Served with rat droppings and dust (Strongbow)

Member Name: manunas22

Product:	Strongbow
Date:	21/12/02 (519 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice clean crisp taste

Disadvantages: May be a bit sweet for some, Can tops

Feel bloated after lager? why not try cider. Out shopping this week, I decided to pick up some Strongbow cider. Not my normal choice but, after putting on a few pounds, lager just left me feeling even fatter.

History
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Well we all know the story of Mr Newton and the apple but, after visiting the Strongbow web site, I was taken a little further in the history of cider making and the story behind Mr Strongbow (Richard De Clare), an Irish adventurer whom in the 12 century appeared to drink plenty of cider during celebrations. This site is well worth a visit if only to see how we have changed from using ponies to steel machinery to make our cider. Made in England by HP Bulmer Ltd, this Australian cider is just one of many on our supermarket shelves today.

Packaging
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Oh where do I start? These come in cans (yes I think you may have guessed that), and bottles. Now I do not have all the different packages with me and will tell you about the cans in a moment but, I did notice on the website that a new twist top 375 ml bottle was available. I have not seen these in the shops yet but, a twist top is just what the doctor ordered (if you read my rant shortly you will understand). These also come in 2 ltr bottles, 250 ml bottles, 440 ml cans and 275 ml cans. The product I have in front of me is the 440ml steel can. This very bold, eye catching black and gold can has the name strongbow in large white letters and Mr Strongbow firing his arrow. On the can you will also find your bar code and Mr keep Britton tidy but no information on nutrition.. A simple but effective design.

Are you ready for my rant''

Please just humour me for a moment as this is not strictly about the product but a very BIG moan about cans. Think for a second. Think of a can of baked beans (I did say humour me), Today we have these wonderful new pull off tops. No can opener, an easy life. Now think again do we take these top
s off and put them in a pan with the beans to cook? No we throw them away right'. Now think of drinks cans. Again an easy life, just pull the top and great the top goes right in your tin along with dust and any rat droppings it may have collected while being stored before it hits the shops. Can you think of any other product you eat where the outer packaging is placed in your food? Now yes, I know we should wipe the top of cans before we open and drink the product but do we, do children wipe their tin of coke they just bought from the local shop. No. I have taken this further and even talked about it on local radio but you are dealing with the big boys here and believe me they are not interested in what a local mother has to say. Money talks.

O.K rant over. If you are still with me I will get on with it.

Prices
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Tesco have these on special at the moment (and you thought I just picked these up for my op), priced at £2.39 for 440ml cans, bargain. The same in Sainsburys will set you back £3.59, £3.99 in Safeway and £3.56 in Asda. Sainsburys do have the 2ltr bottles for £1.99 (not sold in my local Tesco). Other prices are 10 x 250 ml bottles £4.69, 12 x 440 ml cans £7.98 and 4 x 275 ml £3.69. These are prices from Tesco but are much the same in other shops. Now when you think that 4 x 440 ml cans of woodpecker are £3.38 and 4 x 440 ml cans of K are £3.48, I do not think they are too expensive.

And I thought this was going to be a short op. Are you still there?

Smell
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Can wiped and open, nose descends and, not much really. A slight aroma from the can a bit sweet but not strong enough to describe. For research only I have decided to pour into a glass for a closer inspection. Sniff, sniff, yes again a sweet smell but not powerful. A very, very slight apple aroma.

Pour
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Pours easily (oh please this is liquid, like it will not pour).

Appearance
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In the glass (rat droppings, dust and germs included), it is a clear, medium lighness cider. Not as light as diamond white and slightly darker than woodpecker. Lots of bubbles but no froth. A golden looking drink best served cold.

Taste
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We got there in the end. Crisp, and fresh. Not as sweet as woodpecker but nowhere near as dry as K. Not a strong tasting cider even though it is 5.3% and glides past the tonsils very smoothly. Easy to drink (too easy) and very pleasant. Must say the word apples never entered my head with the taste but, fruity did.

Would I buy it again. Yes if it was on special offer. I do think this is a nice refreshing cider but do prefer the dryer K. It is a sort of middle of the road drink.

Last Thoughts
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I wish you are a very happy Christmas but please, always remember the dangers of alcohol and in no way would I suggest this is a healthy product or that it is good for you and should never be tasted if under 18.

Final Thought
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Wipe those cans before drinking.

Contacts
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thinkfresh@strongbow.com.au.
www.bulmer.com

Thanks for reading.

Michelle
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This was wrote for another site and posted here for your interest (hopefully!)