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- Thread starter McLaren
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H.P Bulmer has owned pretty much all of the main British ciders over the years, including Strongbow (still owned by them) and Magners Irish (no longer owned by them). The company are currently owned by Heineken Group.
Due to the quality (and quantity/variety) of cheap(ish) cider available in the U.K (including 'scrumpy' - homemade cider brewed by farmers and the like, fairly common here in the southwest), Strongbow is widely considered as a very poor quality cider and is a favourite of underage drinkers and drunks (which kinda shows how cheap and nasty it is). I'd hardly call it a 'British' cider, it certainly doesn't represent the majority of true British ciders in any way.
Funny that the topic of cider has come up, I picked up another 20 litre container of my friends homebrew of gut rot. So many apples on the branches of his trees that they look more like willow trees due to the weight, so plenty more where this came from!
The brew is 37.6%, slightly tangy and bright orange, I took a sip (no more than a bottlecap full) and my socks were blasted from my feet and my wig span around on the top of my head. Yeah, it's pretty strong!
Along with it came a big box of fresh plums and damsons, a pot full of rosehips, two dozen eggs, 4 pints of fresh milk and two rabbits.
The hazelnuts and blackberries are almost ripe to pick now, in vast quantities. It suprises me, farmers are having such a poor harvest yet the hedgerows and wild orchards have more fruit in them than I can ever remember.
Keef
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I just, gah, I couldn't help myself.
Coolest and quietest card of the whole bunch. Also $20 rebate card.
"It works."
And more of it works better.
^ Details bro, details. Replacing my PSU's fan because it's crap. If it's as quiet and efficient as it says, I'll replace my case's stock fan and get another for the side.
I'm no hardcore gamer here and I can't be bothered to spend more than $30 on a mouse. This one was already $6 off, from $40 to $34, and has a promo code for another $6 to make it $28. That's what I call an awesome mouse.
Oh, in case anyone was wondering, the Scout case is fantastic. Much better quality than my last one. Epic airflow, and the bigger fans do it quietly. I won't use the handle often at all, but simply carrying it to my room made it worth while. Note: The handle on top means it's tall. I had to modify my desk to make it fit underneath, but it's better that way anyway. The red LEDs are subtle and there is an easy switch for them. There's plenty of room for lots of wires, though in a messy bundle, but at least they're out of sight. Just like Newegg's video shows, I recommend it.
Coolest and quietest card of the whole bunch. Also $20 rebate card.
"It works."
And more of it works better.^ Details bro, details. Replacing my PSU's fan because it's crap. If it's as quiet and efficient as it says, I'll replace my case's stock fan and get another for the side.
I'm no hardcore gamer here and I can't be bothered to spend more than $30 on a mouse. This one was already $6 off, from $40 to $34, and has a promo code for another $6 to make it $28. That's what I call an awesome mouse.
Oh, in case anyone was wondering, the Scout case is fantastic. Much better quality than my last one. Epic airflow, and the bigger fans do it quietly. I won't use the handle often at all, but simply carrying it to my room made it worth while. Note: The handle on top means it's tall. I had to modify my desk to make it fit underneath, but it's better that way anyway. The red LEDs are subtle and there is an easy switch for them. There's plenty of room for lots of wires, though in a messy bundle, but at least they're out of sight. Just like Newegg's video shows, I recommend it.
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- 3,460
- Hollywood
I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I believe that when it's claimed as the best selling cider in the world. It certainly isn't cheap and nasty to me, either.
If you and others enjoy it, that's cool, but best selling certainly doesn't equal the best, by any means (Johnnie Walker was the best selling whiskey for a while, but is a very mediocre tipple in comparison to, say, Laphroaig or Aberlour). Taste some Magners, Bulmers or Thatchers and use the empty bottle to catch your tears of sheer joy as you step into cider enlightenment.
I think if you tried the pure brilliance that is Aspalls or a Weston's cider such as 'Old Rosie' you'd probably write an award winning poem about the heavenly experience!
If Strongbow, Woodpecker, or any other 'industrial' cider were winning tasting competitions i'd accept that they are the best, but they aren't even tasted at tasting competitions because there is no time to be tasting something average when you have hundreds of excellent traditional, craft and scrumpy ciders to choose from.
For some strange reason I used to think Budweiser was a great tasting beer, until I tried ale. Now i'll never go back! The joy of alcohol is that there is always something new, or better suited to your tastes out there.
McLaren
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I didn't say that.
I said I don't believe it's widely considered poor quality if it really sales as well as they claim. Probably poor in comparison to other ciders, but as a drink, I don't find it to be poor at all; there's much worse including that piss water Budweiser you said you liked at first.
Regardless, most of what you suggested isn't even distributed here. You have to take into account that Texas is easily going to be a beer-loving state, so there's maybe 3-4 main ciders sold here & out of them, I find Strongbow to be the best & even it's hard to find here; Woodchuck seems to be the only cider sold in all major stores & that's probably b/c it's brewed in the US.
ExigeEvan
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It's sales are great because it's so cheap, full strength and comes in 3 litre bottles.I didn't say that.
I said I don't believe it's widely considered poor quality if it really sales as well as they claim. Probably poor in comparison to other ciders, but as a drink, I don't find it to be poor at all; there's much worse including that piss water Budweiser you said you liked at first.
Regardless, most of what you suggested isn't even distributed here. You have to take into account that Texas is easily going to be a beer-loving state, so there's maybe 3-4 main ciders sold here & out of them, I find Strongbow to be the best & even it's hard to find here; Woodchuck seems to be the only cider sold in all major stores & that's probably b/c it's brewed in the US.
But I understand your alternatives are limited. Perhaps there's a business oppurttunity in there!
Strange thing with Strongbow from what I understand from bar staff. The cans are 5.3%. The draft is 4.3%.
And I do agree with what people are saying about Strongbow. Its far from the best cider out there in Britain, as there are other, much better tasting ones. The only thing I hate about cider is that it is so hard to find one that is relatively light in alcohol content. I don't particularly want to be hammered by an 8.3% Henry Weston's cider... But the weakest I've found had been Bulmers and Magners, both at 4.5%. Isn't there any that is around 3 to 4% at all? Makes going to the pub a lot easier and also have a quiet drink at home much better too!
Ciders can be rather interesting when you find the local varieties.
In America, I do understand that it is totally different thing and you will have to import them at a high cost to sample it.
If, for whatever reason, you do not like the taste of Strongbow anymore, there is a common student trick: Put blackcurrent cordial in the pint glass (about 25-50ml to taste) then pour the rest of Strongbow in it. Makes it sweeter and not so sharp. Alternatively, a shot of Amaretto in it first, then the pint if you want to forget about the taste. These are quite common mixtures, kinda indicates how poor Strongbow is viewed here.
And I do agree with what people are saying about Strongbow. Its far from the best cider out there in Britain, as there are other, much better tasting ones. The only thing I hate about cider is that it is so hard to find one that is relatively light in alcohol content. I don't particularly want to be hammered by an 8.3% Henry Weston's cider... But the weakest I've found had been Bulmers and Magners, both at 4.5%. Isn't there any that is around 3 to 4% at all? Makes going to the pub a lot easier and also have a quiet drink at home much better too!
Ciders can be rather interesting when you find the local varieties.
In America, I do understand that it is totally different thing and you will have to import them at a high cost to sample it.
If, for whatever reason, you do not like the taste of Strongbow anymore, there is a common student trick: Put blackcurrent cordial in the pint glass (about 25-50ml to taste) then pour the rest of Strongbow in it. Makes it sweeter and not so sharp. Alternatively, a shot of Amaretto in it first, then the pint if you want to forget about the taste. These are quite common mixtures, kinda indicates how poor Strongbow is viewed here.
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CodeRedR51
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- DG Silva
I found this, if you're interested, most Tescos sell them:
http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=262046372
http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=262589306
If you want a cider with alcohol, try Rekorderlig ciders, they're quite mild. Koppaberg fruit ciders (mixed fruit or pear) only have 4% alchol. You should be able to find both of these ciders in the pub too.
Joey D
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Unfortunately I don't believe Kopparberg is sold in the states, I've looked high and low for it. Strongbow is really the only mass produced cider we get here and you can occasionally find Magners. We do have Woodchuck which is from Vermont, but I found that to be way to sweet.
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My new Nikes came in today... prepare your eyes.
the most obnoxious shoes i have ever bought, but also the most comfortable that i've ever bought too.
the most obnoxious shoes i have ever bought, but also the most comfortable that i've ever bought too.
CodeRedR51
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CodeRedR51
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- DG Silva
I take it that it's logistically and legally difficult to purchase alcohol from other states then? Or is it simply not worth it for something you may not like? If you like ciders, I think you will Kopparberg pear cider. Mixed fruit Kopparberg is nothing like cider, it tastes more like blackcurrant.
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- GTP_Nismo
There's no booze depots in michigan?
Would something like this work?
http://www.oxfordwineonline.com/
http://www.redwagonshoppe.com/
http://www.champanes.com/
http://www.aawineseller.com/
I'm sure most of the places could special order things for you.
Binny's is an Illinois booze depot but they ship and they do stock strongbow.
http://www.binnys.com/beer/search/?advs=3&astxt=strongbow
amazeCRAZE
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I got a Kindle! Thanks to Amazon Prime shipping it comes tomorrow! Excited!
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SageI like how Europeans tend to think of crossing states as being a quick drive away.
Haha and many states are TINY compared to provinces in Canada. I can literally drive 12 hours straight east or north from here and not leave BC.
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I like how Europeans tend to think of crossing states as being a quick drive away.
Sorry, I think you may have misunderstood what I was suggesting. I know America is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge place, I understand that it can take days, not hours, to cross state borders, which is why I suggested ordering it from a company that may be based out of state and having it delivered through the post.
Sage
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Ahhhh okay gotcha. I've never ordered alcohol online, but I've gotten as far as calculating shipping costs and quite often it seems that shipping alcohol almost costs as much as the alcohol itself, so tends not to be worth it unless you're absolutely craving whatever it is you're ordering.
I've never ordered alcohol online, but I've gotten as far as calculating shipping costs and quite often it seems that shipping alcohol almost costs as much as the alcohol itself, so tends not to be worth it unless you're absolutely craving whatever it is you're ordering.Similar threads
