Apple cider and hard cider...What's the difference? | Windfall Cider (2024)

FAQs

Is hard cider the same as apple cider? ›

Hard cider is the adult version of apple cider. Although apples and pears are the most common fruit to use, ciders can also be made from strawberries, peaches, plums, etc. Interestingly, if apple cider is left unpasteurized and unrefrigerated, the cider will start to ferment naturally and turn itself into hard cider.

In simple terms, a cider is designated as dry when it contains zero grams of residual sugar. Cider is made by fermenting the sugars naturally found in apples. Yeast is added to pressed juice which feeds on the existing sugar, ultimately releasing carbon dioxide and creating alcohol.

Hard cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented apples (like how wine is made from fermented grapes). Like wine, starting with fruit gives hard cider taste profiles that range from fruity to dry. Your palette can pick up on the acids and tannins that come from the wide variety of apples.

In a 1739 dictionary, hard was defined as rough and rugged, a further refinement of the usage in the 16th century sharing much of the same sentiment. In the early 1800s, Webster's Dictionary actually used the word hard used to describe booze as acidic, sour, and austere. The use of the term is “the cider is hard”.

With little to no added sugar, beer is the undisputed winner here. As a result, it typically has lesser carbs than cider which makes it slightly “healthier”, even though the amount of calories remains roughly the same.

Since hard cider is fermented, it doesn't have to be refrigerated once it is bottled or canned. However, there are a few guidelines to ensure that your hard cider stays fresh and delicious. The ideal storage temperature for hard cider is between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Did you know hard cider has many health benefits? According to Cider Craft Magazine there are three health benefits that come from drinking hard cider; antioxidants, vitamin C, and sans gluten. Apples are known to be a type of “superfood” containing many vital vitamins and antioxidants.

Is Apple Cider Alcoholic? Fresh apple cider doesn't contain alcohol. It's possible for unpasteurized cider to ferment over time and become alcoholic, creating hard apple cider. If you don't want your cider to become alcoholic, then it's best to drink it within two weeks of making it.

Is cider good for you? ›

Apple cider contains polyphenols, which are compounds in plants that act as antioxidants. They can help the body to fight against free radicals and cell damage, lowering your risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Polyphenols also help to ease inflammation in the body.

The fruit used to make cider is naturally high in sugar, which is why cider is higher in sugar than beer. As part of the brewing process, yeast is added to the juice to begin fermentation.

The complex flavours of cider

Cider can mean different things to people. So, while it can taste sweetly of apples to one person, to someone else, they enjoy drinking cider for the sharp, acidic edge that pleasantly cuts through their thirst on a hot summers day.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALE AND CIDER? The main difference is how they get their alcohol. Ales get their alcohol from fermented and malted grains, ciders get their alcohol from fermented apple juice.

Jacking, or freeze distillation, involves freezing the hard cider and removing the ice (frozen water) from the mixture, which increases the alcohol content. The more ice removed, the higher the alcohol content, which makes Applejack much stronger than hard cider.