hard cider

alcoholic beverage

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Hard cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented apple juice. In North America, it is distinguished from sweet cider, which is freshly pressed juice that has not undergone significant fermentation.12

The process for making hard cider involves grinding apples into a pulp and pressing them to extract the juice. This juice is then placed in fermenting vats or casks. Natural fermentation, driven by wild yeasts on the apples, is common, though some producers use cultured yeasts. After fermentation, the cider may be filtered to remove sediment and aged to improve its flavor. Some hard ciders are also carbonated.2

Hard cider can vary in alcohol content and flavor, with some styles being higher in alcohol and tannins, and others being still or sparkling, cloudy or clear. France, particularly the regions of Normandy and Brittany, is a major producer of cider.2

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cider
Distinctions
…some natural fermentation is designated hard cider. The expressed juice of apples that has been treated by some method to prevent spoilage while in hermetically sealed cans or bottles is marketed as apple juice in most countries.
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…some natural fermentation is designated hard cider. The expressed juice of apples that has been treated by some method to prevent spoilage while in hermetically sealed cans or bottles is marketed as apple juice in most countries.
Read More