Move aside, chardonnay and IPA; it’s time to talk about summer ciders. Some varieties are more summer-friendly than others, so we’ve put together a list of our favorite Virginia-made varieties perfect for sippin’ during these dog days of August. And remember, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Brut d’Albemarle Albemarle CiderWorks, North Garden This champenoise-style dry cider is crafted with Albemarle Pippin apples and is available by the bottle exclusively in the tasting room. AlbemarleCiderworks.com Double Simcoe Potter’s Craft Cider, Free Union The first double-hopped option to come from Potter’s, this dry cider has notes of elderflower and pineapple and it’s available by the bottle. PottersCraftCider.com Ginger Peach, Wild Blackberry Hop, Smackin’ Orange Cobbler Mountain Cellars, Delaplane It’s like a fruit salad of cider—all three varieties are available by the six-pack in 12-ounce bottles. Facebook.com/Cobbler-Mountain-Cellars Ophelia Wild Hare Hard Cider, Bluemont Crafted with heirloom apples, the grapefruit peel and Citra hops make it tangy, citrusy and perfect for a hot day. WildHareCider.com Orchard Potluck: York Blue Bee Cider, Richmond The last bottle of this installment of the rotating Orchard Potluck single-varietal series has been sold, but you can still sample the tart, unfiltered cider in the taproom. BlueBeeCider.com Peach Cider Bold Rock Hard Cider, Nellysford Is there anything better than biting into a juicy ripe peach? How about sipping on an ice-cold cider crafted with peaches? Available in the tasting room and in grocery stores around the state. BoldRock.com PommeGranny Blue Toad Hard Cider, Roseland Made with local Granny Smith apples and pomegranates from Arizona, the latest Blue Toad variety is currently available in the tasting room. BlueToadHardCider.com Summer Shandy Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery, Middleburg Is it cider? Is it lemonade? It’s both, and it’s available on tap in the tasting room all summer. MtDefiance.com Virginia Strawberry Old Hill Cider, Timberville There’s nothing quite like summertime berries, and this dry cider crafted with Old Hill’s first crop of hydroponically-grown strawberries is available by the bottle in stores. OldHillCider.com Watermelon-Rosemary Randall’d Cider Buskey Cider, Richmond Served in a pint glass shaped like a beer can, this sweet, herby cider is only available in the tasting room. BuskeyCider.com
