Those of us who had our first legal drinks studying abroad in London have fond memories of sipping pints of hard cider in pubs. Cider is a lot like beer—it has a similar alcohol content to beer, it’s served on tap or in a bottle, and it’s carbonated. And a lot of us think it tastes better than beer, so there’s really no reason it shouldn’t be as popular.
If you’re new to cider, here’s a quick comparison of three types to get you started.
Crispin
Crispin sells seven ciders. I sampled their Original. The Crispin website calls this cider “crisp, not sweet,” but while it has a tart edge to it, this cider is definitely the sweetest of the bunch. It smells like green apple candy, and it leaves an apple juice aftertaste.
Bottle: 12 fl. oz.
Alcohol content: 5% alcohol/volume
Calories: 170
Gluten-free: Yes
Where to buy in Evanston: EV1, Whole Foods
Woodchuck
I sampled Woodchuck’s original cider, Amber. They sell six “core ciders,” as well as a variety of special releases. Woodchuck’s Amber tastes a lot like a non-alcoholic hot cider. It tastes distinctly of apples but is much tarter than the Crispin, with a more interesting aftertaste.
Bottle: 12 fl. oz.
Alcohol content: 5% alcohol/volume
Calories: 200
Gluten-free: Yes
Where to buy in Evanston: EV1, World Market
Magners
I tried Magners’ Original Cider, and there’s also a pear flavor. While Woodchuck and Crispin are fizzy, Magner’s has a smoother carbonation. Compared to those two, it’s almost bitter, even with the deep apple flavor. If you want the full London experience, get a Magners and some fish and chips at the Celtic Knot.
Bottle: 11.2 fl. oz.
Alcohol content: 4.5% alcohol/volume
Calories: 125
Gluten-free: Yes
Where to buy in Evanston: EV1, Celtic Knot