This Is Definitely The Best Apple Cider Brand To Buy This Fall

Helena Nichols/Mashed

During the months of pumpkin spice this and apple cinnamon that, it's only natural to indulge in the season's delights. 'Tis the fruits of our labor, after all! When it comes to something as ingrained in human society as apple cider (people have been sipping on fermented cider for thousands of years, you know), it can almost feel as though the ability to sniff out the good stuff is in our DNA. But if you'd really rather someone else do the tasting leg work so you don't have to, we went ahead and ranked 13 grocery store apple ciders from worst to best. On the list were instant apple cider powders (which we called out for being the most subpar of the lot), sparkling cider from Trader Joe's, and everything in between. But the one that stood out as the clear winner came from the Ohio Cider Company.

Apple cider is made with unfiltered apple juice and, oftentimes, a house blend of spices for added flavor. Some iterations we tried were a bit too sweet while others were just missing that je ne sais quoi quality that makes a truly good cup of cider taste like coming home. The Ohio Cider Company's version ticked all boxes.

Easily found at Walmart Stores across the nation between the months of September and April, The Ohio Cider Company's apple cider is made by Fresh Forward, a cooperative of independent famers based in the Great Lakes region. While its offerings include ciders made from Honeycrisp and Gala apple varieties, as well as salted caramel and pumpkin spice flavored versions, it was the original blend that stole our hearts as it toed the line between crisp and boldly flavored. 

Helena Nichols/Mashed

Praised for being perfectly balanced, the Ohio Cider Company's original apple cider is both tart and sweet — everything you look for from the forbidden fruit. And without the addition of spices that confuse the palate and mask imbalances, the full flavor of the apple is on display. "It's got a pure, crisp apple flavor that's not overwhelmed by too much sugar or heavy spices like some ciders out there," one fan wrote on a Reddit thread dedicated to the drink. "Just a clean, refreshing taste that's perfect for fall," they added. 

While some folks expressed displeasure with the brand for pasteurizing its cider, which can have a pretty notable effect on the final flavor, unpasteurized cider only lasts for a few days due to spoilage caused by bacteria on raw apples. It only makes sense for a brand that sells its cider wholesale to grocery stores to keep it relatively shelf stable. If you're interested in preserving local unpasteurized cider, pop it in the freezer and thaw it when you're in the mood to enjoy a little taste of fall. Frozen properly, it can last for up to a year.

Fans of apple cider may also be wondering about the alcoholic variety. We ranked 10 popular hard cider brands from worst to best and determined that 2 Towns was the champ. However, 55% of folks who weighed in on a Mashed poll regarding the matter of the best hard cider brand said Angry Orchard was the top pick.