. They buy hops from Crosby Hop Farm in Woodburn Oregon and have them in the tanks in under three hours. One week later, you can drink the result. Grassy, nutty, herbal, incredibly fragrant, this cider is quite a departure from their normal Hopricot. A while back we did and interview with Rev Nat on common cidermaking questions.
reverendnatshardcider.com
Tieton Cider Works’ Yakima Valley Dry-Hopped Cider | Yakima, Washington | 6.9% ABV
The Yakima Valley is known worldwide as a premier apple growing region and a prominent source of hops. We have chosen a select blend of traditional and exotic hops to marry with our cider. This blend of hops produces an aroma of fruit-forward nuttiness followed by a citrusy palate.
tietonciderworks.com
Colorado Cider Company Grasshop-ah | Denver, Colorado | 6.5% ABV
Aromas of lemon zest and cut grass lead to flavors of light hops and a citrus kick of lemongrass. An award-winning gateway cider for beer lovers and unique thrill for cider adventurers.
coloradocider.com
Portland Cider Co. Hop’Rageous | Portland, Oregon | 6.8% ABV
An outrageously refreshing hopped cider that every beer & cider drinker will love! We doubled down on the bright, citrus notes of this cider with Amarillo & Citra hops. This semi-dry, juicy cider is the perfect refreshment for those long hot days. Light hop bitterness, with more of a citrus finish, making it a cider favorite among those who don’t even like hops!
www.portlandcider.com
Bull City Ciderwork’s Smooth Hoperator | Durham, North Carolina | 6% ABV
It’s smoooooth. Smooth Hoperator hard cider is dry hopped with Cascade, Citra and Galaxy for amazing floral aroma, tropical notes and mild bitterness. This cider’s no one trick pony… Here comes the bull!
www.bullcityciderworks.com
Bold Rock Cider’s IPA | Virginia & North Carolina | 4.7% ABV
Dry-Hopped primarily with Ekuanot Hops to impart a less bitter and hop-forward profile, IPA or India Pressed Apple blends the tartness of fresh-pressed apples with the slightly sweet hop notes of passion fruit, grapefruit, and citrus.
boldrock.com
