Beer and cider are no doubt highly popular alcoholic beverages in Australia. Although beer is a refreshing beverage, many people love cider. While cider has a fruitier and sweeter taste, beer is a bitter drink. But, there are other reasons for preferring cider to beer.
Cider made from apples: the healthiest drink
Cider makers use fermented apples for preparing alcoholic beverages. Like wines, cider is a fruit-based drink with a good flavour profile. As different types of apples are used for the drink, you can find the presence of tannins and acids. Drinking a glass of cider is similar to sipping wine. The combination of various apple tastes will give you the best experience.
Promote local agriculture
If you want to enjoy local drinks, cider is the best choice. Locally grown apples are used for producing cider. So, drinking cider means helping the local farmer to improve their agricultural business.
On the contrary, breweries often use imported grains for brewing beer.
Low sugars in the cider
Apples have natural sweetness, which makes cider tastier. However, more companies use tart apples for their cider-making processes. So, they use a little amount of sweetener for the drink. For those who do not prefer additional sugars, drinks with cider syrup are the best choice. The cider makers derive cider syrup from fresh apple ciders at a low temperature. That is why you can enjoy sweet and syrupy flavours. The best brands only add more apples to sweeten their ciders. However, beer has no natural sugar, as its formulation comprises starch-based malted cereals.
More varieties and flavours
Pear and apple ciders are versatile drinks available with varying levels of dryness. These mouth-watering drinks get their natural flavours from fruits.
For beer lovers, there are only two main categories – ales and lager. Ales are heavier and darker, and you can drink them at normal temperature. On the contrary, lagers have minimal flavours, and you need to drink them as a cold beverage. Fermentation processes are different depending on the variety of yeast.
Apple cider in Australia is available in various clarity levels and colours. So, the drink may be cloudy to clear. The cider colour ranges from rich orange hues to pale yellow. Some flavourful ciders obtain their colours from fruits.
The filtering levels between fermentation and pressing may also affect the cider clarity. The apple species determines the hues of your apple cider. The skin and pulp of some apples have an intense colour. But, in the case of beer, the roasting of malt affects the colour. Beer is found in rich brown and pale malt colours. Some breweries use caramel to make the beer look darker
A gluten-free option
If you love gluten-free beverages, cider is the best choice. Beer contains grain rich in gluten. Beer is not suitable for those who are sensitive to gluten. Still, if you prefer beer, you should maintain a moderate amount.
These are some reasons for the higher popularity of cider in Australia.