5 to Try: Ciders for Spring

Cider is often unfairly relegated to the autumnal months, but the category is nothing if not diverse in style. “Cider is arguably the most versatile of the four main categories of beer, wine, cider, and spirits,” asserts Matthew Ostrander, a certified pommelier and owner of Ibantik Craft Beverages, a cider brokerage in Salt Lake City, where he also provides educational classes at Scion Cider bar. Co-founded by Elisabeth Osmeloski, Scion serves hundreds of ciders spanning the spectrum. Here, husband-and-wife Ostrander and Osmeloski offer their picks for bright, floral, and fruity ciders that sing of springtime.

Eden, Imperial Rosé

“This is a classic cider to bring drinkers over fromwine—at 11 percent ABV, it aligns with the typical range for traditional rosé wines, but is on the higher end for ciders,” says Ostrander. Vermont-based Eden blends a dozen local heirloom apple varieties for this one, and doses the cider with red currant juice. The result is a light and dry cider that drinks like a fruit-forward rosé. “Drinkers just discovering the world of rosé ciders light up when learning about this category,” says Osmeloski. “It’s a whole new area to explore.” edenciders.com

Finnriver, Spring Bloom

“Finnriver is well known for their expertise in blending fruits and adding botanical elements to create interesting flavor profiles,” says Ostrander of the farm-based cidery on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. “The nuance in the additions here embrace the essence of springtime.” Made with a trio of high-acid apples and just a touch of organic blueberries, the vibrantly hued Spring Bloom is delicate and fruity with notes of apple blossom and citrus. “They so brilliantly blend the aromas and flavors of the seasons into their final products,” says Osmeloski. finnriver.com

Stormalong, Light of the Sun

“As someone who grew up in New England, I have the utmost respect for the approach Stormalong takes to crisp and clean apple ciders, and their use of rare and heirloom apple varieties,” says Osmeloski. Bright and dry, Light of the Sun is made with a trio of apples and flavored with lemon, lime, and yuzu juices, with floral notes from jasmine green tea. “With these bright flavors added, it brings a cocktail twist to cider and attracts an entirely new audience,” she adds. stormalong.com

2 Towns Ciderhouse, Cosmic Crisp Imperial Cider

“Focusing on canned imperial ciders might havebeen a risk for 2 Towns, but it’s one that paid dividends for them, as well as for the cider industry at large,” says Ostrander of the 8-percent ciders in the Cosmic Crisp line from the Corvallis, Oregon, cider maker. “Using the now widely recognized Cosmic Crisp apple as the base for the flagship line—with fun tropical flavor variations—these are the perfect refresher after a spring hike or bike ride.” 2townsciderhouse.com

Snow Capped Cider, Lavender Lemonade

“This super sessionable cider is light and bright, and an easy drinker at 5.5 percent,” says Osmeloski. The Williams family has been tending their high-elevation Colorado orchards since the early 1900s and launched Snow Capped Cider in 2014. Combining zippy lemon with local lavender, the cider gets a subtle sweetness from the addition of their own orchard honey. “It’s always a winner with those who try it, whether it’s a warm and sunny day or not,” says Osmeloski. snowcappedcider.com