Cider vs. Cider

[English Chick]

Quote:
Had me laughing.... yep very popular drink over here.... and does get you tipsy quickly...... some brands are stronger than others.... OR if your really brave..... a bottle of very strong lager..... topped with cider ... called "snakebite" here... knocks you head right off!... or Black Velvet..... Guinness and cider..... make sure you have headache tablets in for the hangover! ENjoy....... but only if you are brave...

 

[petrelline]

I make it, too, but only once a year when the apples are ripe. It takes a year or so to age in the bottle before it tastes really good. I make between 15-20 gallons depending on the kind of deal I can get on apples. I'm too busy with chickens this year to make any, but I still have carboys from last year that need bottling, so I'll be OK.

"Cider" originally referred only to the alcoholic stuff even here in the US. Unfermented apple squeezings is apple *juice.* It was during prohibition that the meaning of the word changed here, but cider still means alcohol everywhere else in the world.

A lot of the bottled hard cider we have here in the US is actually kind of crappily made -- too sweet and too carbonated, kind of a beer-alternative with all the depth of a wine cooler. British ciders are strong but well made, and tend to kick pretty hard. The french ciders are lovely, subtle, and not all that alcoholic -- but also very hard to find.

I love it all, even the crappy stuff.