Product Review: Strongbow Hard Apple Cider (Gold Apple)

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Pre-Review Disclaimer: I'm not a booze expert. This is actually the first time I've had a hard cider. I'm well aware there's "better ones" out there. Had an invite, used it. I rarely drink, and it's usually sparkling wine or hard lemonade-y, sweet stuff...or a little vodka or moonshine during the Holidays.

  It took so long to find this stuff. This review almost didn't happen. So, let me be short and sweet about it. LIST TIME!

  • I was invited to purchase Strongbow via BzzAgent. I had weeks and weeks to get it.
  • During the first few weeks, I had a flare up. The weeks after that were all about blabbling about it, searching for it, and more searching.
  • Even my father--the guy who knows "where to get everythang" could not find it. Good gravy.
  • After lots of calls, a visit to the official FB page, and a seance over my rebate card--I FOUND A FOUR PACK! (across the street from my school, of all places. BWAHAHAHA!)
  It was right in my face all along, and that ticks me off 100%. I asked store clerks, who acted like deer caught in the headlights. I queried stockboys, who said "go to Kenwood Liquors". I did waaaay too much, just to find some booze to ramble on about.
  • First of all, this stuff really doesn't have great reviews. It almost turned me off from getting it.
  • For being so hard to find, I was hoping it was the most delicious deliciousness ever.
  • BzzAgent kept saying "put it on ice", which was annoying. What for?
  Well, the first taste was so apple-y and bitter, it burned my consumer soul! I brought it home on a chilly day, so that kept it a little cold. I put it in the fridge once I got home. While I waited for a ride to come, I took a sip. It tasted like slightly watered down beer with a green Jolly Rancher or two thrown in. So, I frowned, felt the buzz travel all over, and sipped carefully whilst copying Star Trek to my dad's netbook.

  Around the er...7th sip, it grew on me. I put the rest up, and decided to come back to it later. There was an obvious after-taste, but nothing unusual. When I came back, I drank the rest with a savory plate of fried lobster, spinach pasta, and crab chips. This improved the taste. Pairing it with a meal took away from the bitterness.

  Fast forward to the last two. I decided to give BzzAgent's suggestion a try. Why not? Let's put some ice in the glass. Three words--BEST. DECISION. EVER. Cancels out most of the bitterness, kicks up the apple flavor. I'm pretty sure some snooty booze-hound connoisseur will say "it waters it down...", which is probably true. It didn't taste watered down to me. It was crisp, refreshing, and well worth the 8 bucks I shelled out for a 4-pack.

  Would I purchase it again? Proooobably. I'm glad I ignored the endless grouchy reviews on the website. After a while, it's really not a bad beverage to partake. It's cheap, it's bubbly, it goes great with seafood! Putting it on ice boosts the crisp-ness, and the bitterness is gone. What's left--yummy apple goodness.

Cheers. :-D