I love cider. I love cider almost as much as I love beer, but there are some occasions when a bottle of fizzy apple or pear cider is much more satisfying than a brew.
The world of cider seems to be becoming more and more adventurous. Pear cider became really popular last year, with both Bulmers and Magners pushing the pear love quick hard last Summer. This year, Bulmers have combined their pears and apples for an Apple Pear cider, and Kopparberg is, as usual, offering some mad pairings such as lime with elderflower or the sweet combination of strawberry and lime. (And, unless my eyes deceive me, I’m pretty sure I’ve spotted a Kopparberg Blueberry cider at Sainsburys recently.)
Some ciders, like Weston’s Perry, will get you smashed with one bottle (it’s over 7% alcohol) and others like Brothers cider is are all about “good times” and festivals and being sugary sweet. Don’t get me wrong, Brothers cider is lovely, sometimes it just gets to be too much.
In fact, I was starting to feel that all ciders were just starting to get too fussy, too sugary, and too sweet – but then I discovered Friels.
Under £2 per bottle at Sainsburys, I have to admit I first bought a bottle of Friels because of the label. Just look at it! That pinup could sell anything. However, once I realized that all that’s in Friels cider is, well, apples -10 of them to be exact, I was hooked.
Friel’s cider is fresh, light, and tastes exactly how it should. You know, like apples. A bottle of this won’t make you woozy, it will just give you lovely buzzy feeling.
Hopefully more pubs will start stocking Friel’s as I absolutely love it, and it seems to the perfect companion on a sunny Friday afternoon.