What is Cider? Is it alcoholic?

[CrystalRose 636]

Where I live, apple cider is just alcoholic. So I naturally assumed that the ponies were drinking alcohol. I was initially surprised that they included alcohol in the show but then I just thought, "what the hay." then as the episode progressed I wondered how they were able to ferment cider so quickly.

 

These posts make everything much clearer! But to be honest, I wouldn't mind at all if it were alcohol. There's nothing wrong with a treat, and all the ponies seem to love it.

[Two-of-Hearts 168]

There wasn't any distilling equipment seen while the Apples were making the cider... but then, they wouldn't show distilling equipment in a kids cartoon, it could have been there but just not shown. But then, yes, there is the time problem, they would't be able to make alcohol that fast, it takes more than a day to ferment. Also, cider doesn't need alcohol to foam, it could be carbonated and turned into sparkling cider.

 

That being said I like to think that there is alcohol in Equestria and the Apples cider was indeed hard cider. Just because all the ponies in town enjoy a brew doesn't make them alcoholics. And alcohol in Equestria... just makes things more interesting. Sure they're never going to have an episode where they explicitedly mention alcohol, but it would be cool if we got more subtle nods like the 'spiked punch' joke.

 

And yeah, in the UK all cider has alcohol and its almost as popular as beer over there. I love hard cider, it tastes way better than beer, and I would prefer it over beer anytime, problem is its expensive and theres not a huge selection of it here in the States... that needs to change methinks.

Edited January 17, 2013 by Two-of-Hearts

[Thaliel 116]

The cider sold by the Apples is probably a non-alcoholic version...or at least one with very little alcohol, as is the case with non-alocoholic beer

[cmarston1 5,959]

well they are equines alcohol isn't going to hurt them much.

also

tell me that there isn't alcohol in the cider there totally is.

[TheMarkz0ne 962]

I know the ponies love apple cider. But why is it treated in the show like alcohol. I remember in the flim and flam song Rainbow was going crazy over some cider

[GrooveBroove 680]

*See my Signautre*

 

Anyway after that even though it can be treated as alcohol, at the same time I can just see it as something that's really good.

For me personally I've known people who have felt the same way about a limited edition soda and the like that ended up being sold out before they were able to get more. For meit's game fuel, love that stuff but I always run out before I can stock some extra for parties lol.

[Zygen 6,066]

Well Idk, it could really be interpreted either way. However I guess it does have the fizzy look of Alcoholic cider, however thats probably just for visual affect, obviously they aren't intentionally referencing Alcohol in a kids show(I don't think so atleast .)

 

I think Rainbow's just gone crazy from never getting to have any for who knows how many years now.

[poniesforfun 716]

Apple cider is non-alcoholic, Cider the word alone refers to a type of alcoholic drink. Reason why you don't find Apple Cider commercially is because it's usually handmade for special occasions in family gatherings. It can be drunken warm with cinnamon spice in it. It's different from apple juice by not being filtered (so it's got a thicker applesauce like texture).

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Because even though for us Americans cider is assumed to be non-alcoholic, and hard-cider is less common, it's the opposite in a lot of places and non-alcoholic is the specialty kind and hard-cider is just cider.  

Edited March 4, 2013 by Shoboni

[Zenoah 5]

It's like me when fall rolls around and pumpkin delights start hitting shelves.

It's a once a year thing, so when the Apple Family make it, there is a huge hoopla over it, because they are the main producers of the stuff.

I never saw it as booze, but what does irk me is, they know they have a limited supply, so they should have either done one per customer, or gave vouchers to the ones who waited in line and had'nt gotten any the day before.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Apple cider is non-alcoholic, Cider the word alone refers to a type of alcoholic drink. Reason why you don't find Apple Cider commercially is because it's usually handmade for special occasions in family gatherings. It can be drunken warm with cinnamon spice in it. It's different from apple juice by not being filtered (so it's got a thicker applesauce like texture).

 

Yes you do, I can go to the store right now and get Jugs of it. It's not uncommon at all in the US, hard-cider maybe, but not the normal kind. 

[Two-of-Hearts 168]

If you're in the UK than cider implies an alcohol beverage. In the US cider can either be alcoholic or non which is more akin to apple juice. Hard cider (cider with alcohol) is very popular in the UK buf for some reason hasn't really caught on in the US. You can find hard cider in the US if you look for it... and it is good. If I had a choice I would choose hard cider over beer, but unfortuneatly hard cider is pricey and hard to find unless you actually go to a liquer store.

 

As for what the Apple family was brewing... it was non alcoholic. How do I know that? Because the fermentation process takes more than a day, and they were drinking it pretty much as soon as it was pressed. Course there are those who would say that only cider with alcohol has 'foam' which is distinctly seen in the episode, but they are wrong unforutuneatly, cider doesn't need to have alcohol to foam it just needs to be carbinated, which is known in the US as sparkling cider. 

[VelvetDivan 96]

Hard cider is growing more popular in the 'States, gradually. More restaurants are beginning to carry it, either in bottles or on tap. There are only a handful of brands to choose from that I know of (Woodchuck, Wyder's, Angry Orchard, and Strongbow are all you can find around me) but there are good number of cider producers worldwide, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cider_brands and of course tiny local producers who don't have a 'brand' per se.

 

I don't think the cider in the show is alcoholic by any means, or Pinkie would have passed out for sure.

Edited March 4, 2013 by VelvetDivan

[Twinhead B 482]

Simple: Comedy.

 

It's funnier to have the ponies treat the Apple Family's cider like alcohol because they you can get away with Rainbow Dash and the other ponies obsessing over it like they have a habit. The fact that they did not show any fillies or colts drinking the cider was probably very much intentional (as it drives home the implication that the cider is like alcohol).

 

Though, in the pony universe, it would seem Salt is more like alcohol than cider as it has actually been shown to be served in "bars".

[Thorns 55]

Simple: Comedy.

 

It's funnier to have the ponies treat the Apple Family's cider like alcohol because they you can get away with Rainbow Dash and the other ponies obsessing over it like they have a habit. The fact that they did not show any fillies or colts drinking the cider was probably very much intentional (as it drives home the implication that the cider is like alcohol).

 

Though, in the pony universe, it would seem Salt is more like alcohol than cider as it has actually been shown to be served in "bars".

 

I am inclined to agree on both accounts. I can also vouch that a good home-made Cider is really really potent stuff. Maybe I'm just biased because I love all apple related beverages, alcoholic or not.

[Veronica The Miffvixen 232]

When cider foams like it does in the episode, its alcoholic cider.

 

They treat it like alcohol because it IS alcohol. Notice you didn't see any fillys or colts walking around with cider.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

When cider foams like it does in the episode, its alcoholic cider.

 

They treat it like alcohol because it IS alcohol. Notice you didn't see any fillys or colts walking around with cider.

 

Or could be just artistic license, or sparkling cider. It's a cartoon, they can make things do whatever they want, the same way they've shown a small team of pones pulling a whole train. 

 

Granted, I don't care either way, if the booze joke being made at the time is funny. I'll roll with it. 

[Veronica The Miffvixen 232]

Or could be just artistic license, or sparkling cider. It's a cartoon, they can make things do whatever they want, the same way they've shown a small team of pones pulling a whole train. 

 

Granted, I don't care either way, if the booze joke being made at the time is funny. I'll roll with it. 

Sparkling cider doesn't foam. And ponies can easily pull a train, as male ponies can pull up to 9000 pounds (I'm not kidding, they've got ridiculous strength). They show six ponies pulling a train, which equates to being able to pull a 54,000 pound train, if not more depending on if they are stronger than normal or not. That's small for a train, but noting the ponies are ones to be liberal with using iron or steel, they probably have the train made out of a lighter material (Copper, Zinc, Nickel, etc), or possibly even of wood, as virtually everything in Equestria seems to be made of.

[Fhaolan 4,484]

As a note, different species have slightly different reactions to things like alcohol and fruit sugars.

 

I have a friend who makes her own cider. When she's done pressing the apples she throws the peels and pulp to the deer, and to her horses. The deer almost immediately start behaving like they're drunk off of the applepulp. It takes more to get the horses acting that way, but if they eat enough of the them...

 

Given the process shown in the episode has the cider being immediately available, it can't be alcoholic unless the apples themselves are fermenting on the trees (zap apples?). So likely it's a matter of the ponies having a different metabolism than humans, and reacting to the apple cider in a different way.

[Betez 1,734]

I don't know. It might not be alcohol at all. I mean, if cider is supposed to be alcohol, then it looks like Rainbow's an Alcoholic. And honestly, I don't think the writers would risk trying to make a reference to something like that. Cider might just be the drink of Equestria.

[pinkieshyrose 58]

Sparkling cider doesn't foam. And ponies can easily pull a train, as male ponies can pull up to 9000 pounds (I'm not kidding, they've got ridiculous strength). They show six ponies pulling a train, which equates to being able to pull a 54,000 pound train, if not more depending on if they are stronger than normal or not. That's small for a train, but noting the ponies are ones to be liberal with using iron or steel, they probably have the train made out of a lighter material (Copper, Zinc, Nickel, etc), or possibly even of wood, as virtually everything in Equestria seems to be made of.

Actually it does Ive drank it alot myself Its really tasty it doesnt foam if you keep it there but if you shake it up like they were making it then it would deffentilly foam

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

Cider is referenced as alcohol because in real life "Hard cider" does exist, and it is an alcoholic beverage, so there is that reasoning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_cider

 

Cider in itself is actually defined as a fermented alcoholic beverage..

[Veronica The Miffvixen 232]

Actually it does Ive drank it alot myself Its really tasty it doesnt foam if you keep it there but if you shake it up like they were making it then it would deffentilly foam

It depends on if it comes from a tap or not. The force of it coming out makes it foam, both in real life and the show. Besides, who puts normal cider in KEGS?

[Scootalove 10,689]

I think it's because sometimes Cider is in the glass container that holds Beer. I guess we could classify it as alcoholic because of either the taste or any other thing to classify alcohol.

[Fhaolan 4,484]

It depends on if it comes from a tap or not. The force of it coming out makes it foam, both in real life and the show. Besides, who puts normal cider in KEGS?

 

I do, but then I'm silly that way.

 

I also make my own ginger ale, and come up with something completely... not. My wife makes beer, but I'm not allowed to touch her equipment. I'm a chemical engineer, and tend to... experiment a bit too much with that kind of thing.