Dry Apple Cider in United States

It's kinda hard to find, but when they have it it's generally sold alongside with beer. In fact sometimes all they'll have is a 6-pack, so it's packaged just like beer.

Maybe substitute with a beer that does not have a strong taste of its own, and add tiny bit of apple cider vinegar if you need more acidity. 

Cider in British parlance is an alcoholic apple drink.  I think it's called 'hard cider' in the USA.

Don't use apple cider vinegar.... blech!

Blackthorn and Strongbow are fairly bog-standard, mass produced English ciders.

Wyders would be the one to look for. They make a peach a pear and an apple cider here in the states. The pear is fantastic.

What are you intending to serve with this gravy?

I only use English cider when I'm cooking pork.

I would probably not use 1/2 cup of apple cider, that's a LOT of acid. If what you call "real cider" is the American carbonated apple juice, I wouldn't use that or very little because it's going to bring a lot of sweetness. Maybe if you want to share the whole recipe with us we can give you more useful suggestions?

Personally I'd just use beer, and taste to see if something's missing. You can play with the acidity and the sweetness with the vinegar and "real cider".

I don't suppose you have a BevMo! in your area do you? they almost always have it. After doing a bit of a search a place called total wines in charlotte is supposed to have a hard cider called Original Sin. best of luck

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunnar 

I don't suppose you have a BevMo! in your area do you? they almost always have it. After doing a bit of a search a place called total wines in charlotte is supposed to have a hard cider called Original Sin. best of luck

... or Trader Joes.

I was going to suggest roasting an apple, yes. Best way to get the apple flavor in your stuffing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by French Fries 

I was going to suggest roasting an apple, yes. Best way to get the apple flavor in your stuffing!

Good suggestion - that's what I did for Thanksgiving and it worked quite well.

 Alternatively, since this appears to be for a sauce: pan-fry apple (Granny Smith) in butter until soft and wiz them in a blender.  Add to the sauce.

Or perhaps a combo of a whole apple and a tablespoon or three of Calvados?

Ishbel, funny you should mention Blackthorn.  It was the very first thing that came to mind when reading this post.  To the OP, I'm surprised you are having that much trouble finding hard cider.  It seems that most places I've lived in the last 10 years you can find at least one brand at any half way decent liquor store.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KYHeirloomer 

Or perhaps a combo of a whole apple and a tablespoon or three of Calvados?

That actually sounds quite tasty. But is it any easier to find Calvados in the U.S. than hard cider? That's the question. If you find it, buy it, drink it, pour it on crepes, use it in sauces for pork etc... you won't regret it.

I can get Calvados even here in central Kentucky, FF. And if it's available here, it ain't hard to get. Trust me.

It's not cheap, of course. But the good stuff never is.

Another alternative would be apple jack. Not as smooth on the tongue as the Normandy stuff, but for cooking, why not? Probably a little cheaper (I'm guessing. Last Jack I had was homemade) too.

You might try Woodchuck cider. It's got a clear, bright flavor and I know it's available in NC.

(Fond memories of getting hammered with Woodchuck while boating on Lake Norman.)

It might not be as dry as you'd like but for what you doing with it, it would be considerably drier than using apple liqueurs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete 

... To the OP, I'm surprised you are having that much trouble finding hard cider.  It seems that most places I've lived in the last 10 years you can find at least one brand at any half way decent liquor store.

I'm surprised and not surprised all at the same time.  I've seen cider EVERYWHERE... until I decide I want to buy some to drink.

Other products that one would think not difficult to find can be quite challenging.  Just yesterday I asked my wife to pick me up a bottle of Vin Santo at the Italian deli while she was getting me a sandwich.  Their reaction:  they've never heard of a wine called Vin Santo.  Go figure.

The regular "Woodchuck" cider can be on the sweet side, but if you can find their granny smith apple cider that one tends to be a little drier and more tart.