How to Pair Craft Cheeses with Cider

The hard cider industry is now booming in the U.S. In 2020, the U.S. market accounted for just over 11% of global cider consumption. There are now more than 600 cideries across the country, the majority in New York and Michigan. All of this is great news for all cider drinkers, but especially ex-pat Brits who spent many years longing for that effervescent taste of apples from home. 

Apples & Cheese: A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

If you grew up eating your apple pie with a slice of Cheddar, you know that apples and cheese are a natural pairing. The creamy buttery taste of the right cheese can be the perfect accompaniment for the tartness of a dry cider, while something a little salty can offset the fruity sweetness. As cider has grown in popularity, so has the appreciation for its variety of flavors. Matching the right cider with the right cheese is not as complicated as you might think. Add some crackers and a few olives and you have the perfect meal to enjoy alone or with friends. 

A classic apple cider ranges from crisp and dry to something a little sweeter, depending on the types of apples used and the methods of fermentation used. Smooth, buttery cheeses with a mild flavor and a higher fat content can be a good match. At the same time, it is often hard to go wrong by pairing with a sharp Cheddar as they do in England. A traditional cheese for a traditional cider. 

 

Hopped cider Pairings

Ciderboys First Press with a triple cream Brie

1911 Established Honeycrisp with Jasper Hill Farm Cabot Clothbound

The addition of hops can pull a cider’s flavor profile so something a little closer to a Pale Ale, although without the bitterness found in its hoppy beer cousins. The floral nature of the hops can be matched with a floral coated cheese Alpine style cheese. Alternatively, the caramel nuttiness of a gouda brings out the sweetness of the apple. 

 

Fruity Cider Pairings

Hazlitt’s Cider Tree with Citra Hops with a lightly smoked gouda 

Alp Blossom with 1911 New England IPC Hopped

When it comes to fruity ciders, so much depends on the type of fruit used and the level of sweetness. Blue cheeses or chevres can often pair well with the acidity of the fruit. 

The tart grapefruit of Fishback & Stephenson’s Salty Sailor with a soft and creamy goat cheese. Yankee Cider Company’s Captain Coit Blueberry with Cato Corner’s Bridgid’s Abbey, a creamy Trappist-style cheese. 

 

Barrel Aged Cider Pairings

Ship’s Wheel Bourbon Barrel Aged Cider with Manchego

A number of craft ciders are now aged in either bourbon barrels or rum barrels. This adds a depth to the lighter taste of the apple. For these you want a more robust cheese, one with an earthiness that can live up to the richness of a barrel-aged cider.

 

Ice Cider Pairings

Russell Orchard J’s Ice Cider with Jasper Hill Bayley Hazen Blue or The Grey Barn and Farm Bluebird

Like its ice wine cousins, ice cider has an intense sweetness that is typically drunk in smaller 2 or 3 oz servings. It goes well with an equally intense flavored cheese, such as a bold blue. 

 

Regional Cider Pairings

Blackgrass Ciderworks Dready Cida with Stinking Bishop or Jasper Hill Farm Winnimere

Another way to go is to pair ciders and cheeses from the same regions. Just as wine experts recommend making the most of the terroir, so with cider and cheese you can taste similar influences in products with similar geographic origins. So if there is a cidery near you, why not try it with a local cheese?

As with any food pairings, these are guidelines only. Tastes vary and you might find that you prefer a much milder cheese with your wild ferment or a nutty Cheddar with your kiwi and strawberry. Use these as a starting point and don’t be afraid to try your own combinations. 

Do you want to learn more about apples and cheese? Read how to pair goat cheeses and apples.