Cider, at its core as an alcoholic beverage, is fermented apple juice. Similarly to making craft beer, yeast is added to apple juice (instead of water) to break down sugar during the fermentation process to produce cider, an alcoholic beverage.
There are two methods to make cider, according to David Carr, owner of Raging Cider & Mead Co. “We approach it like making wine where there will be some variants with each batch made,” Carr said. “Others approach (cider-making) like craft beer with more (ingredients) and a strict recipe to make large batches taste the same every time.”
Ciders average about 6% alcohol by volume, and come in various flavors because certain fruits are added during the cider-making process such as pears, one of the common fruits paired with apples, said Lara Worm, CEO of Bivouac Ciderworks.
Ciders traditionally have a drier taste, but can also be sour, tarty and sweet, based on the apples used Worm said. “Dabinett apples, Newtown Pippin and Kingston Black apples are the best for cider because they have tannin and acidity with less sugar,” Worm added.
Carr said his company plants and cultivates semi-standard apple trees, which take about five years to harvest and produce cider. The fall and winter months are cider season because it’s when apples are the most ripe for picking, Worm said.
Here are 11 local companies making various types of cider to try this autumn.
Bivouac Ciderworks
Using Dabinett apples from the United Kingdom is one of the unique ways Bivouac Ciderworks makes its ciders. This cider company with a taproom and restaurant in North Park gets apple juice from various parts of the world to cook up its menu. Worm said it uses apples that are meant for cider and not desserts. Bivouac features rotating cider taps, and sells four packs of canned ciders and cider growlers. The restaurant has a kitchen that prepares burgers, sandwiches, tacos, salads, desserts and various appetizers. Bivouac also has an “adventure lounge” that acts as an event space and area for cider educational tours and seminars, next door to its taproom and restaurant. 3986 30th St., San Diego. 619-725-0844, bivouaccider.com
Calico Cidery
Enjoy drinking cider underneath apple trees at Calico Cidery in Julian. This cider maker boasts a 30-acre orchard at its Calico Ranch. It makes 12 to 15 ciders per year, with about four ciders available each season, according to staff. Guests can purchase Calico cider at its taproom, which can be enjoyed at outdoor picnic tables, and is dog and family-friendly. 4200 Highway 78, Julian. 858-586-0392, calicocidery.com
Coronado Brewing Company
Not only a craft beer business, Coronado Brewing Company has three ciders available right now. The Nice & Dry has a fruity aroma with acidity and “subtle sweetness,” according to the company. The Super Fruit is made with acai berry and the Strawberry Watermelon cider is a small batch release, the Coronado Brewing website says. Coronado Brewing runs a pub in Coronado and a tasting room in Bay Park. coronadobrewing.com
Julian Hard Cider
Julian Hard Cider serves six regular ciders and six experimental small batches available at its taproom. Some of the six core ciders are the Cherry Bomb, Harvest Apple and Pearanormal. The smaller batches currently available are the Caramel Apple, Go Mango and Strawberry Rhubarb. Julian Hard Cider also has indoor and outdoor seating areas that are dog-friendly and a rotating lineup of food trucks. 4470 Julian Rd, Julian. 760-703-7307, julianhardcider.biz
Newtopia Cyder
Apples from the Pacific Northwest are the main source for most of the ciders at Newtopia Cyder. The company says it receives apple juice within 24 hours of being pressed and then adds different spices and botanicals after fermentation to create its ciders. Some of the cider options include a dry spiced with cinnamon, chamomile and chrysanthemum and a cider with pineapple, blood orange and pink guava. It also has an orchard in San Diego County to make limited releases. Newtopia has a tasting room in Scripps Ranch. 10045 Carroll Canyon Road Suite A, San Diego. (858) 926-4305, drinknewtopia.com
Poochie’s Hooch Urban Cidery
Sports, dogs, potlucks and more are all part of the atmosphere at Poochie’s Hooch Urban Cidery near Allied Gardens. This indoor and outdoor cidery and tasting room has over 20 ciders on tap with flavors such as dragon fruit, mango salsa, watermelon, coconut pineapple and spiced apple. Various TVs around the venue air sports games throughout the week, including Sundays during the NFL season when Poochie’s Hooch hosts a potluck to encourage football fans to bring a food dish to share. Poochie’s Hooch is dog-friendly and offers water for pups. 7559 Mission Gorge Road, San Diego. 619-630-2602, poochieshoochcidery.com
Raging Cider & Mead Co.
Carr said he prides himself on using locally sourced apples and working with local farms at this family-owned cider company. Raging Cider & Mead Co. has its own orchard farm and helps manage two other properties that grow apple trees. The company started in 2015 and the taproom opened in 2017. It produces various ciders throughout the year with most of them being dry ciders. Raging also hosts harvest parties and has a cider club with discounts and seasonal releases. 177 Newport Drive Suite B, San Marcos. 442-515-3120, ragingcidermead.com
Serpentine Cider
Themed events at its two tasting rooms are just one of the ways guests can enjoy fermented apple juice at Serpentine Cider. Some of the past events have been movie nights and cat parties. This 7-year-old company has core ciders, available most of the time, with flavors such as guava, sour cherry, raspberry blackberry and apricot. Serpentine also makes experimental ciders, which are produced in seasonal small batches. It has two tasting rooms in University Heights and Miramar where events are hosted. serpentinecider.com
Storum Ranch Cider & Wine
With what it describes as a 2500-tree apple orchard of its own, this company says it started selling at a fruit stand before opening its own tasting room in 2021. Storum Ranch Cider & Wine lists eight ciders on its menu, has a patio and is dog-friendly. 1878 Wynola Road, Julian. 619-955-2377, storumranch.com
Turquoise Barn Cider
What was once an abandoned chicken farm is now a thriving cidery for Turquoise Barn Cider in Ramona. This family-owned cider company makes and distributes its fermented apple juice with seasonal options such as its green apple hard cider and apple blueberry hard cider. Customers can purchase ciders online and pick up at Turquoise Barn and at various wine and spirits stores in San Diego County. 955 Maple St., Ramona. 760-457-5290, turquoisebarncider.com
Twisted Horn Mead & Cider
Twisted Horn Mead & Cider has been around since 2016 and currently offers rotating ciders at its taproom in Vista. There are a variety of flavors on tap right now including dry apple cider, pear cider and a cider with a mix of blood orange, guava, roasted pineapple and brown sugar. This Scandinavian-style cidery also has a taproom that brings in food vendors on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There are also weekly events such as trivia and Dungeon & Dragons night on Wednesdays. 1042 La Mirada Court, Vista. 760-295-5888, twistedhornmead.com