Strongbow Cider

The lovely Erica at AK O'Conners in Des Moines, IA serving the author a Pint of Stongbow at the beginning of December.


Another old standby, this is the cider which introduced me to alcohol in a way that didn't involve my gorge going on strike and taking my lunch with it. I first met this Classic o the Orchard in Berlin over the Christmas of 2000. I will ever be indebted to my dear colleague on that trip who suggested it when the Killians Red in my hand just wasn't cutting it.

Strongbow originated in England, being produced by the Bulmers Cider company. In the US, the recipe is licensed to Green Mountain Beverages, who also license Woodpecker from Bulmers for North American production. The taste of the English and American versions of the cider are early identical, being differentiated only by the N.A. version being 0.3% poorer in alcohol. In England, Strongbow is as ubiquitous on tap in pubs as Bud or Miller are here, though Strongbow on draught is rapidly gaining popularity in the US. On both continents, it is widely available on tap as well as in bottles and cans.

Similar to Hardcore, Strongbow has a medium body with very limited fizz out of the tap or can (the bottle somehow breeds more bubbles, though letting the bottle breathe for a moment will alleviate this). Strongbow is nearly unique in the way that it has little or no after taste. While not bitter, this cider also lacks any super present sweetness. Instead, the tip of the tongue briefly flashes a hint of tart before the body of the taste buds receive a strong feeling of ripe red apples.

Strongbow is described as a dry cider, and in comparison to Woodchuck Amber(Also distributed by Green Mountain in the US) or the unforgettable J.K. Scrumpy, it certainly is. In kind, this cider also lacks the cutting, highly fermented feeling of Blackthorn or K's. What we are left with is a quenching drink which proudly displays it's apple orchard origins without giving into the sugary tartness of so many American ciders.

Strongbow is a cider for the Ages and any given occasion. A standard metric by which all others can be judged and debated. Fast gaining popularity in the US, the appeal of this brew cannot be denied. A cliff, dear reader, which has an ever-growing crowd waiting to leap. Get in line. It will be worth the ride.



http://www.bulmers.co.uk/hpbulmers/
http://www.strongbowcider.us/