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On New Year’s Eve (or any celebration, for that matter), which bottle do you reach for – the cider or the Stella Artois? Well, if you’re still a beer-lovin’ woman, you may be surprised to hear that nowadays, people prefer cider over beer. From 2011 to 2016, cider sales shot up 65 percent!
But since you’re most likely not the type of woman to jump on the cider trend without some information, here are three reasons cider is better than beer.
For starters, beer is yeasty and bitter in all the wrong ways while cider caters to everyone’s favorite flavors, from sweet and fruity to dry and flowery. Sweden’s Kopparberg Cider, for example, comes in many fruity flavors, such as strawberry, lime, apple and pear. Another example would be Woodchuck Summer, which comes in a sweet, peachy flavor. However, if you’re not into fruity drinks, there are also spicy ciders! Either way, cider caters to more flavor profiles and you’re sure to want more after that first sip.
Additionally, it’s now more socially acceptable to drink cider at parties or order it from a bar. With all of these specialty ciders becoming more and more available, you’ve got wider options as well. And if you’re underage, order a non-alcoholic cider! If you want something more fun than the traditional apple cider, try Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple-Grape Cider.
According to Food Republic, cider was a popular drink in North America and England in the past because water was potentially lethal at the time. “Wine is wisdom, beer is strength and water is bacteria,” says Greg Hall, one of the world’s top ciderists.
Also, at one point in history, cider “was as good as gold.” From the 1600s to 1800s, the British estate owner who made the best cider attracted the best workforce because, as Food Republic says, “a significant part of workers’ wages was paid in cider.” As great as this may sound, the 1887 Truck Amendment Act made it illegal to compensate workers this way. So now you’re getting paid in cash instead of liquor!
Gluten intolerant? Cider is the way to go! You don’t even have to worry about any wheat with cider, so it’s the perfect alternative for beer. But beware: While beer is sugar-free, cider is high in natural and added sugars. For instance, two of the most popular brands of cider, Crispin’s and Angry Orchard-Crisp Apple, have 15 grams and 23 grams of sugar, respectively. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), women should have 25 grams of sugar per day while men should consume 37.5 grams.
Although cider is gluten-free, “both beer and cider are calorie-rich drinks, with respectively high levels of carbohydrates. For any alcoholic drink to really be healthy, moderation is the name of the game,” says the Greatist. Though cider may be high in calories, every gluten intolerant gal knows that cider is a lifesaver at the bar.
Greatist also explains that the moderate consumption of alcohol (about one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men) has a number of health benefits. Although alcoholic beverages in general have been found to lower the risk of heart disease, cognitive decline and dementia, the other nutrients in cider versus beer plays an important role in how healthy each beverage is.
For example, a study conducted by Dr. Caroline J. Walker reveals that hard cider has the potential to contain as many antioxidants (polyphenols) as wine. Polyphenols have been linked to protecting against certain types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. The reason beer doesn’t have as much polyphenol is because naturally occurring polyphenols (usually found in hops and malt) are often removed by the brewer, Greatist explains.
All in all, cider is the preferred choice not only because of its health benefits, but also because of its taste. Since it comes in diverse flavors, the chances of you finding one that suits your preferences are high. Additionally, you don’t even have to like alcohol to enjoy cider! Non-alcoholic ciders are delicious too!
Do you have a favorite cider flavor? Comment below or tweet us at @entity_mag.
