Cider Spots

Portland Cider House

3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 206-6283, portlandcider.com.

Portland Cider House is so tarted up with merchandise it looks like a Portland-ified Wall Drug. But with its computerized keg system, 24 fast-rotating taps and helpful staff offering recommendations across the panoply of ciders (including a few English ones), Portland Cider Co.'s Hawthorne taproom has essentially made itself the Bailey's Taproom of cider bars. There's always something new to try, and a self-selected taster of five will set you back a mere $7. Perfect.

Reverend Nat's

1813 NE 2nd Ave., 567-2221, reverendnatshardcider.com.

Nat's is a taphouse—serving only Reverend Nat's ciders. But this means the little bar at the edge of its warehouse space has every bit as much variety, interest and selection as just about any cider bar, with plenty of rare ciders that never make their way out the doors. There are few bars in the city that reward a check-in as consistently as Nat's does: There's always something new.

Bushwhacker

Woodlawn, 901 NE Oneonta St., 971-229-1663; Brooklyn, 1212 SE Powell Blvd., Suite D, 445-0577; bushwhackercider.com.

The nation's first cider bar added an outpost in Woodlawn offering an expanded food menu and a game-room vibe (angled shuffleboard, whatever that is!). But despite its xenophobic atmosphere, the original Southeast spot in Brooklyn remains the best, cheapest and most extensive bottle shop for cider in all of Portland, with deep cuts spanning the globe.

Civic Taproom

621 SW 19th Ave., 477-4621, thecivictaproom.com.

Civic has a six-deep cider selection at all times—a heavy emphasis alongside its 12 beers and four tap wines. But it's the shot-calling that makes it significant, recently including a Cider Riot-Rev. Nat's ciderkin fermented from the spent pommes of Riot's 1763, a great 2014 farmhouse from Baird and Dewar, and one from new Hood River entrant Fox Tail.

Cider Bite

1230 NW Hoyt St., 765-5655, ciderbite.com.

Cider Bite is a sparse, wood-dominated space with college-dorm-style tourist posters on the walls, a huge 24-tap digital tap list behind the bar, and a big red apple for a logo. Bite is a growler spot, with a strong focus on welcoming the sugar-loving, entry-level cider drinker, with Woodchuck and Angry Orchard alongside locals like Swift and Locust.

Sasquatch

6440 SW Capitol Highway, 402-1999, sasquatchbrewery.com.

This cozy, wooded Hillsdale brewpub with excellent food and an even better Vanilla Bourbon Cream Ale has a surprising, and sincere, cider focus. It's making its own New West cider now, in flavors from juniper to dry, among 12 carefully chosen cider taps.

Willamette Week