Apple season is upon us — Maine Apple Sunday is this weekend, Sept. 14 — and if you’re not out picking apples at one of Maine’s many orchards, you’re likely getting them at stores and markets statewide. One apple treat that’s always in season is hard apple cider, an increasingly popular adult option for those who abstain from beer or other gluten-containing alcoholic drinks.
In fact, nationally, hard cider sales have skyrocketed, with an estimated $600 million in sales in 2013 and big beverage companies like InBev and Heineken getting in on the action. Here in Maine, we’re an apple-producing state, and we’ve got a fantastic variety of both well-known and heirloom apples to choose from, when making some grown-up beverages.
Here are five Maine-made apple cider brands worth trying this fall — or anytime, really.
This Maine-made cider is made by Blacksmiths Winery, a Turner-based winemaker that expanded a few years back to include cider. Fatty Bampkins, its signature cider and likely the most widely available Maine cider, can be found on draught in more than 100 bars and restaurants statewide as well as in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It’s a traditional English-style cider, made with six varieties of Maine apples. It’s fermented in bourbon and rye barrels and is noticeably less sweet than most national, mainstream cider brands.
Made from apples from a heritage orchard in Kennebec County, Kennebec Cider has produced a slightly tart, less heavy, naturally fermented cider since 2009. It’s available in more than 50 retail stores and at select bars and restaurants statewide, including Novare Res and the Great Lost Bear in Portland and Nocturnem Draft Haus and Blaze in Bangor. It’s bottled in a champagne bottle and has natural carbonation — a perfect fall replacement for a sparking wine. They also make Maine ice cider, which is sweeter and has a higher alcohol content, and a blueberry apple cider.
Urban Farm Fermentory, Portland
Less than five years after appearing on the Maine craft alcohol scene, Urban Farm Fermentory now offers four year-round cider offerings, in addition to their array of kombuchas and meads, all fermented with unique varieties of wild yeast. The most commonly found ciders on draught and in bottles statewide include Dry Cidah and Sour Cidah, the former tart and the latter super tart, a piney Hopped Cidah, and the bourbon-aged Baby Jimmy. Look out for the fall varietals — the hopped Dickson Cidah and Arlo, made with Golden Delicious apples.
Ricker Hill Hard Cider Plant & Winery, Turner
Brand new as of fall 2014, Ricker Hill, long known for their delicious regular cider sold in stores statewide, has just started making its own brand of hard cider. Maniac Gold, the first cans of which started coming off the line in August, tastes remarkably similar to the regular cider you may have tried, except with the delightful addition of alcohol. Right now, six-packs of Maniac Gold are available to purchase at the orchard in Turner, as well as in a handful of retail stores in the Lewiston area.
Cayford’s Hardened Cider, Skowhegan
This hard cider is a rare breed: not easily available outside the Skowhegan area, but a delicious Maine original indeed. Cayford’s grows apples, pears, peaches, blueberries, honey and other sweet, natural treats on their family farm. Their hardened cider — pure and sweet tasting, and available in large bottles clocking in at around 10 percent ABV — can be found at the Skowhegan Farmer’s Market, the Pickup Cafe & CSA in Skowhegan, and sometimes at Barrel’s Community Market in Waterville.
