A-peel-ing Ciders and Incredib-Ale Beers for the Fall

The time has come. The days are getting shorter, the evenings are getting cooler, and pumpkin/apple/maple snacks can be found anywhere you look. For those who have already decorated their apartment and have 10,000 ideas for their Halloween costume, Happy Fall! For those who are lamenting summer’s end and the impending cold weather, we are very sorry, but maybe a nice cider will make it better? While hard cider is often enjoyed by many year-round, it takes center stage as the leaves begin to turn. Hard cider has a reputation of being a "sweet" beverage, cast aside as simple and low-quality. However, in recent years, cider has seen a bit of a renaissance. People now understand the wide spectrum of flavors and sugar levels available, and also of the various techniques, both traditional and modern, used to create this delicious drink. Hard cider demands that cidermakers care for their apple trees as thoroughly as winemakers care for their vines, with changes in weather patterns and pests as major concerns. Many cidermakers work closely with local apple producers where there is a mutual benefit for each. Considering apples used in cider do not need to look beautiful, only taste good, cidermakers are able to take the less beautiful, damaged apples that might otherwise be thrown out and can instead turn them into cider. Ciders have been taken to such a level that you don’t need a reason to enjoy one and have the added benefit of being gluten-free, unlike most beers. The fruitiness of ciders makes them versatile pairing partners for a wide range of dishes and flavors. Cider pairs especially well with savory meats and cheese, as well as fruity and sweet desserts. For our Delectable users who prefer beer over cider, no worries! You can still drink on theme with all the pumpkin ales and stouts available. Choose your fighter (er, cider?) and enjoy!

Eric Bordelet

Poiré Authentique Pear Cider

Josh Morgenthau

9.4

The good stuff — 2 years ago

Daron, Peter and 9 others liked this

The Alchemist Brewery (Vermont Ale)

Heady Topper Ale

Craig Marino

9.4

Big fan! Plenty of hops and just the right amount if citrus to make it an easy drink w/o a bitter finish — 4 years ago

Shipyard Brewing Co.

Smashed Pumpkin Ale

David Kline

8.8

Waited a bit to get spooky with this one! Boo! Orange sourdough, caramel glass, cinnamon-chiles, cardamom, and cedar with dark brown sugar, dates and molasses. Fly agaric lacing does the micro polka on the glass as mystic swirls of smoke trace spirals from the cream colored top to the surface skim. Cinnamon leads the gourd charge, sweet potato follows, pepper and black raisin buttress those initials, while darkened caramel fills the void of clove, burnt candy and BBQ blood orange before swisher cherry sweetness.
.
.
#shipyardbrewery
#shipyard #mebeer #mainebeer #mainelife #shipyardsmashedpumpkin #shipyardsmashedpumpkin #pumpkin #pumpkinbeer #pumpkinale #ale #beer #biere #bier #cerveza #cerveja #seasonalbeer #beerisflavored #shutupaboutpumpkinbeernottastinglikepumpkin — 6 years ago

Sharon, Neil and 1 other liked this

Sharon B

Great description!

Eden Ice Cider Co.

Heirloom Blend Ice Cider

Jeanette Bangs

9.0

Ice cider- pink lady intensity — 9 years ago

Dugges Ale & Porterbryggeri

Förgås Scandinavian Gose Style Ale

David Kline

9.2

Briny, green olives, dried, spiced Japanese plums, banana pepper nose. Cider vinegar, lemon-lime aspect that has a thread of kombucha, with chains of caperberry in the mother. Interesting in every way. — 9 years ago

with Madeline, Josh and 1 other

ACE Cider Company

ACE Perry Hard Cider

Brian Grech

8.9

Nice food pairing when you want some residual sweetness and acid to cut through intense flavors. Reminds me of Asti: low complexity but big on smiles. Home town goodness. — 10 years ago

with Ashley

Marc liked this

Brooklyn Brewery

Post Road Pumpkin Ale

Jason Winston

8.8

The best Pumpkin Beer I've had in a long time. Stout with a hint of Pumpkin! — 12 years ago

ACE Cider Company

ACE Pineapple Hard Cider

Jessica Williams

Tried this while Axe Throwing because they had it on tap and it was absolutely delicious. Definitely want to have again. — 2 years ago

Eric Bordelet

Sidre Tendre

Aravind A

9.2

A bit overly sweet, but was brought as a pairing experiment. — 5 years ago

with James and Peter

Severn, Bob and 7 others liked this

Left Hand Brewing Company

Nitro Milk Stout

Ned Gray Creed

9.8

That’s the best nitro out of a can I’ve ever had. I didn’t give it a 10 cause I probably can’t get it in CA. — 6 years ago

Ryan and Severn liked this

Goose Island

Bourbon County Brand Stout 2019

Brian Kelly

9.2

Chocolate and vanilla all day. Shocker, lots of bourbon notes. It actually tastes like a slightly boozier version of Founders Backwoods Bastard, despite being a stout and not a scotch ale. Will let this one age another year or two before I have the next bottle. — 7 years ago

Quebrada Del Chucao

Sidra Espumante Sparkling Hard Cider 2014

boyd

9.4

Wow. So funky. Tons of flavors. Tart fruit and cheesy. Really enjoyed this. — 9 years ago

Marc liked this

New Belgium Brewing Company

Pumpkick Pumpkin Ale

Dakota Hewlett

9.4

Amazing seasonal brew, it's got all the flavors you are looking for. — 10 years ago

Samuel Adams (The Boston Beer Company)

Harvest Pumpkin Ale

David Kline

9.0

Pumpkin pumpernickel pumpkin spices, caramel, vanilla, valerian root. Complex. — 11 years ago

with Courtney

Deschutes Brewery

The Abyss Reserve Imperial Stout 2015

Jake Hajer

9.3

‘15 in ‘23. Can age another five! Toffee, maple, bitter, bourbon, dark chocolate, figs, prunes, plums. Great beer! — 3 years ago

Ira, Brent and 2 others liked this

Russell Brewing Company

Happy Jack Pumpkin Ale

Trixie

8.9

Happy Jack🎃 is a wonderfully balanced pumpkin ale with hints of oak and spice. Brewed with real pumpkin, whole spices and oak aged.

•5.5% ABV• November 1, 2021 — 5 years ago

Douglas, Martin and 10 others liked this

Sharon B

Yum! 🎃🍺

Sharon B

You made the Friday feature page!!

Trixie

@Sharon B Cool! Thanks for telling me!🎃

South Hill Cider

Bluegrass Russet Sparkling Cider

Brandon Boesch

9.5

I am absolutely loving these south hill ciders. So fresh and so clean. Nice sweetness on this one but tastes like apple, apple skin, a hint of pear actually, and a bit of citrus. So tasty! Batch 1701 — 6 years ago

S. Martinelli & Co.

Sparkling Cider

Paul J

8.0

Expired, but not terrible. Only thing the wife can drink right now with the kiddos :) Was also part of a wedding gift that said to drink when we had babies, so we're doing just that! — 9 years ago

with Brooke

Mike liked this

Citizen Cider

Unified Press Hard Cider

Scott

9.0

Certainly not dry but clean and crisp leaving no lingering sweetness in the tongue. Quite simple, all apples but the finish is Granny Smith skin. Wonderfully refreshing. — 9 years ago

South Hill Cider

Packbasket Sparkling Cider

Melissa Kawecki

9.8

This is delightful and barnyard-y and so bright it'll make your lips pucker a bit. Notes of lemon, hay all stacked up on the frame of some gorgeous apple aromas make this one of my favorite ciders from one of the best producers in the US. All fruit is wild-foraged in this blend of feral apples and pears. — 11 years ago

Frank liked this