6 Tasty Places To Enjoy Homemade Hard Cider This Fall In New Jersey

Autumn is the perfect time of year to indulge in a glass of fresh, crisp, refreshing hard cider, and we've discovered a bunch of places that make there own in New Jersey!

According to the site Webstaurant Store, hard cider, sometimes called hard apple cider or just cider, is an alcoholic drink made from fermented apple juice. You can make hard cider from all kinds of apples, cider apples are recognized as the best choice. One can enjoy the drink year-round, however, it is most popular during the late summer and fall months.

Hard cider has a rich history and cultural significance in many countries including Europe and America. Furthermore, it has been enjoyed for centuries and is deeply ingrained in the traditions of countries. Places like England, France, and Spain. Moreover,  production methods and flavor profiles can vary greatly depending on the region. This results in a wide range of cider styles to explore.

Dry Ciders. These ciders are less sweet, and usually contain a higher alcohol content.

Off Dry Ciders. Conversely, these type of cider have more of a smooth texture and accordingly, a rich sweeter flavor with more body.

Semi Dry and Semi Sweet Ciders. These two ciders, meanwhile, are similar characteristics, such as body, texture, and apple flavor.

These include American brands such as Stella Artois Cidre, made in Baldwinsville, New York, Woodchuck Amber Hard Cider out of Vermont, and Angry Orchard from New York State.Meanwhile, there are plenty of popular international brands of cider you can find right now at your local liquor store. These include Magners Pear Cider from Ireland, and Samuel Smith's Organic Hard Cider from England.

A project started by owners Curtis Madeleine and Jack in 2015, came to fruition in 2019 with the opening of Beach Bee. Their pick 4 for $15 flight is wildly popular, with current offering such as Peach Cobbler, Cranberry Lime, and Mango Habanero, to name a few. https://www.beachbeemeadery.com/current-tasting-room-menu/

According to their website, Armageddon makes bold in-your-face ciders bursting with crisp apple and other added natural fruit flavors. From incredibly tart and dry, to extremely approachable and drinkable. The names of the beverages are also in your face, like Exile Semi Dry, and Resurrection Sweet. See more at https://www.armageddon-brewing.com/ciders

Oldwick? I lived in Jersey my whole life and never heard of Oldwick! Let alone that there's an awesome apple orchard and farm there! Melick's makes some very interesting ciders for sure! From Lemon Shandy, to Jersey Ginger. Even a hoppy cider called King Street Hops. Check them out here: https://melickstownfarm.com/hard-cider/

The Bedminster area is beautiful this time of year and Burnt Mills fits right in. They take their name from a section of town with an interesting bit of Revolutionary-era history, according to their website, https://burntmillscider.com/story/ Check out their Fall Spice Cider, which they refer to as "apple pie in a glass". Their impressive tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday.

No, Ironbound is not in Newark, but they do use Newark Cider Apples. No, it's not in Asbury Park either. It's in the town of Asbury, just off Route 78 near the Pennsylvania border. The cider makers here use fruit from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to give their cider its bold, fresh taste while also supporting a network of local family farms. Read more about their mission here: https://www.ironboundhardcider.com/newark-cider-apples

This place is a vibe! They have something for everyone. Local craft beers on tap. Local winery offerings by the glass or bottle, and the best place to get all the local craft ciders in one place. Plus a fantastic food menu, that you don't find at many Cideries. https://skylandsbeerandwine.com/menu