Summer has a way of slipping through your fingers. One moment you’re planning beach trips and backyard barbecues, and the next, you’re watching the days get shorter and the temperature drop. Before the season makes its exit, there’s something we’re adding to your warm-weather checklist: a glass of something real cold, fruity and best enjoyed in the sunshine.
Cider has come a long way from its apple orchard origins. Today’s craft producers are pressing passion fruit, pineapple, guava and everything in between into bottles that taste like a vacation in every sip. No matter where you are on your cider journey, these five tropical-inspired picks are worth tracking down.
2 Towns | Guava Get Down | Corvallis, Oregon
Oregon-based 2 Towns Ciderhouse has earned a well-deserved reputation for crafting ciders that consistently punch above their weight, and Guava Get Down is no exception. A platinum winner at the ninth annual Cidercraft Awards, this beautiful gold-orange tropical offering delivers ripe guava flavors balanced by delicate floral notes and a clean, refreshing finish. Even better, Guava Get Down is also available as a nonalcoholic option that’s every bit as enjoyable as the original.
Martinelli’s | Mango 1868 Hard Cider | Watsonville, California
The Martinelli’s name carries the weight of more than 150 years of apple cider history, so when the brand released its mango expression in 2024, expectations were justifiably high. Fortunately, Martinelli’s Mango 1868 Hard Cider delivers. The mango is bright, juicy and ever so slightly green, with a honeyed apricot aroma that lingers on the nose. It’s approachable without feeling one-note, making it an excellent entry point for anyone curious about flavored hard ciders.
Cider Corps | P.O.G. | Mesa, Arizona
Named after the beloved Hawaiian blend of passion fruit, orange and guava, Cider Corps P.O.G. is the kind of cider that makes you want to throw on a pair of sunglasses, lean back and have a musubi within arm’s reach. Crafted by the Arizona-based cidery, it is bright, juicy and incredibly crushable. The aromas are unmistakable, with each fruit making its presence known before the first sip. You might expect all that tropical fruit to tip into candy-like sweetness, but P.O.G. stays remarkably balanced. If you’ve ever wanted a cider that drinks like a postcard from the Pacific, this is
Tennessee Cider Company | Pineapple | Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Pineapple is a divisive fruit in many culinary circles, as it can easily overpower everything else. But in the hands of Tennessee Cider Company, it finds its proper place. This cider captures the bright tang of fresh, ripe pineapple and marries it with a crisp apple cider base. It’s effervescent and refreshing, perfect for a hot afternoon in a tall-stemmed wine glass … or better yet, with a splash of rum and a sprig of fresh mint. Just trust us.
Austin Eastciders | Imperial Tropical Punch | Austin, Texas
Austin Eastciders Imperial Tropical Punch is exactly what it sounds like: a grown-up take on the fruit punch you couldn’t get enough of as a kid. Bursting with pineapple, passion fruit, citrus and other tropical flavors, it’s balanced by a touch of tartness and pours a brilliant ruby red, just as you’d expect. Clocking in at a higher ABV, it’s surprisingly smooth, dangerously drinkable, and made for pool days, backyard hangs and the perfect post-lawn-mowing reward.
