Although primarily regarded as a European drink, hard apple cider has roots rich in American tradition. During colonial times, hard cider was consumed more predominately than beer, wine, or liquor. In fact, it was America’s obsession with hard cider that motivated the fabled “Johnny Appleseed,” born in 1774 as John Chapman, to travel the states planting apple orchards. But unlike most orchards today, orchards of the 18th and 19th century were typically used to grow apples strictly for making hard ciders. Chapman wasn’t just planting orchards because he loved apples — like the stories would have you believe — he was planting orchards to bring the alcoholic beverage of choice to the people of the region. American hard cider took on newfound importance in 1840 when presidential political candidate, William Harrison, used cider as a way to connect with voters. Harrison’s campaign was flooded with the message that he was a “log cabin and hard cider” kind of guy. This was done to convey the fact he lived and drank like one of the people. Harrison won the election with a landslide victory. However, his time as president was short lived as he died of pneumonia within a month of taking office.

The popularity of hard cider lived on in America, but even that too died with time. Hard cider’s demise can be attributed to multiple things, but most detrimental being prohibition. By the time prohibition was repealed in 1933, German immigrants had deeply entrenched the art of brewing beer into the American spirit, and beer quickly became America’s drink of choice. But now, thanks to a worldwide resurgence of popularity over the past few decades, American hard apple cider is once again becoming a staple in American brewing and has slowly worked its way back into the pint glass at neighborhood bars.