Top Spots For Cider Ales In Philadelphia
Crisp weather, pumpkin-flavored everything and colorful leaves are sure signs of fall in Philadelphia. While it's not quite time for heavy winter dishes and drinks, hard ciders are the perfect crossover beverage for the season. Typically made with fermented apples, pears or pumpkins, hard cider combines traditional fall flavors with the light and refreshing qualities of beer. These Philly spots are your best bet for enjoying the fall favorite.
Frankford Hall
1210 Frankford Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19114
(215) 634-3338
www.frankfordhall.com
Heat lamps, a fire pit, outdoor games and a great selection of drinks and food make this Stephen Starr beer garden in Fishtown a fall staple. Embrace the season by enjoying drinks like Doc's Draft Hard Apple Cider. This award-winning sparkling cider has a wonderful crisp, fruity flavor and can be perfectly paired with Frankford Hall favorites like giant Bavarian soft pretzels, sausage and potato pancakes.
Tinto
114 S. 20th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 665-9150
www.tintorestaurant.com
Following the success of Amada in Old City, Chef Jose Garces brought Tinto to Rittenhouse Square. Offering tapas in the Basque country tradition, Tinto features dishes such as duck confit, spiced meatballs and grilled octopus. In addition to over 100 French and Spanish wines, craft beers and an incredible sangria, Tinto also offers a number of Basque and Austrian ciders. While typically more well known for its wine, the Basque region actually produces some of the best and most creative ciders. These fresh, crisp drinks with apple notes are the perfect complement to fall dishes.
Time Restaurant
1315 Samson St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 985-4800
www.timerestaurant.net
Time offers something for everyone. Enjoy upscale American cuisine and live jazz music in the dining room, or, on the weekend, you can dance the night away upstairs in the Parisian-style club with DJs spinning every Friday and Saturday. You can even watch the big game while enjoying a drink in the whiskey lounge. In addition to over 100 whiskeys at Time, you'll also find wine, cocktails, absinthe (yes, the real thing!) and an impressive beer selection. The beer list includes both domestic and imported bottles and 20 taps, including the seasonal favorite, Doc's Hard Apple Cider.
The Dandelion
124 S. 18th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 558-2500
www.thedandelionpub.com
Stephen Starr brings a bit of British flair to Center City with his two-level pub, The Dandelion. Chef Robert Aikens, a Norwich native, offers a variety of menus, including a mid-day tea menu, bar snacks, Sunday roasts and British classics such as beer-battered fish and chips and bangers and mash. To complement the cuisine, there's an extensive drink menu featuring drafts and bottles from the United Kingdom, three cask ales, wine, cocktails including the ubiquitous Pimm's Cup and a number of ciders such as Magner's Cider, Spire Dark & Dry, Strongbow Can and Sam Smith Organic Apple Cider.
Related: Top Philadelphia Gastropubs
City Tap House
The Radian Balcony
3925 Walnut St.
Philadephia, PA 19104
(215) 662-0105
www.citytaphouse.com
Fire pits, a great view and beautiful outdoor seating make City Tap House a popular spot in the fall, and the location couldn't be any more convenient for the crowd at Penn or Drexel. In addition to one of the largest draft beer lists in the city, you can also expect ciders from favorites such as Harpoon Brewery, Crispin Cider and Philadelphia Brewing Company.
Michelle Hein is a copy editor for a women's fashion company in Bucks County by day and a self-proclaimed food and drink fanatic by night and weekend. She enjoys attending wine classes, trying new recipes in the kitchen and going to old favorites and new restaurants alike in the Bucks County and Philadelphia area. If the writing gig doesn't pan out, she constantly dreams of owning her own bakery...perhaps connected to the restaurant/bar that her lawyer boyfriend would love to open.
