Welcome to the Schnockered Apple!

Welcome to my new blog: The Schnockered Apple! This blog will follow my adventures of seeking out and reviewing new Hard Ciders!

Most people are unaware of Hard Ciders and usually scoff at the idea of drinking it and that it's a "kiddie" drink. In actuality Hard Ciders were the number 1 drink in early Europe and dates all the way back to the Celts! It was easy to make and people chose to drink it over the dirty local water. In early colonial America, it was the most popular drink. The colonists grew the apples to drink and not eat. John Adams regularly drank it for breakfast to help sooth his stomach.

As people moved out west, it was harder to grow apple trees and the popularity of German Beers grew, when Prohibition eventually hit, it was one of the last nails in the coffin for Hard Cider in the US. In the 1990's several microbreweries started using old family recipes and the popularity started growing. Now several big cideries are popping up all over the US, Canada and the UK, and are even available at local big chain grocery stores.

Hard Ciders usually have higher alcohol percentages than standard beers, so that frat guy in the bar making fun of you for ordering Cider is the one with the "kiddie" drink! I've seen beer drinkers switch to cider and get....well, SCHNOCKERED! I hope to help inform and gather more Cider lovers with this blog and I hope you all enjoy the adventures to come!!!

- Jeff