Tried some hard cider

Mosca

On a recommendation from the beer store owner, I tried some hard cider. I picked up a 12 pack sampler of Ciderboys cider.

Eh. It's okay, but too sweet for me. This brand is just fizzy apple juice with a mild kick. Very simple.

I'd go through my impression of the various bottles but aside from the different side favors (orange, strawberry, cinnamon) all of them are the same. Are there any cider drinkers out there who know of some that are a bit more complex?

Legume

There are some from UK that have been around for a while, there are some national brands in US and there are lots of local or regional ciders.  From the flavors you mentioned, it sounds like you bought the cider equivalent of wine coolers.  Go somewhere that has a great microbrew selection and look for something in a bomber or larger bottle.  Some are in champagne style bottles.  Try those.

Mosca

Legume said:

There are some from UK that have been around for a while, there are some national brands in US and there are lots of local or regional ciders.  From the flavors you mentioned, it sounds like you bought the cider equivalent of wine coolers.  Go somewhere that has a great microbrew selection and look for something in a bomber or larger bottle.  Some are in champagne style bottles.  Try those.

Hehe, that's where I was. And I was holding a sixer of Great Lakes Alberta Clipper when I asked, so he knew I wasn't a Miller Lite guy.

Thanks for the recce on what to look for, I'm sure with that guidance I can find something I like.

mckennan

Some great ciders coming out of Nova Scotia, Canada if you can get your hands on some!

tonyled

i really like the granny smith apple one from woodchuck.  i wouldnt call it complex though its more crisp, very tart, and refreshing similar to a good riesling imo.  ironically, i love apple anything but havent found many ciders i do care for.  most taste like you said, apple juice with a kick 

fishlessman

of the bunch ive tried i like hop'n mad cider enough to try other dry hopped ciders. i cant drink more than 2 or 3 before switching up to a real drink though

evie1370

My husband is a real hard cider aficionado. He hates Woodchuck, too sweet. Some of his favorites are Green Goblin, Rheingeist (a Cincy local brewer that makes two ciders), Crispin, Stella-yea they do a pretty good one, Samuel Adams (not Sam Adams) and has been known to enjoy an Angry Orchard. All the ones mentioned are not sweet but on the dry side. The Rheingeist has a Hop Cider he really likes, try that if you can get it. A lot of good ones out there...have fun exploring!

Phatchris

I'm not a big cider drinker, but I do like a few.. Crispin reserve the saint and barrel aged Crispin, Down East, and Bantam are my favorites.

gdenby

Ciders have a range of alcohol content, sort of like craft beers, but never as strong. The "peary" cider I've had was really mild, maybe 4.5% A farm down the road from me makes a cider from honeycrisp apples and cherries. It's 7%. You need to inspect each bottle to get a better idea what your getting.

A few years ago, there were maybe 2 brands of hard cider near where I live. Now, there are entire coolers w. different brands and flavors. Most are sort of alco-pop.

FWIW, a few places around here offer true alcoholic ginger beer. There are several brands that seem to be sort of a fake, ginger ale that might have been fermented, or maybe just had some ethanol added. The best ones I've had were made in Jamaica, I think one was called Royal Jamaica. I understand there are some good British varieties, which makes sense given the relation of Jamaica to England.

saluki2007

Not to change the subject too much, but I tried Henry's Hard orange soda last week.  That was really good and I'm not a cider/sweet beverage drinker.  It tasted just like Orange Crush soda.

Legume

Is that Henry Weinhard @saluki2007 ?  IMO they had the best hard lemonade back when those first came out, but hard to find outside of northern Cal or Oregon.  Their beer was really popular in the early 80's

saluki2007

@Legume Not sure, but it looks like it might be.  Here is the website http://henryshardsoda.com/  It's readily available around here in central IL.

jtcBoynton

evie1370 said:

...
 Samuel Adams (not Sam Adams) and has been known to enjoy an Angry Orchard. 
...

Boston Beer Company makes the Samuel Adams brands of beer.  A lot of people call them Sam Adams.  I am not aware of two separate breweries for Samuel Adams and Sam Adams.  Boston Beer Company also makes the Angry Orchard brands of cider.  The have a Ciderhouse Collection in addition to their normal brands of cider.  These may be of interest to the OP.

Samuel Smith Brewery makes a good cider.  Samuel Smith often gets confused with Samuel Adams. 

Legume

@saluki2007 that's the name, but it looks like the company's been sold long ago and is now part of Miller.

ChillyWillis

I love a good cider. My personal favorite is Downeast cider. It's the perfect drink for a hot summer afternoon. If you see a 4 pack I'd highly recommend picking one up (although I'm not sure how good the distribution is outside of the New England area). 

buzd504

The Woodchuck Reserve, Pink, and Hopsation are all pretty good.  The Crispin London Dry is great (but not the regular blue label). 

I also really like the Stella Cidre - goes great with (or for) breakfast.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

My 2 faves:

womaus

ChillyWillis said:

I love a good cider. My personal favorite is Downeast cider. It's the perfect drink for a hot summer afternoon. If you see a 4 pack I'd highly recommend picking one up (although I'm not sure how good the distribution is outside of the New England area). 

DownEast is the best I've found in the New England area. Not too sweet, has a nice fresh pressed murky appearance. If you can find it on draft dive in, you won't regret it. Stay away from the flavored ones though...

NPHuskerFL

Best hard cider I've had was on tap at a pub in Gibraltar (brewed onsite). Have no idea what they called it. 

ChillyWillis

Yeah, their flavored ones are no good.... However I did like their summer release last year which was a hard lemonade. It wasn't all fake sweet like a mikes hard lemonade, just real lemon flavor. Awesome out of a cooler ice cold on a boat!