Review of Strongbow British Dry, apparently the original recipe.  A cider buddy brought this back from Canada and shared a can with me.  Since early 2014 however Strongbow has only had a new sweeter version (Gold Apple) available here in the U.S.

Cider:  British Dry
Cidery:  Strongbow (Bulmer’s, Heineken UK)
Cidery Location:  Edinburgh UK
ABV:  5.3%
How Supplied:  500ml can

  

Availability:  Year round in Canada, UK, etc

Cider Description:  A perfectly balanced English apple cider that is light in body, crisp and bittersweet.

Cidery Description:  From the orchard to the glass, we are inspired by the power of nature to deliver the golden, crisp refreshment in every drop of Strongbow Hard Apple Cider. And like our namesake, Richard “Strongbow” de Clare, who was legendary for his skill with the bow and arrow, we’re setting our sights and making our mark. Our cider’s crisp, refreshing taste sets the tone for the rest of the night. We’re the go-getters. The makers and doers. To us, every hour is golden.

After the ripest apples are harvested, they arrive at the mill where they’re washed and crushed. This pulp is pressed to extract pure juice, which is then concentrated and stored (with the apples’ natural sugars acting as a preservative). The concentrated apple juice is then fermented and left to mature, allowing smoother flavors to develop.

Our apples are grown to produce crisp and refreshing cider, and nothing else.  We have over 125 years of expertise in extracting their natural flavors.

Price:  n/a
Where Bought:  n/a
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  a cider buddy brought it back from Canada

First Impression:  Light amber.  Low carbonation.  Mild dry crisp acidic apple scent.

Opinion:  Semi-dry.  Moderate tartness.  Moderate to high acidity.  No detectable bitterness, sourness, or funk.  No to low tannins.  Light bodied.  Quick finish.  I found it to be a pretty standard cider without too many other flavor notes, except maybe a bit of green apple…definitely crisp, refreshing, and fairly easy drinking.  I was hoping for a bit more bittersweet cider apple flavor, but it wasn’t quite there.  It is however fairly flavorful.  There are some hints of artificialness, but not nearly as much as sweeter ciders made in a similar method.

Most Similar to:  Other drier flagship commercial ciders.

Closing Notes:   I’d call this an above average commercial cider.  If it was available in the U.S., I’d much rather drink it when out at a bar than Angry Orchard Crisp Apple, Strongbow Gold Apple, or a number of other more commonly available ciders.  However, besides that it is on the drier side, I can’t say there is too much that sets it apart.

Have you tried Strongbow British Dry?  What did you think?