It’s autumn somewhere. That means it’s cider season, no matter how ridiculous that might sound here. We compare apples to apples in pursuit of the perfect hard cider. 

The brand: A craft cider producer founded by fourth-generation orchardists, promising no added sugars or artificial flavors.
Origin: Tasmania
The taste: Clean, crisp, refreshing, light, with just a little tang and sweetness. We could easily drink three or four of these in one sitting.
Verdict: The Champagne of ciders.
The price: B195 (330ml)

The brand: One of the first sweet ciders introduced in the UK is available in pretty much every pub imaginable.
Origin: Ireland
The taste: Got a sweet tooth? This is your winner. Caramelized, peachy, easy drinking—we just want them to tone down the sweetness and amp up the fizz.
Verdict: Ride that sugar high.
The price: B80 (330ml)

The brand: Premium craft cider from New Zealand, and winner of awards including the World’s Best Cider from International Cider Awards 2017.
Origin: New Zealand
The taste: Slightly sour, crisp—like biting into a promising-looking apple that just doesn’t deliver. As a side note, we tried the Red Apple flavor after the blind testing, and it would’ve been a title contender.
Verdict: Alas…
The price: B130 (330ml) 

The brand: Part of the Heineken portfolio, with a cider-making history that goes back over 125 years.
Origin: Ireland
The taste: Soft, inoffensively sweet but ending on a sour note.
Verdict: Historically average.
The price: B129 (330ml)

The brand: By Danish brewing giant Carlsberg.
Origin: Denmark
The taste: The fizzy version of Malee apple juice screams “artificial flavoring.” It smells like a lollipop and tastes like one, too. 
Verdict: Kid tested, mother approved.
The price: B55 (275ml)

The brand: Thailand’s Siam Brewery. 
Origin: Thailand 
The taste: Strong aroma, very sour, thin at the end. Looks and tastes like a sour beer.
Verdict: We mooset’ve missed something.
The price: B55 (330ml)

The brand: Backed by brewery giant Heineken and claiming 15 percent of the global cider market.
Origin: UK
The taste: Artificial. No apple to be found, just cloyingly sweet, mouth-drying yellow liquid.
Verdict: Water, please!
The price: B55 (330ml)

 

The brand: This 300-year-old cider maker comes to us by way of Smiling Mad Dog. 
Origin: UK
The taste: The most unique flavor of the lot. Inoffensive, but you can really taste the alcohol.
Verdict: Booze cruise.
The price: B260 (500ml)