Are you a cider connoisseur, awash with wonder for the elite brew? Or a wide-eyed beginner, looking for your next crisp sip? If you’ve ever wondered which bustling Hanover spot to hit for your next draft cider fix, fret not — your local cider enthusiast has your back.
For context, I’m no sommelier, but also I’m no stranger to cider. During my gap year, I worked on a cider farm in Hardangerfjord, Norway, known as the fruit basket of the country. ‘Cider from Hardanger’ was the first alcoholic beverage in Norway to be given a protected geographical indication, akin to the Champagne district of France. Though working on an apple farm in spring was grueling — many a day covered in fertilizer dust and smelling like it too! — it still had a couple perks. At the end of my stay, I manned the cider stand at the Hardanger International Ciderfest held in Odda, acting as an amateur cicerone and pouring tastings for elderly Norwegian cider lovers.
Now, having turned 21 recently, I knew I had to pay homage to that fruitful era and explore the American cider landscape. As I embarked upon my journey to find the best brew in town, my main criteria was that the cider must be on tap.
4. Molly’s Restaurant and Bar: 5.5/10
My first stop was Molly’s. With its flower baskets and string lights, its ambience is perfect on Main Street. If you’re craving a good old coloring session with some crayons on brown paper, freshly sliced bread with sweetened butter and $3 house margs, Molly’s is tried and true.
Upon arrival, I couldn’t wait to order my typical draft cider. After all, the cider Molly’s has on tap, Downeast Craft Cider, was my first-ever cider in Hanover! I was looking forward to assessing the brew with more thoughtful taste buds. Born out of a “hazy Bates College dorm room idea,” Downeast’s mission to make unfiltered cider taste like the cider they grew up drinking in New England was carried out faithfully. When the waiter arrived, I ordered the draft cider, assuming it would be the same blend as always.
However, when my glass arrived, my hackles rose — what on earth was that opaque, orange color? I typically love a cloudy cider — meaning unfiltered apple juice that retains natural apple solids and pulp for a more rustic, full-bodied taste. But something about the color was off. Taking a deep inhale, I smelled sweet citrus, with barely an apple scent at all. Taking my first sip, it tasted like orange juice. Where was the apple I so desperately desired? Alas, upon conducting research, it seemed I had unfortunately been saddled with a blend that tasted like orange creamsicle. While it was certainly drinkable, I’m an apple cider fanatic. I couldn’t get behind this jumpscare of a blend.
3. Dunk’s Sports Grill: 6.5/10
As I arrived at the bustling Dunk’s bar, I was brimming with excitement to cleanse my tastebuds. I don’t consider myself a snob, but you’d think apple cider would at least taste like apples. However, in a twist of irony, Downeast Peach Mango was the only cider in sight. The Citizen Cider serving glasses felt like another joke. Oh, to think of days when another cider — perhaps even the original apple blend — was on tap.
Upon inhaling the sweet aroma of peach, mango and apple, however, I realized I didn’t mind it so much. Unlike the orange creamsicle blend, I could actually detect notes of apple amidst the more tropical fruits. It was again, a very drinkable, crowd-pleasing blend, yet it failed me in my quest for a true apple cider.
2. Still North Books and Bar: 7/10
Another night, I headed to Still North for a cozy evening with a friend. While I’m a regular in the daytime cafe, it was my first time experiencing its Thursday evening bar atmosphere. A few regulars were writing essays or studying, and a couple groups of friends were gathered at the bar. I tee’d up to order the “High and Dry” on the chalk-scrawled menu. My Stowe Cider was delivered in the smallest glass of them all, with a clear, pale yellow color that reminded me of the jasmine flowers I’d see as a child on evening walks with my mother. As I smelled its delicate aroma, I was filled with joy to finally taste an untainted, pure cider. Crafted in Vermont, Stowe Cider touts the High and Dry as “a cider that’s as high as Mount Mansfield and as dry as they come.” Though it was indeed extremely dry, I loved the crisp, refreshing and slightly tart mouthfeel. Though perhaps too “brut” for a casual evening drink on its own, the Stowe would be my pick if paired with richer fare, such as a soft, creamy cheese, a quiche Lorraine or Still North’s array of savory toasts.
1. Murphy’s On the Green: 7.5/10
Walking into Murphy’s on a Thursday evening, I was not expecting a crowd. Making my way to the bar that night, however, was a battle. To be honest, I just love Murphy’s. It’s always a good time with its dark cherry wood interior, lively conversations and relatively close-to-our-age bartenders. Their cider on tap was the Stormalong named after the New England tall-tale of Captain Alfred Bulltop Stormalong. Described as a larger-than-life figure, he was epically tall, one of the greatest deep-water sailors and was said to have drilled the course of the Panama Canal. I love a good tall tale origin story — who doesn’t?
Made in Sherborn, M.A., the Stormalong cider was a well-balanced cider with a strong, juicy apple flavor. The mix of the New England Macintosh variety and Golden Delicious was medium sweet, with a refreshing mouthfeel and crisp apple aroma. Though I am typically more of an unfiltered fan, its juicy fruit-forwardness cemented its place as first of this lineup, leaving me with the memory of a classic Murphy’s atmospheric evening.
Final Thoughts
While nothing came close to the Hardangerfjord varieties of my time in Norway, I’ve realized that that’s part of the magic. Apple cider is rooted in place, in the unique growing traditions of local apple orchards and personal fermentation choices of local breweries. With orchards so prominent a feature of fall at Dartmouth, embarking on this Hanover cider journey was also in its own way a tour of New England — my tastebuds traveled from Massachusetts to Vermont and back, all while my feet stayed firmly planted on Main Street.
