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The Delicious Simplicity of Hard Cider

The Delicious Simplicity of Hard Cider

By Annemarie D'Alessandro

If you’ve ever sat down at a bar or walked around your favorite liquor store, chances are you’ve heard of Angry Orchard, Strongbow, or even Redd’s Apple Ale. In recent years the popularity of hard ciders has exploded, so let’s dive into how hard cider is made and what makes it unique!

When making hard cider, the process usually follows the “Four P’s”: pick, press, punish, and package. Each step plays a critical role in the quality of the finished product and its overall flavor profile. Let’s explore the four steps:

Pick: In the picking step, cider producers will gather the apples they want to make cider out of. Cider can technically be made out of any kind of apple, but the best ones are apples that are more acidic. Of the acidic apples out there are four general sweetness categories: sweet, sharp, bittersharp, or bittersweet. Some of the sweetness of the apples may be maintained in the final product, so if the goal is to make a very dry cider, cider makers will often opt for a more bitter apple type.

Press: The apples gathered in the first step are then taken and ground into what’s called a pomace, which is essentially a pulp made from the meat of the apple. The pomace is then squeezed so the cider makers can collect as much juice as possible. Squeezing is typically done by a machine, but some cider makers opt to do the pressing by hand!

Punish: After pressing, the resulting juice is then moved to a vat or cask. In this step, the juice is maintained at 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit while it begins to undergo natural fermentation. For commercialized ciders, the natural yeasts are often killed off and replaced with different yeasts that may speed up the process. During this step, the cider will also undergo racking – pouring the cider into a new vat, leaving the old dead yeast behind, and removing all air from the container. Racking is one of the most important processes in cider-making because it is responsible for making the final product clear and tasty! Sometimes juices from other fruits, like peaches or black cherries, can be added during this step or just before bottling to give the cider a more unique flavor profile.

Package: This step is exactly what it sounds like, the finished cider is emptied from the vat and bottled. Typically, cider will be bottled in glass bottles with bottlecaps, but in some rare instances, it may be bottled like champagne where additional sugar is added during bottling so the natural yeast can continue to feast. The champagne method is not favored because as the yeast breaks down the sugar, carbon dioxide is produced, the bottle is pressurized, and if not done just right the bottle can actually explode! The last part of this step is a pasteurization process using cold or hot treatments that will kill off any bad bacteria lurking in the finished, bottled cider.

The four-step process is pretty simple for making an alcoholic beverage, so what exactly makes hard cider stand out against the competition? Well, there is one reason why hard cider has been referred to as the “Ultimate American Drink” and the answer lies with Johnny Appleseed. Yes, you read that right, Johnny Appleseed wasn’t just a random guy in history spreading apple seeds so everyone would have something to eat. In fact, during the age of Colonial America Johnny Appleseed was spreading seeds for apple trees that produced tiny, ugly, bitter apples because they were the best apples for making cider and the new European settlers just couldn’t get enough cider!

But what else makes cider unique and new? Well, nowadays cider producers are moving more towards a craft version of ciders. Brewers of this tasty drink are actually beginning to search for wild apple varieties that only grow in certain regions as it will give the cider a new and personalized taste! Sounds a bit like wine grape varieties, doesn’t it?

Other people are drawn to ciders because of the natural benefits that come with it – cider is gluten-free (unless a brewer decides to brew it with hops), and it usually contains some vitamin C and antioxidants. But on the contrary, ciders do tend to be higher in calories so keep that in mind if you’re watching your daily intake! Cider also maintains an alcohol by volume percentage similar to beer so even though they may be sweeter, don’t let it fool you and drink responsibly!

If you haven’t given hard cider a go yet, please do so because you won’t be disappointed! On top of all the fun things mentioned before, cider is also a great drink to pair with foods because of its superior versatility. Whether you’re grilling meats, enjoying spicy Asian cuisine, or ordering a cream-based dish, hard cider will complement just about all of your favorite foods. So next time you wander around Passion Vines wondering what to try next, pick up a six-pack of hard cider!

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Ironbound - Hard Cider
Ironbound - Hard Cider (4 pack 16oz cans)
Cider Wine 
United States | New Jersey Cider

Hard cider with a cherry blossom aroma and fruity notes, a subtle sweetness, and a ripe apple finish.

 
Current price:  $14.49
6+ Pack Price: $13.04 / pack
Stella Artois Brewery - Stella Artois Cidre
Stella Artois Brewery - Stella Artois Cidre (6 pack 12oz bottles)
Cider Wine 
Belgium | Leuven Cider

Welcome to Cidre season,

when winter blankets are packed away and picnic blankets lay down to play. Add a splash of spontaneity to your repertoire, and raise a glass to it all coming together just so. As golden afternoons unfold,... Read More

 
Current price:  $10.99
4+ Pack Price: $10.00 / pack
Strongbow - Golden Apple Cider
Strongbow - Golden Apple Cider (6 pack 11oz bottles)
Cider Wine 
England | Herefordshire Cider

Strongbow Gold Apple has a wonderful transparent gold color, a rich and complex aromatic array dominated by several varieties of apple and a refreshing texture with a true balance between first acidity, sharpness and sourness;... Read More

 
Current price:  $10.99
4+ Pack Price: $10.00 / pack
All sizes are 750mL unless otherwise noted.
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time.
All pricing and availability subject to change.
Artwork does not necessarily represent items for sale.

 

 

All sizes are 750mL unless otherwise noted.
Vintages, ratings and product packaging (images) are subject to change at any time.
All pricing and availability are subject to change.
Artwork does not necessarily represent items for sale.

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