Do ciders have hops?

Most ciders don't: traditional cider is made from apples or pears without hops. Hopped cider is a specialty style in which hops, usually added after fermentation, give floral or citrus aromas. BJCP lists hopped cider under Spiced Cider, while in the UK hops are not on HMRC's list of permitted ingredients for cider duty.

Updated 2026-10-02

Key facts

Traditional cider has no hops. BJCP's traditional cider styles are made from apples alone. [1]
Hopped cider is a specialty. BJCP's C3B Spiced Cider category says hopped ciders "are allowable in this category". [2]
UK duty. HMRC "will not approve applications to add herbs or spices, fruit juices other than apple or pear, or flavours of any type other than those specified in the current permitted ingredients list"; hops are not on that list. [3]

How is hopped cider made?

Ferment a base cider, usually dry.
Dry-hop it: add hops to the finished cider for several days, as brewers do, to pick up aroma; one study dry-hopped for 8 days. [4]
Package still or sparkling.

The aim is aroma, not bitterness. [2]

Which hops are used in cider?

There is no fixed list: BJCP asks entrants in hopped-cider categories to name the hop varieties they used, and expects a fresh "dry hop" character, not bitterness. [2] A 2022 study dry-hopped a single-variety Gravenstein cider with Citra, Galaxy and Mosaic and found that the hop variety changed the cider's aroma compounds. [4]

Does hopped cider make cider a beer?

No. Hops are a flavouring here; the drink is still fermented from apple juice. In the US, cider is regulated as wine. [5] See is cider beer.

Related answers: is cider beer · what counts as cider in UK law

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Questions

Is hopped cider bitter?

Usually not very. BJCP says hops in cider should show as fresh hop aroma rather than bitterness. [2]

Is hopped cider still cider in the UK?

Hops are not on HMRC's permitted ingredients list, and HMRC won't approve flavours other than those listed, so a hopped cider may not qualify as cider for duty. [3]