Buskey Cider 45 and Trying + The Peanut Shop Hot Sriracha Peanuts, both available at Bottleworks (Photo by Jay Paul)
As you welcome fall’s bounties, remember: Cider under 5.5% ABV, while bracing iced, tastes candy-dipped with food. Here are some pairings you won’t want to part with.
1. Buskey Cider 45 and Trying (6.1% ABV), $16 per 64-ounce or $8 per 32-ounce growler + The Peanut Shop Hot Sriracha Peanuts, $5.69, at Bottleworks
This barely dry pour revives soda style, but with more depth than a simple pomme pop. Knock one back with a fistful of spicy Virginia peanuts, and you’re in an ideal snack situation.
2. Foggy Ridge Handmade (7% ABV), $12 per 500 ml + Sunburst Trout Farms Smoked Trout Spread, $9 per 8 ounces, at Union Market
Diane Flynt ripens her high-elevation tree fruit until it throws tropical scents in the glass. Pineapple, juju and lychee fruit stand out, while a crisp finish contrasts this creamy fish spread.
3. Albemarle CiderWorks Royal Pippin (8.3% ABV), $16 per 750 ml + Gusto Napoli Salame, $6 per 4 ounces, at Whole Foods
The Royal Pippin’s juicy body and astringent finish freshen up your palate while a partnership between Olli Salumeria and Whole Foods yields a wider-gauged salami, infusing more smokiness in every bite.
4. Blue Bee Charred Ordinary (8.3% ABV), $10.25 per 500 ml + Beecher’s Handmade New York Cheddar Cheese, $15 per pound, at Wegmans
This sparkling wine-like cider spews a geyser of bubbles seemingly made for cave-aged cheddar. Matched, it’s like drinking a savory, Golden Delicious hand pie topped with sharp cheese.
5. Potter’s Sorachi Ace (8.5% ABV), $11 per 500 ml + Avocado Salad Roll, $6, at Ellwood Thompson’s
The lemony aromatics of these Japanese-born hops heart sushi. Add a buttery hand roll, and you have a cider session of IPA herbaceousness and true sushi love. Don’t miss this small-batch, seasonally released half-bottle.
