TOP 6 best producers of apple cider: rating, organoleptic properties, which one to choose, comparison with analogues

Apple cider has invisibly burst into our daily life and has become a real alternative to beer in the hot season. This low-alcohol tonic drink with a pleasant fruity aroma and sweet and sour taste has recently begun to gain popularity in our country, while in Europe the culture of its consumption has a rich history.

For today's review, 6 popular brands of apple cider of varying strength and sweetness were selected, which are in high demand among Russian consumers. To choose the most delicious and high-quality cider, let's compare their tasting characteristics, composition, and price-quality ratio.

Rating of TOP 6 brands of apple cider

Based on the research carried out, 6 well-known apple cider producers can be identified, which for one reason or another are most in demand among buyers. Let's get acquainted with the list and proceed to a detailed analysis of each participant in the rating in order to identify their main advantages and disadvantages.

Strongbow gold apple

A sweet sparkling cider with a light amber color. A light and refreshing low-alcohol drink based on apple juice concentrate with a pleasant astringency in the aftertaste. The composition contains dye and preservatives. It will be a good alternative to sparkling wine and a great addition to a festive dinner.

Manufacturing of the original dry Strongbow is concentrated in the UK; since 2016, a version specially adapted for the domestic consumer has been produced in Russia at the Heineken United Brewers plant. Energy value per 100 g: 50 kcal.

Inexpensive and pleasant medium sparkling cider, nice to drink chilled. There is not enough richness in the taste, the apple is poorly felt, and the composition leaves much to be desired.

Chester's Original

Semi-dry apple cider made from natural apple juice. Possesses pleasant apple aroma, refreshing taste with unobtrusive sourness. For the production of a low-alcohol drink, selected seasonal sweet and sour apples and a small amount of sugar are used. It goes well with cheeses, seafood and baked vegetables. Contains no added alcohol.

Produced according to the traditional British fermentation method at NPO Agroservice in the Moscow region, Ramenskoye. Energy value: 43 kcal per 100 g.

For the money, just great cider. I tried more expensive options - they turned out to be less tasty. The pleasant aroma of natural apples, the taste is neither sweet nor sour - everything is as it should be!

Volkovskaya brewery "Sidrova goat"

Semi-sweet sparkling cider of golden straw color. The rich apple aroma is delicately set off by the nuances of lemon peel. The taste is balanced, with balanced sweetness and light sourness. Perfectly manifests itself as an aperitif or digestive; goes well with pastries, chicken dishes and desserts.

The production is carried out at Volkovskaya Pivovarna, one of the most famous craft laboratories for the production of craft drinks. Energy value per 100 g: 50 kcal.

I love the products of this company, but this particular cider did not cause delight, there are also more successful samples. From the pros: pleasantly tones up in the heat, not very carbonated.

Magners original

Premium quality classic Irish cider with a golden yellow hue. For its production, apples of 17 varieties are used, which are mixed before the fermentation procedure. The fruits are aged in barrels for 18 months, due to this, the taste is rich and rich, where bitterness, sweetness and sourness are in harmony with each other. The aftertaste has tart and sweet accents of ripe apples. Traditionally served as an aperitif with ice cubes.

Manufactured in Ireland by Bulmers Ltd as part of C&C Group plc since 1935. Calorie content of the drink: 39 kcal.

The tastiest cider I have ever tasted is much better than the usual sweet ones, which cannot be enjoyed with pleasure due to the sugaryness. It is easy and pleasant to drink, because of this it is difficult to stop before the intoxication sets in.

Belhaven apple cider

Semi-dry Scotch cider, light golden in color and moderately carbonated. It is made according to the method of fermentation of varieties of Scottish dessert and bittersweet apples. After the fermentation stage, first-pressed natural apple juice is added. The fragrant bouquet is fresh and rich, with a slight bitterness of baked apples in the aftertaste. Served as an aperitif, it is good in combination with light snacks, salads and desserts.

The cider is produced at the old Scottish brewery Belhaven. Recommended drinking temperature: 6-8 ° С. Caloric content per 100 g: 35 kcal.

Very tasty cider, almost not sweet, well carbonated - as if it were champagne. The aroma is pleasant and unobtrusive, it smells like natural apples.

Alska Passion Fruit & Apple

A popular Swedish cider with a golden hue with an amber tint. A drink based on ripe apples with the addition of passionfruit juice creates an exotic flavor palette. The aroma is invigorating and fresh, with accents of tropical fruits and garden apples. It contains only water, reconstituted fruit juice and yeast. Recommended to be served with ice cubes and a sprig of mint as a refreshing aperitif.

The cider is produced at the Swedish Cider Company plant in Stockholm. Recommended serving temperature: 4-8 ° С. Calorie content of the drink: 52 kcal.

A refreshing sweet and sour cider with a pleasant passionfruit aroma, very good chilled. I like other tastes of this brand, you can take it, but the price bites.

How to choose the right apple cider in the store

To choose a natural product with excellent tasting characteristics, it is not necessary to choose the most expensive one in the store - it is enough to adhere to simple recommendations:

• Cider, like wine, is dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet.The addition of a certain amount of sugar after fermentation is allowed in order to achieve the optimum flavor. It is easier for a person who is not familiar with this drink to perceive the sweet taste at the initial stage. With a successful starting tasting, you can gradually expand the range up to extra-dry Spanish specimens with pronounced tannins and acidity.
• How to understand that you have a natural product in front of you? Everything is extremely simple: just look at the label and read the composition. If it is written that the cider is made from 100% apple juice, you can safely take it, but the inscription “concentrated apple juice” does not bode well. You can drink it, perhaps even with pleasure, but you should not take this drink as a natural cider - rather, as a low-alcohol apple lemonade.
• According to the requirements of GOST 31820-2015, the texture of the cider must be transparent, without foreign inclusions and sediment. Ideally, the product should be yeast-free: real high quality cider is fermented without yeast.