It is no surprise to learn that cider and beer are the two most popular alcoholic drinks in the world. While beer is consumed more than cider and may be oldest of the two drinks, both cider and beer date back to thousands of years B.C. in Britain. There is no denying that the popularity of cider drinking has been on the rise in recent years, across all age groups and especially among the younger 18 to 34 generations and those who are looking for gluten-free options.
The major difference between cider and beer is what they are made from. Cider is made from pressed apple juice which contains natural sugars, and beer is made from starch based malted cereals, which is why cider is the drink of choice for those avoiding grain-based drinks.
How cider and beer are made
Cider is made from fermenting the apple juice, the fermentation process converts the natural sugars to alcohol However, you can get alcohol-free cider, which is a nice option for those wanting to cut down on their alcohol intake, or is the designated driver at parties and events and doesn't want to miss out on the enjoyment of drinking cider.
The majority of Beer is created by the brewing and fermenting of malted barley and hops, which gives beer its classic flavour. The alcohol level of beer can vary and you can also get alcohol-free beer.
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Flavour and varieties
Apple and Pear Ciders are very versatile drinks and while it is normally classified by the apple and pear varieties used and level of dryness, its natural flavour lends itself perfectly to being combined with other mouth-watering fruits and flavours, such as what you can find in the Brothers Cider range.
Beer is generally classified into two categories – lager or Ale. Ales are usually darker and heavier than lagers and served at warmer temperatures. Lagers in general have less flavour and are best served cold. Different fermentation processes are used for each and the type of yeast used will make a difference to the end product.
Cider can come in a wide variety of colours and clarity. For example, it can be completely clear to very cloudy. The colour of cider can also vary from pale yellow to rich hues of orange and brown. Flavoured ciders benefit from the fruit colours.
The difference in cider clarity is to do with the level of filtering between the pressing and fermentation stages. The colour of apple cider is from the apple varieties used and the intensity of colour in the apple pulp and skin. However, the colour of beer is mostly determined by the roasting/heating of the malt used in the brewing process. Beer colours vary from light amber from using pale malt to rich brown from using a mix of dark malt. Sometimes beer makers will use caramel to darken their beer.
Versatility and flexibility
To put it simply, beer is made from brewing malted barley and hops, where cider is made from fermenting pressed apple juice. But of the two drinks, cider offers drinkers far more flexibility and versatility.
You only need to take a look at our range of delicously refreshing cider flavours to see the advantages of drinking cider over beer. With mouth-watering flavours such as Un-Berrylievable, Best of the Zest, Berry Sub-Lime and App-Solutely Pear-Fect you can see why Brothers Premium Fruit Cider has such huge appeal.
