A cool, crisp cider is wildly refreshing on a hot summer’s day, but a typical can hovers around 200 calories, which can definitely weigh you down when the sun is blazing hot. There are plenty of craft cideries that are serving up solutions in the form of lite ciders, or ciders that are a bit lower in calories, that contain less sugar and some even with lower ABV. Still packed full of flavor, these lite ciders serve as the perfect way to cool off while having fun in the sun.
Blake’s Hard Cider – Armada, MI
From strawberry kiwi and melon to mimosa and apple, the lite cider flavors from Blake’s are seriously refreshing. The variety pack comes with 12 cans, with three of each flavor, so you can choose your favorite and share with a friend. Plus, with only 100 calories per can, it’ll be easy to sip more than one on a hot day. | 5% ABV
Blue Toad Hard Cider – Rochester, N.Y.
Want a cider sipper that’s only 99 calories? Blue Toad Hard Cider has you covered with multiple flavors. Made with apples grown in the Blue Ridge Mountains, these Virginia ciders are super crushable. The hardest part is choosing from all the tasty flavors including blue raspberry, peach and blackberry. | 4.5% ABV
High Limb Cider – Plymouth, MA
While High Limb certainly offers multiple options in its core series and batch series, if you’re looking for something low in sugar and under 100 calories, the light series is it. The cidery’s Light Classic Apple cider still offers all the flavor of its classic apple cider, but it’s significantly lightened up. | 4.5% ABV
District Cider – Washington D.C.
It’s hot, and the sun’s beating down. Does anything sound more refreshing than a hard apple spritz? Crafted by District Cider Co. in Washington D.C., Kilig Hard Apple Spritz is made with real apples. There’s no sugar, it’s low in calories and it’s incredibly bubbly. Even better? You can choose from raspberry rosé, grapefruit, lemon and blueberry, or strawberry and kiwi. Or, try them all! | 5% ABV
Noble Cider – Asheville, N.C.
While Noble boasts a full line of ciders, this North Carolina cidery has also released a series of hard cider spritzers, each with only 99 calories and no added sugar. Made with fresh-pressed apples, the spritzers come in a variety of flavors including lemon & elderflower and lime & hibiscus for fresh, easy sipping. | 4% ABV
Bad Granny Hard Cider – Wenatchee, WA
Washington cider powerhouse, Bad Granny Hard Cider, has you covered this summer with Bad Granny Lite. Take a trip to the islands (while still staying at home!) with their Tropical Lite, jam-packed with passion fruit, guava and orange. It’s balanced, crisp and totally refreshing. | 4% ABV
Meriwether Cider Company – Boise, ID
Meri Spritzers are the answer to a scorching hot day in the Boise area. Meriwether Cider Company has the ideal solution, with super crisp sessional sippers. There’s no sugar, only 100 calories and you can choose from Rasp-berry or lemon ginger for the perfect pairing to any afternoon activity. | 4.6% ABV
