Stella Artois Cidre

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

Pours a rich golden colour with big bubble carbonation, but a nice white head that stays longer than any other cider I have had, even leaving some lacing. Apple juice aromas with something else which seems like alcohol, but so low, can't be. Probably the citric or malic acids listed in the ingredients on the can (after cider, water, sugar). The taste is sweet as apple juice, but has some sourness to it, which is quite fine. Adds to the crisp, slightly dry finish. I don't mind this "cidre" at all.

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

Clear light orange, no foam remaining. Apple aroma and sweet/sour apple taste. Refreshing drink, probably OK as a cidre, but I was expecting a beer. (Velp 201504)

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

I'll try anything new when it's on sale, and currently the hard cider thing is blowing up with a new brand nearly every week on the supermarket shelves. More choices for people who don't like the taste of beer, I guess. Anyway, of the hard ciders I've tasted (Rhino, Smith & Forge, Redd's, Angry Orchard, a couple others) this is probably the easiest drinking, and it has a slight, cheesy taste that great fermented things tend to have. If this was a quality brew I would give it a 9. Taste, appearance and everything is just a good experience overall. BUT, and big BUT, this Stella Artois costs more than other apple beers (can I call them that?) on the shelf. For that kinda money, I want quality ingredients. Checking the label on this ahem... 'Cidre'... we have: Water, Apple Juice Concentrate, Dextrose, Sucrose, Natural Flavor, Malic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Natural Colors. Well, I'd expect chemical things on the level of say, Steel Reserve or any of the other swell 40-ounce bottle malt liquors. Those don't pose as snobby, overpriced apple drinks, and I have respect for those forties. But Stella Artois Cidre? Looks, smells, and tastes good. Bad price, very bad ingredients. I recommend this if you're dipping into all the cider stuff that's coming out. But other than that, meh.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Bottled (from Tesco Express, Kensal Rise). Yellowish golden colour, small head that vanishes fast. Aroma is sweet apples, apple juice as well as some mild notes of wood. Flavour is apple juice, mild wood as well as some sweetness.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

I was sceptical at first owing to Stella's clearly beer-based history, however I was pleasantly surprised to find a very cool and easy to drink cider, that rivals some of the biggest 'summer-cider-over-ice' brands out there. It may not be to everyone's taste, but the flavourings feel quite subtle and the taste is definitely smooth. Worth a sample, if only the once! (my price is based on a 6 bottles for £6 offer)