| DEEP DIVE |

BY MELISSA DOWLING

Fall is apple cider season for sure , but hard cider — the alcoholic style — is a crisp refresher all year round . While cider is ubiquitous in bars and shops in many parts of Europe , it ’ s been slower to catch on in the U . S .

That wasn ’ t always the case : Cider was a mainstream drink in the U . S . during Colonial times , thanks to the prevalence of apple trees . Then European immigrants — particularly those from Germany — brought beer to America and began establishing large-scale lager production in the mid-19th century .

Prohibition posed another problem for cider . Orchards began producing sweeter table apples instead of bittersweet cider apples .

It really wasn ’ t until the most recent craft beer boom that hard cider began making a comeback in the U . S . Angry Orchard , launched by Boston Beer Co . in 2012 , is by far the leading cider brand in the U . S ., with retail sales exceeding $ 183 million in 2022 .

But while craft beer has given cider a boost , it ’ s also cider ’ s greatest rival . Both categories have had to contend with competition from new entrants such as hard seltzer and ready-to-drink ( RTD ) cocktails .

Still , cider has strong appeal for several reasons . Here are a few things to know and reasons to try it .

• Hard cider doesn ’ t have to be made from apples . Fermented fruit blends of all kinds can be used to make cider . For instance , Portland , ORbased Square Mile Cider recently introduced an Imperial Key Lime Pie offering as a summer seasonal . ( Perry , cider made from fermented pears , is its own subcategory .)

• Styles vary widely . Ciders can range from light to dark , dry to fruity , hoppy , like beer , or fizzy like wine . Types include tart and funky sidras from Spain , Champagne-like cidres from Normandy , and dry but fruity English ciders and American ciders .

• Cider is highly food-friendly . Beverage professionals often say that cider is similar to wine when it comes to pairing with food . For instance , the acid in a dry , minerally cider cuts through fat , while hard ciders

with residual sugar work like pinot gris or gewürztraminer and matches nicely with salty pork dishes .

• It works well in cocktails . The carbonation in cider can lighten the body of a mixed drink , and a dry selection will balance stronger flavors . Experts say it provides an alternative to getting acid into a drink , or a sparkling wine .

• Ciders are usually gluten free . This places them in an ever-expanding market for such products , where some beverages cannot compete .

2 oz . Monkey 47 gin ¾ oz . Fresh lemon juice ½ oz . Simple syrup Dry hard cider

Add gin , lemon and simple syrup to a shaker with ice . Shake and strain over fresh ice into glass . Top with cider and garnish with a slice of apple and a lemon wheel or a fresh citrus twist .

The mixologists at Monkey 47 created this recipe .

10 | FALL 2023 • CHEERS @ HOME WWW . CHEERSONLINEATHOME . COM