According to the recently released Westons Cider Report 2022​, which has been compiled largely in conjunction with data experts CGA, Kantar Worldpanel and IRi, apple variants are leading the way for on-trade cider sales as they regain ground lost throughout the pandemic and move towards pre-pandemic levels.

In 2007, the company began trials of Strongbow On Ice, a competitor to other ciders that are served over ice. This uses a specially designed pump that creates a "head" of ice made from cider on the top of the pint. [33] Trials were unsuccessful however, and the product was discontinued. Strongbow Hard Cider Launches Two New Brands - Brewbound.com". brewbound.com. 19 March 2014 . Retrieved 19 September 2016. Bentley also says the full-bodied Aspall Imperial Cyder is a perfect foil to rich dishes like lamb, pheasant and casseroles, as well as strong cheeses including Brie, Blue Stilton and Stinking Bishop and Aspall Organic’s earthy, rustic qualities make it an ideal accompaniment to Moroccan and Asian foods. Heineken phases out original Strongbow Hard Cider recipe with new flavors". bevindustry.com . Retrieved 19 September 2016. Occasion is important – we’re seeing people return to the pub for celebratory occasions, for meeting friends/family they haven’t seen for some time, the premium experience becomes ever more important. The experience has to be better than at home to keep customers returning – so make it special.”

a b "Bull's-eye: Strongbow Hits the Mark With New Hard Apple Ciders – HEINEKEN USA". heinekenusa.com. 20 March 2014 . Retrieved 19 September 2016. Sport is seen as a good occasion for cider sales. More people in the UK drink cider while watching sport at a pub than other types of alcohol and the same goes for a date night while a get-together with friends or family is rated as the biggest occasion to drink cider and is identical to doing so while enjoying other alcoholic drinks. Ward adds: “The collaboration has shown it is possible to produce a full-bodied, alcohol-free cider and our decision to supply it on draught as an alternative format to the existing bottle options will support pubs and bars that are serious about offering genuine alcohol-free choice for customers and will do so in a sustainable way. The Westons Cider Report 2022​ gives its predictions on the shape of things to come in 2022 and lists five things to expect.

Stodell, Hannah. "Heineken weakens Strongbow with abv cut". thegrocer.co.uk . Retrieved 19 September 2016. In the United Kingdom, Strongbow is a blend of bitter-sweet cider and culinary apples, with 50 different varieties of apple used. [15] The apples are grown in England, although imports from France are also used when harvests are poor. It is mass-produced using modern methods and contains apple concentrate and sugar. It is fermented with a controlled yeast strain. Strongbow in the UK does not contain any artificial sweeteners, flavourings or colouring. [16] The Bulmers Strongbow vat is the largest alcoholic container in the world, with a capacity of 1.5million gallons (6.8million litres). [17] Variations [ edit ] Premiumisation remains a driving force with consumers drinking less but better quality. Cider volume is expected to recover in 2022 to near 2019 levels with value growth predicted for both on and off-trade channels. At the point of pour, the Thatchers Fusion Font infuses a micro measure of the selected fruit flavour into a pint of Thatchers premium apple cider, creating one of three freshly mixed ciders. As the cider is being dispensed through the Fusion Font it delivers a unique sensory experience of flavour and aroma. Your customers get the same expertly crafted apple cider, with a freshly-mixed infusion hitting the glass as one.Premium draught apple cider now accounts for more than one quarter of all draught cider sales (source: CGA data for Total GB On Trade, 52 weeks ending 29/01/22, Value Sales). To help outlets make the most of this opportunity, we expanded our premium offering further last year when Sharp’s Brewery collaborated with the Aspall Cyder House to launch Sharp’s Cold River Cider – a 4.5% ABV medium-dry apple cider with a light, crisp, and moreish flavour.” Advertisements from 1998 to 2002 featured Johnny Vaughan and the "live to loaf" line. [37] The campaign focused on Vaughan's character, who was always finding new ways to get the most out of life with the minimum effort. [37] Vaughan was credited by Bulmers with giving credibility to the Strongbow brand among the key 18 to 24-year-old group. [37] Between 1998 and 2000 Strongbow sales rose by 30 per cent. [38] They could be of the exact same level of sweetness but they will taste completely differently because the apples that have been used are completely different. And something I’m very keen to try to make the trade and consumer understand is that it’s not just about dry, medium, sweet, it’s about what type of cider is underneath there. Previously Strongbow White was available in Australia, which had a much higher alcohol content (8.5%). It ceased production sometime after 2000.