BY EITAN LEVINE2 DAYS AGO

Admit it, beerficianados: Ciders are the best slightly alcoholic drink on the market.

Listen, I like beer. I will even go as far to say that beer is great, but I’m not obsessed with beers like some of my friends are, and I will never understand why anyone would pay $15 for a 12-ounce can of a beer made with elderberries.

Ciders are simply better. They taste better, they sip better and they don’t come with annoying friends who say things like “I’d rather jump off a hops-covered bridge then let Bud Light touch thine lips.”

I’m not alone on this. Over the past few years, tastebuds in the U.S. have started to trend toward hard cider and the market is increasing yearly. Cider sales reached $601.5 million dollars in the U.S. during 2012, that equates for 2% of all beer sales nationally. That number also shows a 27.5% increase in hard cider sales since 2007. Beer companies have obviously taken note of this with major beer players C&C, MillerCoors and Heineken acquiring cider breweries Vermont Hard Cider, Crispin and Strongbow respectively.

Still not getting behind the cider revolution? Try any one of these and see if you still want a standard old boring brewski after.

1. Ace Pumpkin Cider

 

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Cinnamon, cloves, and allspice are added to fermented apple juice to produce a cider which tastes just like pumpkin pie.

IMAGE: @OSNAPITZLISAYO ON INSTAGRAM

2. Herrljunga Strawberry Vanilla Cider

 

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This cider is made with water from the Herrljunga source, flavored with strawberry and vanilla.

 

IMAGE: @SORAIAROSA77 ON INSTAGRAM

3. Brothers Cider Toffee Apple Cider

 

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A delicious blend of cream soda, apples and smoldering toffee flavor.

 

IMAGE: @LUCYLUBETH ON INSTAGRAM

4. Mckenzie’s Lazy Lemon Hard Cider

 

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For a burst of citrus without the acidic bite.

 

IMAGE: @CHEFKIRKFOODIEGUYJAX ON INSTAGRAM

 

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A sweet, sharp blackberry tang and mouthwatering juicy complexity, complemented by a luscious pear-berry bouquet.

 

IMAGE: @DIVERGENT_ALES ON INSTAGRAM

6. St. Helier Blueberry Cider

 

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A blueberry flavor that’s intense as the color of the drink, with fresh pear providing full body and sweetness.

 

IMAGE: @PAIGEDESMOND ON INSTAGRAM

 

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This cider provides a great balance between sweet mango and crisp apple

 

IMAGE: @_DOLZ_ ON INSTAGRAM

 

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Apple and guava blend together to produce a cider with unparalleled freshness and crispness.

 

IMAGE: @AWAYWITHKAT ON INSTAGRAM

9. Monteith’s Crushed Apricot Cider

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This refreshing cider combines freshly crushed apple cider with a unique apricot wine, resulting in a subtle, spicy finish.

IMAGE: @JUNELIKESFOOD ON INSTAGRAM

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Luscious passionfruit and crisp apples merge together in this sweet cider.

IMAGE: @JIMMYLEE182 ON INSTAGRAM

1. Ace Pineapple Cider

 

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Pineapple juices added to a fermented apple base make a cider with a semi-sweet initial taste and a tart finish.

IMAGE: LOGGAWIGGLER/PIXABAY Cider-barrels

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