When it comes to cider sipping, it often means it might take a little longer to get a good buzz going. Part of the beauty of cider is just that — most ciders hover around 5% to 6% ABV. And with those percentages, it makes them ideal for enjoying one or two paired with a meal or while relaxing after a long day. But lately, cider makers are cranking up the volume on the ABV, and we’re definitely here for it. To keep you warm this winter, or any other season really, these stronger ciders are sure to do the trick.
2 Towns Ciderhouse | The Bad Apple | Corvallis, Ore. | 10.5% ABV
Grab a bottle of The Bad Apple and experience a delicious cider fermented with local honey. Even better? It’s aged in white oak for further flavor development, ultimately leading to notes of apple and wood. It’s a true Northwest cider clocking in at 10.5% ABV.
Sea Cider | Prohibition | Saanichton, B.C. | 12.5% ABV
Pay homage to the days of prohibition with this 12.5% ABV option. It’s made with hand-pressed apples fermented with Champagne yeast for a full-bodied sip. Thanks to six months of aging in rum-soaked bourbon barrels, it features notes of molasses and rum with a smooth finish.
Austin Eastciders | Imperial Cider | Austin, Tex. | 8.3% ABV
Go for something hazy with a bit of funk. This imperial cider clocks in at 8.3% ABV with a medium body and hint of haziness thanks to unfiltered apple juice. It hovers just below semi-sweet making it easy sipping for any occasion.
Liberty Ciderworks | Golden Russet | Spokane, Wash. | 10.5% ABV
The beauty of the Golden Russet is highlighted in this cider with a whopping 10.5% ABV. It’s an off-dry single-varietal cider featuring surprising tropical notes of jackfruit and spice, such as nutmeg with a hint of brown butter.
Portland Cider Co. | Perfect 10 | Portland, Ore. | 10% ABV
There’s nothing like sippin’ on a perfect 10, especially when it comes to cider. This offering from Portland Cider Co. is made with Northwest apples that are fermented cold and slow. It features just the tiniest bit of sweetness with balanced acidity and robust tannins for a delicious sip at 10% ABV.
Virtue Cider | Mitten Reserve | Fennville, Mich. | 10.1% ABV
Warm up with a pair of mittens. Virtue’s winter sip was aged for an entire year in Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Barrels, and it tops out at 10.1% ABV. Even better? For every pair of bottles sold of Mittens Reserve, Virtue is donating a pair of mittens to Mittens for Detroit, a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping local community members warm.
ACE Cider | ACE High | Sebastopol, Calif. | 8.4% ABV
High ABV? It’s right in the name with this one. ACE has made an Imperial cider with rare bittersweet apples, delivering rich tannins and beautiful complexity. It weighs in at 8.4% ABV for easy drinking with a bit of a buzz.
