Drink: Portland Cider House

The hard cider revolution is upon us, with Portland, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest at the forefront.

As cider grows in popularity, quality and variety is increasing. The Portland Cider House is the gold standard for cider taprooms. This bar in Southeast Portland is the stop for cider lovers and curious drinkers looking for a refreshing taste of something new.

The Pacific Northwest has a love affair with hops. It makes perfect sense. With a climate conducive to growing hops, it is no strange wonder why bitter hoppiness is beloved in beer.  Portland is well known for its production and love of beer. With dozens of breweries across the city, it is easy to get your fix of IPAs. Sometimes it might be a little too easy.

There is more growing in the Northwest than hops. The Northwest is also a haven for apple-growing. Three of the top ten apple-producing states in the United States – Washington, Oregon and Idaho – are in the Northwest. Orchards are plenty, and with millions of apples lying around, you get a lot of apple juice. And, inevitably, lots of cider.

Cider in Portland, Oregon

Cider has been around for thousands of years, although its popularity in recent centuries is more closely associated with the United Kingdom. In the United States, Big Beer saw an opportunity and Angry Orchard was cast upon us. In Portland, cider is more than a super-sweet, bubbly alcoholic drink.

Cider in Portland is an important part of the local drinking culture. Perhaps it is due to the endless efforts of the city’s residents to further enhance their already-exclusive diets. Cider is gluten-free, thus a perfect fit for a diet-restricted population. Most bars in Portland have at least one cider on tap, and many Portland bars are beginning to offer multiple local, craft ciders. For health-conscious eaters in Portland, cider is a natural fit.

Currently, there are more than ten cideries in the immediate Portland, Oregon area. There are dozens more cider operations around the state. In addition to cider production in Portland, the city is home to several bars and taprooms committed to serving cider.

Cider Bite, Cider Riot, Schilling Cider House and Reverend Nat’s are all popular places dedicated to hard cider. And there are several more options around the city for a pint.

Portland Cider House

Portland Cider House is the best place for a hard cider in the city. It is the taproom of the local Portland Cider Company, which is based in the suburb of Clackamas. Portland Cider House is located on Hawthorne Boulevard in Southeast Portland and features one of the largest selections of cider found anywhere.

Portland Cider House has 30 taps, half of which pour ciders from other local and regional cideries. The best part of so many ciders is the variety. Most people associate hard cider with apples. Apple is the most common cider, but Portland Cider House has a great assortment. Rotating taps have included pear, strawberry, rhubarb, apricot and even lemongrass.

Those who say “I don’t like beer,” yet have only tried watered down, mass-produced “American” beer are probably the same crowd that says, “I don’t like cider. It’s too sweet.”

The extent of cider that most people have tried largely consists of the cider-equivalent of the most popular American beer brands. These are mass-produced, sugary nonsense like Angry Orchard. The best cider comes from all-natural ingredients with no added sugars. You wouldn’t pour sugar on top of an apple slice, why add it to cider?

Portland Cider House has ciders that are sweet, but they also have variations for other taste preferences on a menu that changes daily. If you’re curious about what cider you may or may not like, order a flight with several different ciders. Some are sweet, some are dry and others are unusual.

If you’re looking for a raucous atmosphere, Portland Cider House is not the place. It’s small, very bright and open, but is otherwise a chill place. It’s a fun stop with a group of friends, and there is a shelf full of board games for entertaining.

Portland Cider House is a good option for those following a gluten-free diet, a great place for cider enthusiasts or a stop for visitors looking to sample a taste of Portland. It is the perfect starting point to challenge your taste buds and try something new.

Cider is Changing the Game

The hard cider market is booming and the multinational beer brands are scrambling to get in the game. Big Beer primarily produces low-quality, watered-down beer. Most of the ciders from these companies are equally terrible, usually too sweet to enjoy. Cider in Portland is ahead of the curve.

There are new cideries popping up at an historic pace. While many of which are deserving of a visit, Portland Cider House in Southeast Portland is the place to start.

Ciders are evolving just as craft beer has evolved. There are more options than ultra-sweet alcoholic apple cider. Ciders are most commonly made from apples, but are increasingly made from pears, peaches and berries. The variety of cider varies from sweet to dry and even spicy.

In most bars across the United States, you will be hard pressed (see what I did there!) to find a cider on the menu, much less a local or craft cider. This is not the case in much of the Pacific Northwest. Locals and visitors in Portland are fortunate to have a sizable choice nearby.

Americans are stubborn drinkers, stubborn consumers, in general. New, different products are often met with fierce resistance. It’s okay if the liquid in your pint glass is something sweet. But that’s the great thing about cider. It’s not all sweet.

When visiting Portland, try as much of the craft beer as possible. It’s phenomenal! Don’t stop there. Drinking local in Portland includes a taste of cider, and it’s better than advertised.

Make sure to save some time to try craft cider, the next big thing. Portland Cider House is the best place to get started on cider and the best place to discover a new personal favorite.