Strongbow Cider

History
Strongbow is named after the Anglo-Norman knight Richard de Clare, later Earl of Pembroke, called "Strongbow" because during his wars in Ireland he relied heavily on Welsh archers, while the native Irish had few bows and relied on javelins. The cider is produced in Hereford by the English cider company Bulmers, who have been owned by Scottish & Newcastle since 2003.In Scotland most Strongbow is consumed in 2 litre bottles.Strongbow is fast becoming a strong part of youth culture.

Production methods
Strongbow is mass-produced using modern methods, and so does not fit the definition of 'real cider' set by the Campaign for Real Ale [1]. Strongbow contains apple concentrate and sugar and is fermented with a controlled yeast strain. In addition, at least some varieties are flavoured with artificial sweeteners.
The alcoholic strength of Strongbow Cider in the UK is 5.3% ABV (10.6 proof) in cans and bottles, but 4.5% ABV (9 proof) draught in pubs. It is also known by the name 1080 Dry Cider.

Variations
United States bottled version.

United States bottled version.
In the UK, Strongbow is available in four different forms. Original, Extra Cold (draught only, chilled to a few degrees lower than normal draught Strongbow), Strongbow Super (7.5% ABV) and the newer Strongbow Sirrus (5% ABV), which was formulated to give a smoother taste and to be served over ice. Strongbow Sirrus is only available in bottles, whereas the normal variety is available in cans, bottles and on draught, Strongbow Super is only available in cans.
In the USA, Canada, and Australia, Strongbow is also available but is brewed to a strength of 5.3%. Strongbow is available in three varieties in Australia: Dry, Sweet and Original. In the USA and Canada, only Strongbow Original is commonly available.

Brand extensions
In addition to Strongbow Sirrus, Scottish & Newcastle have extended the Strongbow range with Jacques from Strongbow, a 5.5% ABV cider with cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant flavours, made in Belgium by S&N's Stassen cider mill. [2]
During the spring on 2006, the company also relaunched Bulmers Original in the UK, a premium packaged cider aimed squarely at the "served over ice" market which has grown in popularity over the last few years. Bulmers Original is a 4.5% ABV cider and is sold in 1 pint (568ml) bottles and 500 ml cans.[3]
In 2007, the company began trials of Strongbow Iced, 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.[4]

Advertising
The "thudding arrows" have been a feature of the brand's television advertising since the 1960s. This involves several crossbow bolts thudding into a bar counter near a glass of Strongbow, or its bar pump, towards the end of the advertisement. Commercials around 1998 featured Johnny Vaughan, telling us to "loaf it". The idea was to make the product appear "cooler" than its image of only being drunk by young people and old men. The current UK advertising campaign (Spring 2007) is "total first pint refreshment (a-a-a-h)".