This is one of the strongest cider brands with memorable TV advertising involving arrows thudding into various surfaces - advertising now changed and brought up to date as part of a brand refresh.

It has faced strong competition of late from Johny Come Lately new apple and also pear ciders which have been heavily promoted. Nevertheless, it has maintained a strong market position for a number of years and is a popular drink amongst males and females.

In recent years, the purchase of cases in supermarkets has grown considerably at seasonal periods in particular; the level of discounting is generally such that many of us are persuaded to have far more in stock than we reasonably need.

This year we bought a case of Strongbow canned lager as part of a 3 for £18 deal at the supermarket. Each can contains a standard 440ml. It is quite strong at 5.3% Alcohol by Volume - stronger than many beers - so you don't need much to feel a little tipsy. One can contains 2.3 UK units which is approximately the recommended maximum for women and about 2/3rds of that for men.

It is made by H.P. Bulmer and is a dry cider with sugars and sweetener. It also contains sulphites for freshness.

I like it because it is dry and refreshing and has a nice aftertaste. It is not a bitter taste and, drunk in moderation I find I stay clear of headaches which I sometimes get with heavier drinks. I drink it as it is from the can; many people recommend that it is best served extra cold - indeed it says as much on the can, but I find that you lose a certain amount of the taste and the drinking pleasure if it is drunk too cold - it's personal preference at the end of the day.