Best Apple Trees for Hard Cider

These are the trees that score 8 or more out of 10 for hard cider in our own ratings. For the reasoning and the juice numbers behind them, read our guide to the best apples for cider.

Golden Russet (9/10, SG up to 1.066), Hewe's Virginia crab (9/10, 9.1 g/L acid and 0.19% tannin), Roxbury Russet and Frostbite lead the list. See all cider apple trees and fruit for hard cider.

More about apples for hard cider

The 14 varieties in our catalog that scored 8 or higher out of 10 for hard cider. Scored on sugar, acid and tannin, and on what the variety brings to a blend or a single-variety cider.

An 8 is Very good on the adapted Beach (1905) grade, a 9 is Very good to best and a 10 is Best. Beach put very good and best in the higher classes, above what he called medium, and that is why the line sits at 8 and why an 8 is hard to get. Varieties that scored 6 or 7 are genuinely good at this too, and you will find them under the matching Shop by Use group. How we rate fruit.

Every score here is sourced, and nothing is on this list on our word alone. The reasoning and every source behind it is in the Best Of research. That is a working document, so if your experience is different, tell us.

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