Cider & Mead

Dry New York cider from New York Cider Company and Orchard Hill, Basque cider from Barrika, French cidre and Danish mead, all in stock in Greenpoint.

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Cider and mead questions

What's the difference between hard cider and regular cider?

Hard cider is fermented. Yeast turns the sugar in apple juice into alcohol, usually ending at 5 to 8% ABV, and many ciders are carbonated. Regular or sweet cider is fresh, unfiltered apple juice that hasn't been fermented, so it has no alcohol. Outside the US, the word cider almost always means the alcoholic kind.

Is hard cider stronger than beer?

They're about the same. Most hard ciders are 5 to 7% alcohol, similar to a typical craft beer. Some styles go higher, like English and Normandy farmhouse ciders around 8%, or ice cider at 9 to 13%. Check the ABV on the label, since it varies more with cider than people expect.

Is hard cider gluten free?

Cider made only from apples or pears is naturally gluten free, because neither fruit contains gluten. Be careful with flavored ciders or hybrids that use malt, barley or beer yeast, which can contain gluten. If you have celiac disease, check the label for a gluten-free statement.

Is hard cider sweet?

Cider ranges from bone dry to sweet. Many big commercial brands add sugar or juice after fermentation to taste sweeter. Craft ciders, including most of the New York ciders we carry, lean dry to off dry, tasting more of apple skin, acidity and tannin. Look for dry, brut or sec on the label if you prefer less sugar.

Is cider beer?

No. Beer is brewed from grain, while cider is made by fermenting apple juice, and perry from pear juice. They're often sold together because they're similar in strength and drunk the same way. Cider made only from apples is naturally gluten free, which makes it a good option for people who avoid gluten.

What is mead?

Mead is an alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with fruit, spices or hops added. It's one of the oldest fermented drinks in the world. Mead ranges from dry to sweet and from still to sparkling, and it's usually 8 to 14% alcohol, closer to wine than beer. Session meads are lighter, around 5 to 7%.