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These 10 cideries were just voted as the best in the United States
Photo courtesy of bhofack2 // Getty Images
The popularity of cider as a beer alternative has exploded in the United States in recent years. According to Statista, there were more than 800 cider makers in the country as of 2018. With so many new makers on the map, we set out to find the absolute best. After a panel of experts selected the nominees, readers voted for their favorites. Here are the 10 best cideries across the nation.
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Photo courtesy of Nicole Kubiak
No. 10: Bivouac Ciderworks - San Diego, California
Women-run Bivouac focuses on making craft cider for active adventurers. Handcrafted in North Park, San Diego, these ciders are drier than many common ciders, include less sugar and are naturally vegan and gluten-free. Each of their core ciders is named after a knot: Marlin Spike, True Lover's, Albright and San Diego Jam.
Photo courtesy of Catherine Smith
No. 9: Tumbling Creek Cider Company - Abingdon, Virginia
Tumbling Creek Cider Company produces "Appalachian heritage-inspired hard cider." In addition to their classic ciders, visitors to the taproom will often find additional small-batch and experimental ciders available.
Photo courtesy of Ploughman Cider
No. 8: Ploughman Cider - Aspers, Pennsylvania
Ploughman makes their ciders from apples grown in Adams County, Pennsylvania (Three Springs Fruit Farm, to be exact). The company makes and releases ciders according to seasonal conditions, so the lineup is always changing.
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Photo courtesy of Kelley Dufresne
No. 7: Waldschänke Ciders + Coffee - Denver, Colorado
This Swiss-inspired cidery in Denver offers a core lineup of six ciders that include flavors like fresh lemon and ginger, peach and habanero, cactus flower or hopped apricot. Cider drinkers can choose from more than 16 specialty ciders made in-house.
Photo courtesy of Pennsylvania Cider & Mead LLC
No. 6: Threadbare Cider and Mead - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Threadbare Cider and Mead, inspired by the story of Johnny Appleseed, makes farmhouse, bottle-conditioned, wild-fermented, hopped and barrel-aged ciders. Try house and experimental ciders by the glass at their Pittsburgh cider house.
Photo courtesy of Grand Illusion
No. 5: Grand Illusion Hard Cider - Carlisle, Pennsylvania
It's safe to say that Grand Illusion is the only cidery on our list that provides guests with an escape room experience – but that's not what makes them worthy of a win for Best Cidery. Grand Illusion offers a significant selection of their own ciders on tap, as well as the largest selection of Pennsylvania cider on draft anywhere in the world.
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Photo courtesy of Diskin Cider / Staff Photo
No. 4: Diskin Cider - Nashville, Tennessee
Diskin Ciders are always made from fresh pressed apple juice with no added sugars. The core lineup includes a traditional dry English-style cider and a semi-sweet variety, as well as a pineapple cider and a cider infused with Southern tea.
Photo courtesy of Cider Corps
No. 3: Cider Corps - Mesa, Arizona
This cidery and taproom in historic downtown Mesa, Arizona was founded as Arizona’s first with a mission to honor our nation’s veterans. Cider Corps offers creative takes on cider, with flavors like black tea with lemon and peach or mango and rose hip.
Photo courtesy of @saragaddisphotography on Instagram
No. 2: Gypsy Circus Cider Company - Kingsport, Tennessee
Cider lovers can find Tennessee's first cidery in both Kingsport and Knoxville. Gypsy Circus produces cider using only locally sourced and fresh pressed apples. Those looking for a dry cider will enjoy classics like Raindancer and Queen of Swords. Those with more adventurous palates should try seasonal favorites, for example, Lemon Basil, Hippie Hash, an elixir like Jack Tales, a fire-roasted pumpkin cider, or Whirling Dervish, a Nashville coffee cider.
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Photo courtesy of Ali Resuta
No. 1: UrbanTree Cidery - Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta’s first cidery makes their ciders from scratch, harvesting and pressing apples by hand, fermenting with specially selected yeasts, filtering and aging. The apples used to make UrbanTree Hard Cider come from the Northeast Georgia mountains.
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About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Dennis Malcolm "Ale" Sharpton
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a... Read More
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, speaker and beer judge to name a few of his roles. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art, and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. His current media outlets include USAToday, Thrillist.com, Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, Theinfatuation.com, ButterATL.com, James Beard Foundation, Atlanta Magazine, and others. Along with being featured in various publications, on the web, radio, podcasts, television, beer fests, conferences, and ongoing Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ video series, Ale utilizes his Cornell University School of Hotel Administration education and vast work experience to consult in the culinary industry as well. Forbes, Smithsonian Institution, UNTAPPD, Good Beer Hunting, and numerous others have showcased Ale’s accomplishments. In a collaboration going on six years with brewing giant New Belgium, Ale has produced a beer he conceptualized called Piano Keys–a chocolate vanilla imperial stout–geared to support diversity and racial equality. This project with New Belgium also spawned his initiative, BrewGether, which raises funds to support nonprofits embracing the same mission as Piano Keys. Ale proudly owns AllWays Open Creative Solutions, an agency specializing in creative direction, logo design, branding, web design, video production, photography, consulting, and social media. Although a native New Yorker, Ale proudly calls Atlanta his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on his captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Dennis Malcolm "Ale" Sharpton
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, speaker and beer judge to name a few of his roles. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art, and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. His current media outlets include USAToday, Thrillist.com, Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, Theinfatuation.com, ButterATL.com, James Beard Foundation, Atlanta Magazine, and others. Along with being featured in various publications, on the web, radio, podcasts, television, beer fests, conferences, and ongoing Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ video series, Ale utilizes his Cornell University School of Hotel Administration education and vast work experience to consult in the culinary industry as well. Forbes, Smithsonian Institution, UNTAPPD, Good Beer Hunting, and numerous others have showcased Ale’s accomplishments. In a collaboration going on six years with brewing giant New Belgium, Ale has produced a beer he conceptualized called Piano Keys–a chocolate vanilla imperial stout–geared to support diversity and racial equality. This project with New Belgium also spawned his initiative, BrewGether, which raises funds to support nonprofits embracing the same mission as Piano Keys. Ale proudly owns AllWays Open Creative Solutions, an agency specializing in creative direction, logo design, branding, web design, video production, photography, consulting, and social media. Although a native New Yorker, Ale proudly calls Atlanta his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on his captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Gary Monterosso
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who... Read More
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who has written for national and regional publications. He is a regular guest on “You Oughta Know,” on WHYY-TV, a PBS station based in Philadelphia. Gary also hosts one-minute beverage updates on several southern NJ radio stations. From 2010-2017, he was seen on the History Channel show called “The Epic History of Everyday Things.” He is the author of the book, “Artisan Beers.” After a 41-year career as a NJ- based educator, Gary now teaches beer appreciation classes at Wilmington University. Gary has appeared on many television programs discussing craft beers and has guested on BBC radio offering an American perspective on the beverage. In late 2014, he lent his expertise to CBS News New York, by offering fall beer recommendations. One of the highlights of his career was a three-year stint on the Sirius Satellite Radio network, talking about the latest happenings in the beer world. In 2014, Gary was selected by Chilled Magazine to be a member of the “Chilled 100,” signifying him as one of the top 100 beverage personalities in the United States. He continues to be a fixture at regional beer events by hosting dinners and tasting seminars. He has qualified as a Certified Beer Server, a part of the Cicerone Certification Program, recognizing his knowledge of beer styles, culture, the brewing process and ingredients.
Gary Monterosso
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who has written for national and regional publications. He is a regular guest on “You Oughta Know,” on WHYY-TV, a PBS station based in Philadelphia. Gary also hosts one-minute beverage updates on several southern NJ radio stations. From 2010-2017, he was seen on the History Channel show called “The Epic History of Everyday Things.” He is the author of the book, “Artisan Beers.” After a 41-year career as a NJ- based educator, Gary now teaches beer appreciation classes at Wilmington University. Gary has appeared on many television programs discussing craft beers and has guested on BBC radio offering an American perspective on the beverage. In late 2014, he lent his expertise to CBS News New York, by offering fall beer recommendations. One of the highlights of his career was a three-year stint on the Sirius Satellite Radio network, talking about the latest happenings in the beer world. In 2014, Gary was selected by Chilled Magazine to be a member of the “Chilled 100,” signifying him as one of the top 100 beverage personalities in the United States. He continues to be a fixture at regional beer events by hosting dinners and tasting seminars. He has qualified as a Certified Beer Server, a part of the Cicerone Certification Program, recognizing his knowledge of beer styles, culture, the brewing process and ingredients.
Latiesha Cook
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO... Read More
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Beer Kulture, a St. Petersburg, Florida based nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. Born in the Bronx, New York, Latiesha is a wife, mother of four, Cicerone certified beer server, published author and entrepreneur. In her leadership role at Beer Kulture, she has guided the team in launching an array of initiatives designed to diversify craft beer, including Cicerone scholarships, internships, a job board, and kollaboration beers with breweries around the world, as well as community projects to help local neighborhoods and causes throughout the country.
Latiesha Cook
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Beer Kulture, a St. Petersburg, Florida based nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. Born in the Bronx, New York, Latiesha is a wife, mother of four, Cicerone certified beer server, published author and entrepreneur. In her leadership role at Beer Kulture, she has guided the team in launching an array of initiatives designed to diversify craft beer, including Cicerone scholarships, internships, a job board, and kollaboration beers with breweries around the world, as well as community projects to help local neighborhoods and causes throughout the country.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
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