Enjoy Delicious Apple Cider, Sweet and Hard

Image Gallery Fall is the perfect time of year to enjoy fresh apples and freshly pressed apple cider. PHOTODISC/GETTY IMAGES

If you happen to be driving out in the country on a beautiful fall day, and you pass a roadside sign that says 'fresh apple cider,' by all means stop! This is the time of year to enjoy freshly pressed cider, and some of the best available is from local cider mills.

When it's in season, you can also find apple cider in the grocery store. Look for the stuff that's made locally and hasn't been heavily filtered ? it will have the best taste. The best ciders also are made with a blend of apples, some sweet, and some just a bit tart for added depth of flavor.

If you enjoy apple cider and are over 21, consider seeking out different kinds of hard cider, too. There's a long tradition of making alcoholic ciders both in Europe and in the United States, and the flavors can be as varied and textured as any wine or beer. That's because there are thousands of apple varieties that contribute their unique flavors to cider, whether hard or sweet.

Feeling thirsty? Here are five fun ideas for exploring cider flavors ? from simple cider sampling, to semi-professional cider making. Enjoy!

1. Sample Different Ciders. If you have several cider mills in your area, why not try sweet cider from all of them? They'll all have different flavors, and when they're in season, you should be able to find them at the grocery store. Much hard cider is very sweet, so seek out dryer types to get a better idea of the range of flavors.

2. Visit a Cider Mill. It's also fun to visit cider mills to see how sweet cider is made. It's especially enjoyable if they have presses you can see working, or 'pick your own' orchards where you can pick and eat apples right from the tree. A good place to find cider mills near you is the Local Harvest Web site, although apples are scarce in some parts of the country this year because of an unusually late spring freeze.