Premium Cider with additives, colours, and flavours?

Savanna Dry from South Africa is by no means a 'Premium' Cider!

No actual apple juice?

It has a bitter after taste and the label makes for uninspiring reading.

But my beef is not with it's makers but with who ever decided it was a good idea to transport it half way across the world. Was it because they couldn't get it into European markets?

Victorias newest cider

I've been hearing from friends in Melbourne about how a cider called Coldstream is very popular in melburbs like Northcote and Brunswick. This particular cider comes from the same place in the Yarra Valley but has a different name.
Napoleone & Co Apple Cider is only available in a few boutique establishments in Brisbane but is certain to become popular but not as popular as the cider mentioned in the previous post. The main reason for this would be that it is a fairly dry cider, slightly dyer that Aspall draught which I take as my benchmark for a "drinking cider".
In my opinion a drinking cider should be draught or semi sweet and sparkling exhibiting an earthy note. Napoleone & Co has a long earthy note, light sweetness, and crisp finish. After tasting my first one I felt it would accompany food very well. It has an elegant simplicity to it, like all good ciders.
Now I have to find myself some Coldstream so I can confirm my suspicions that the Yarra Valley is going to challenge New Zealand and Tasmania for best cider country.

Try this New Zealander out for size Australia!

Monteiths have been making excellent beer for ages and now they have produced a Cider of the highest quality! This really is a classy Cider. It has the slight earthy note of an Aspall with the refreshing granny smith crispy tang. It is this earthy note that truly sets this Cider apart from the many new Ciders that have come onto the market of late.
Some of the new Ciders to hit the market have been part of a response to the changing alco-pop laws. The big brewers have targeted the female demographic and produced Ciders that are simple in flavour with very little "nose". These Ciders make no claims about varieties of apples or brewing methods.
There have been a couple of artisan Ciders released by beer brewers of late but they have tended towards the floral notes favoured by beer connoisseurs.

Cider is definitely the new Beer!

It's true! The market for cider in Europe is huge! Often served with ice, cider consumption has been growing massively in the UK. In Australia the market left by alco-pops and spirit mixes is being filled up with cider of the less haughty kind aimed at a younger more female demographic.

We here at Cider is the new Beer! Applaud the growth in the cider market, hurrah! But we will always be directing you toward some of the classiest new and older brews.