(Photo by Supreme Core cider)

Drink Of The Week: Local Hard Cider

Where To Find It: Supreme Core Cider, ANXO, Great Shoals, Blue Bee Cider, Distillery Lane Ciderworks, The Dabney, ChuchKey, Thally, Homestead

Fall is falling in the District, which means sweaters, apple picking, and pumpkin-spiced everything for the foreseeable future. Among these fall staples growing in popularity in recent years is local hard cider, fermented with love throughout the D.C. region.

Although often relegated to the bottom of the beer list, this boozy beverage is vastly different from its hoppy menu-mate. For one thing, cider is more of an apple wine than an apple beer, made by combing fruit juice with yeast and left to ferment until boozy, pungent, and flavorful. Small-batches of apple cider are also often much more complex than the cloyingly sweet commercial versions bar patrons are accustomed to downing.

The most recent addition to the D.C. cider scene is Supreme Core Cider, which broke ground on an Ivy City cidery location earlier in the summer. In partnership with Baltimore’s Charm City Meadworks, the duo behind the cidery has been able to produce their first beverage—the unfiltered, dry ‘Micawber’ cider. It’s made using West Coast techniques local apples from Appalachia. Cans of Supreme Core’s creation launched at Glen’s Garden Market Dupont Circle and Shaw on September 10.

Supreme Core is, of course, joining reigning local cider favorite ANXO, with its cidery and pinxtos bar in Truxton Circle (300 Florida Ave. NW), cidery and tasting room in Brightwood Park (711 Kennedy Street NW), and pop-up restaurant in Barracks Row (525 8th Street SE). ANXO now produces some seven varieties of ciders within D.C. proper, all of which can be enjoyed at their various eateries and even purchased to take home from stores like Whole Foods.

For those willing to travel somewhat, Virginia and Maryland both boast a wonderful selection of established and up-and-coming cideries. The closest by far is Great Shoals (14526 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring), which produces a sparkling red apple cider from the fruits produced on its farm. You can also head to Richmond to try Blue Bee Cider (1320 Summit Ave.) or take a trip just north of Frederick, Maryland to Distillery Lane Ciderworks (5533 Gapland Rd. Jefferson, MD).

A handful of D.C. establishments are now putting greater emphasis on curating and cultivating an excellent cider list. The Dabney (122 Blagden Alley NW), with its focus on mid-Atlantic cuisine, boasts an impressive selection of local hard ciders while Chuchkey (1337 14th St. NW) supplements its outstanding beer list with a selection of over 25 different ciders from around the globe. Thally (1316 9th St. NW) is strong in its cider selection too, with an offering of over 40 different varieties. Homestead (3911 Georgia Ave. NW) stays within the local cider theme, offering four different kinds of cider, all produced within the region.

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Dip Into Muhammara
Ice Pops
Creamy Burrata
Watermelon Salad, Everywhere