We are revisiting our favorite pumpkin ciders this week because fall means apple and pumpkin season — separately and teamed up. The two seem to seam together, probably because both are complemented well by the same spices and flavors from cinnamon and nutmeg to clove, which many of these delectable ciders are flavored with. These ciders are something like a pumpkin spice latte for ciderheads… But more “from the farm” than from Starbucks. Give these five pumpkin ciders a shot and you’re sure to fall for one of them.
Downeast Cider Pumpkin Blend
This East Coast-made, unfiltered cider is bursting with pumpkin flavor. Downeast Cider uses pumpkin purée to flavor the mix, leaving the cider with a bold flavor that is backed up by a cinnamon and chai profile that wakes your mouth up.
Seattle Cider Co. Pumpkin Spice
Enter the perfectly balanced PNW cider that embodies fall in Washington state. This cider has a mild sweetness and is far less dry than most of Seattle Cider’s other offerings. Pouring it into a glass accentuates the subtle pumpkin aromas and coaxes earthiness out of the apple flavor.
Doc’s Draft Hard Cider Pumpkin
This spiced cider comes from Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery in New York and is available only for a limited time, and only for another few weeks. Flavored with ginger to gives it a spiced profile similar to your favorite ginger beer, the cider and its spices complement the pumpkin with precision.
ACE Cider Pumpkin
This list would not be complete without the first-ever pumpkin spice cider on the West Coast. This California-based cidery introduced its seasonal pumpkin cider in 2010 and has not looked back. A bit on the sweeter side with just a touch of cinnamon, the pumpkin flavor does not dominate the profile but sits nicely behind the crisp apple characteristics.
Mckenzie’s Hard Cider Pumpkin Jack
This New York-made cider is light in color — almost translucent — but bursting with pumpkin flavor. If you want a cider that will rival your favorite pumpkin-spiced foods, this is it. The sip makes use of New England’s freshest fall ingredients, providing a drink that is sure to satisfy your fall cravings and sub out that pumpkin pie.