Nothing beats a sweet and refreshing cider on a scorching summer’s day.
Craft ciders and ginger beers are making waves in New Zealand, with local brewers drawing massive audiences who are after something sweet and warming yet refreshing. With a higher sugar content and no hops, expect juicy fruit flavours and tart sweetness.
Keep scrolling to discover the best of the best New Zealand-made ciders and alcoholic gingerbeers for 2023 plus our favourite food pairings for each.
Morningcider Cherry Bomb Cider
Type of beer: Cider
Brewery: Morningcider
Flavours: Cherry, cinnamon, brown sugar
Judges’ comments: For a second year running, Morningside’s Morningcider (see what you did there), makes the Top 30. Not only have they delivered on a beautiful can and great taste, it’s one that doubles up on a good cause. Cherry Bomb is a collaboration with food-rescuer Citizen, a business focused on upcycling food that would otherwise go to waste. This cider is made with ‘rescued’ Central Otago cherries and has just the right balance of cinnamon and brown sugar to offset the tart cherry. Sweet, full-bodied and perfectly balanced — our judges loved the heft and complexity of this pretty cider.
Pairing Recommendation: Everyone knows cherry is ripe for chocolate, so pair this with a chocolate fondant for dessert.
For more on this beer visit: morningcider.co
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Mount Brewing Co Tart Rhubarb Cider
Type of beer: Cider
Brewery: Mount Brewing Co.
Flavours: Rhubarb, sweet-tart balance
Judges’ comments: Mount Maunganui’s own Mount Brewing have been making great beer in their fabulous brewery and taproom since 1996. It’s called The Rising Tide. The brewery started by Glenn and Virginia Meikle is a second-generation business these days, with daughter Briar now in charge. In recent years they’ve strung together regular appearances in our Top 30 thanks to compelling flavour twists, particularly with their cider range. This is a rhubarb bonanza, with an almost dessert-wine quality to the sweet-tart balance. The judges were in love with it: “Very attractive rhubarb aromas. Beautifully balanced with sweetness. Lovely depth and length. Very enjoyable. Impressive fruit expression.”
Pairing Recommendation: An ideal aperitif with a hard cheddar cheese or at the other end of the night with apple crumble.
For more on this beer visit: mountbrewingco.com
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Paynters Cider The Pilgrim Dry Cider
Type of beer: Cider
Brewery: Paynters
Flavours: French oak, baked apple, tannins
Judges’ comments: If you’ve not had a cider from Hawke’s Bay-based Paynters, you’ve almost certainly eaten fruit grown by the Paynter family under the Yummy brand. The Paynters had been growing fruit for decades when Paul Paynter decided to add classic English cider apples to his orchard such as Kingston Black and Stoke Red. The Pilgrim is made at Linden Estate Winery, in Esk Valley, where Cyclone Gabrielle tragically wreaked havoc in February. This super-dry cider has many great chardonnay characteristics, thanks to French oak and a winemaking fermentation process. The aroma is funky, yet the flavour is the friendliest; baked apple sweetness with some apple skin and tannic notes for balance. Finishes exceptionally dry.
Pairing Recommendation: Rich & wine-like with great complexity, try it with a creamy seafood pasta or prawn risotto.
For more on this beer visit: hoppiness.co.nz/paynters-pilgrim-cider
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Zeffer Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Type of beer: Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Brewery: Zeffer
Flavours: apple cider, ginger, kawakawa, chilli
Judges’ comments: Hawke’s Bay cider specialists Zeffer are regulars in this competition and with their alcoholic ginger beer, they are back in the Top 30 for the second time in three years. This is a versatile beverage that can be consumed as a refreshing sundowner, a pre-dinner aperitif or a perfect match for Southeast Asian cuisine. A sweet apple cider base is layered with fresh and dried ginger, kawakawa and chilli to produce a deeply satisfying flavour on 4.5% ABV. The judges loved the balance of spicy heat and sweetness.
Pairing Recommendation: Brewed with ginger and chilli this will make a great accompaniment to Asian noodles such as pad thai.
For more on this beer visit: shop.zeffer.co.nz/
Buy this beer: Visit online shopping
Thirsty for more top New Zealand beers?
If you’re after dark beers, lagers or more unique craft varieties, don’t forget to check out the articles linked below, or browse the Top 30 from the New World Beer & Cider Awards 2023 using our Beer Finder.
Not sure what you like? Our craft beer guide will walk you through what makes craft beer special and the different styles and flavours you can find in Aotearoa.
Related articles:
Best New Zealand craft beers for 2023
Best New Zealand IPAs and pale ales for 2023
Best New Zealand lagers and pilsners for 2023
Best New Zealand stouts and porters for 2023
Best New Zealand wheat, saison and sours for 2023
Best New Zealand hazy ales for 2023
About the author
Michael Donaldson is one of New Zealand’s most renowned beer writers and was named Beer Writer of the Year by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand for a third time in 2018. He has been the Chair of Judges for the New World Beer & Cider Awards since 2016.
His writing appears in North & South, The New Zealand Herald, Stuff and Drinksbiz. He is also the editor of The Pursuit of Hoppiness magazine published by the Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA). He is the author of New Zealand's definitive beer history Beer Nation - the Art and Heart of Kiwi Beer as well as The Big Book of Home Brew: a Kiwi Guide and The Hopfather, the biography of Emerson's founder Richard Emerson.