If you’re a traditionalist, your Thanksgiving menu will likely consist of a few staple items. Of course, there’s the beautifully cooked bird, the mashed potatoes, the stuffing and the green-bean casserole. Don’t forget the pumpkin pie with a big dollop of whipped cream. And, of course, no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without cranberries or cranberry sauce.
But what about adding cranberries in the form of cider? These little red fruits are tart on their own, but when added to cider, they’re the perfect complement to apples. And more and more cidermakers are getting creative with seasonal options. To find a cranberry cider to accompany your Thanksgiving feast, read on for nine delicious selections.
Blake’s Hard Cider | Berry Cranders | Armada, Mich.
Blake’s took the sweetness of apples and balanced it with the tartness of cranberries for this seasonal option. But to take it one step further? Ginger is added to the mix for just a hint of spice. It hovers around semi-sweet, offering the ideal pairing to a bite of pumpkin pie.
Artifact Cider Project | No New Friends | Florence, Mass.
Looking for something entirely bold and tart? This is it. It’s wonderfully acidic thanks to the combination of apples and cranberries, with great structure to boot. Put together an elaborate charcuterie board and pair it with your favorite cheeses and good company.
Tieton Cider Works | Cranberry | Yakima, Wash.
The folks at Tieton Cider Works say this one’s a little racy, and we’d have to agree. Add a bit of pep into your holiday step with this bright, bold option. Freshly pressed cranberry juice is blended with fermented apples to create this sweet, yet tart, sipper.
Meriwether Cider Co. | Cranberry Crosscut | Garden City, Idaho
Looking for big cranberry flavor? This offering from Meriwether is it. It’s made in small batches with the right amount of sweetness to balance the tartness of cranberries. Pair it with any dish you’d put your cranberry sauce on — or ditch the cranberry sauce altogether and just sip this.
1911 Established | Cranberry | Lafayette, N.Y.
Say ho, ho, hello to this festive drink. This cranberry offering from 1911 Established isn’t just dressed up for Thanksgiving — it’s ready for ALL holiday festivities. It’s semi-sweet thanks to a delicious blend of apples and New England cranberries. Pair it with a holiday meal or enjoy it on its own all fall and winter long.
Portland Cider Co. | Crangerine | Portland, Ore.
Oregon is one of the biggest producers of cranberries in the U.S., and this cider all starts with local fruit. Ripe, tart cranberries meet juicy tangerines for robust flavor in every sip. It’s wonderfully balanced with just a hint of sweetness and great acidity to pair with everything from mashed potatoes to turkey.
Shale Ridge Winery and Cider | Cranberry Spice | Thedford, Ontario
You’ll find sugar, spice and everything nice in this bottle. This seasonal cider is made by infusing fresh, locally sourced cranberries into cider. To make it even better? Mulling spices are added for a hint of holiday spice.
Citizen Cider | AmeriCran | Burlington, Vt.
Say hello to Citizen Cider’s co-fermented cider highlighting what happens when you combine apples with other locally sourced fruit. AmeriCran is a mixture of apples and cranberries producing an off-dry sipper that’s delightfully tart. Pair it with turkey, roasted root veggies or your favorite hard cheese.
Lake City Cider | Cranberry | Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
This tart rosé cider is all dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner. Made with local cranberries and Nova Scotia apples, it’s the ideal fall offering. Wonderfully balanced and crisp, it’s the perfect pairing for turkey and pumpkin pie.
