287457 Tue Aug 07 11:15:06 -0700 2001 9 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1546316 The hard cider thread made me think - of the commercially available hard ciders, which ones do chowhounds like best? We have liked Woodchuck quite a lot but are there others in the US that are equally good or better? I prefer ciders where I know there is apple in there. (btw the sparkling apple and pear stuff we have bought at IKEA is pretty good and my kids like the Martinelli apple sparkler quite a lot but its a different product altogether) And what about the available french ciders? Tue Aug 07 11:15:06 -0700 2001 0 jen kalb 1 1546319 We like the Ace brand ciders. Here's their website: Link: http://www.acecider.com/ Tue Aug 07 11:40:03 -0700 2001 1546316 0 Nancy Berry 2 1546324 I haven't Ace here in NoVA in several years. Hope to see it return someday. Tue Aug 07 12:07:11 -0700 2001 1546319 0 Jim Dorsch 3 1547588 I can't stand Ace--too perfumey for my taste. My new favorite is a cider out of Auburn, in the Sierra foothills of N. Calif. It's called Fox Barrel and is becoming increasingly available. They won a number of awards at the West Coast Craft Brewers Competition last year and are worth seeking out. http://foxbarrel.com Mon Mar 13 03:50:34 -0800 2006 1546324 0 Tea 1 1546342 The only good hard cider I've had made in the US is Farnum Hill cider, made in Lebanon, NH. (I should say that the head brewer is a close friend of mine, Nicole Leibon--she is not the owner. I've avoided talking this stuff up here, precisely because I know everyone hates a shill, but I can't refrain in this context. For what it's worth, Nicole has been the brewmeister at a large California micro brewery in the past and I've never talked them up. So make what you will of it, dismiss this as boosterism if you want, but I submit that this is a recommendation I would make even if I didn't know the person who makes it). They make a number of types, both still and sparkling, mostly blends, but soon will have varietals available. They grow the apples and personally attend to every facet of production. Right now I believe it is still available in NH only, but they are going to expand into the NY market soon. An upcoming article in _Living_ should do something to make this brand more broadly known, for better or worse. This is truly artisinal stuff, comparable in no way to the factory produced ciders generally available here. I'm totally spoiled. I can no longer buy any of the various things available in the grocery store. They are the budweiser of ciders in comparison. If you're going up to NH, or have friends going there, I'd suggest getting a hold of some. The dry is truly dry--sour and apple-y, with virtually no hint of sweetness. The least complex, sweetest variety is the farmhouse cider. Gabriel Tue Aug 07 14:29:05 -0700 2001 1546316 0 Gabriel Solis 2 1547589 I'm in no way related or associated with Farnum Hill or its orchard, Poverty Lanes, and I wholeheartedly agree that the Farnum Hill hard ciders are the most delicious out there, and a real bargain at between $9-$15 per bottle (wine bottle size). I love all of them, and have seen them at various grocers in New England. They're dry and wonderful and great to drink as a nice fresh alternative to wines or beers. Mon Mar 13 10:14:33 -0800 2006 1546342 0 Foodie2 2 1547590 I concur. Really terrific stuff. Very deep flavor. Mon Mar 13 20:21:25 -0800 2006 1546342 0 JudiAU 1 1546343 I like very dry ciders, so maybe my taste is different from yours, but my favorite is Blackthorn from the UK. Tue Aug 07 15:07:03 -0700 2001 1546316 0 Janet A. Zimmerman 1 1546648 I like the Hornby(might be Hornsby) cider. It's light, but has good flavor & buzz. Mon Aug 13 17:14:51 -0700 2001 1546316 0 exileonmainstreet 1 1546898 There is a brand new Pear Cider out and available in Southern California now called Sir Perry. We are Distributors of this new product so go to their website for more information at www. sirperry.com James O'Connor TM Imports Sat Aug 18 19:00:02 -0700 2001 1546316 0 James O'Connor