Semi– sweet ciders are the sweetest versions. It has about 1-2% residual sugar which creates a richer flavor too. Off– dry cider is slightly sweeter than dry cider. Like our seriously dry Hail Mary Rosé Cider. Therefore, you can expect about 0.5% residual sugar with up to 7% alcohol. These hard ciders can be made in several styles, which are differentiated by the alcohol and sugar levels in the cider.ĭry cider has the lowest sugar level, but the highest alcohol content. Interestingly, if apple cider is left unpasteurized and unrefrigerated, the cider will start to ferment naturally and turn itself into hard cider. Although apples and pears are the most common fruit to use, ciders can also be made from strawberries, peaches, plums, etc. Hard cider is the adult version of apple cider. To make an alcoholic cider, yeast is added which converts the sugar into alcohol. It is the raw, purer version of apple juice.

Simply put, the difference between apple cider and hard cider is the alcohol content (or the lack thereof).Īpple cider is apple juice that has not been filtered and still contains all the apple pieces, pulp, and sediment.

But what are the differences between these alcoholic ciders and the breakfast-friendly ones? Apple Cider vs Hard Cider Apple cider is great with breakfast and hard cider is great as an after-work drink. Hard ciders, dry ciders, apple ciders, apple cider vinegar…The word cider is sometimes thrown with little real explanation.

Apple juice vs cider