Review and Give-away: Magners Irish Cider

Please note that while I do have something to give-away, it's not alcohol - or food. If you're still interested, then by all means, keep reading.  

Several weeks back, I was informed that a new gluten-free cider that was rolling into GA - or at least to the Metro Atlanta area of it. Not being one to turn down much in terms of free gluten-free products, I agreed to review the cider even though I'm not the biggest fan of beers or ciders in general. They weren't on my preferred drink list when I consumed gluten either. Below is part of the press release about the product roll out in Georgia. According to Erin's blog post, Magners has been available in NYC for over two years. Hey - better late than never, right?!  

Magners has a crisp, refreshing taste with a great balance of sweet and tart flavors. It has been produced since 1935, validating its lasting appeal. Magners is 100% naturally Gluten free, providing refreshment for the more than 3 million US consumers who cannot drink beer. Magners has 4.5% alc./vol and only 125 calories per 11.2 oz. bottle. 

“Following the enormous consumer success throughout the United States in the past several years, we’re excited to add Atlanta to its growing market list,” said Kevin Murphy, US Marketing Manager, Wm. Magner Inc. “You’ll likely see Magners being served “over ice” a popular Irish tradition that has caught on in the states.” 

I'm going to have to try Magners over ice...what a great idea for summer especially! I'm far from a beer or cider aficionado, but here are my thoughts about this new product called Magners Irish Cider It tastes like a cross between a beer and a hard cider to me. It has a nice smoothness to it, unlike many gluten-free beers I've tried. Unlike many gluten-free ciders, this product is not really sweet, at least it's not to me. If the combination of a smooth beer with a non-sweet cider taste is something you've been looking for, I recommend you try this new cider option from Magners. The below excerpt from the Magners website offers another reason you might want to give it a try.

Magners is truly an Irish success story. In Ireland, through a successful marketing campaign, infusing a mature intellectual appeal into the brand, Bulmers Original Cider has changed attitudes to cider and recovered a brand that had been subject to declining sales, low pricing and low profits.

On the international stage, Magners has grown from strength to strength over the last 5 years and is now the number 1 packaged cider brand in Great Britain. It is available in 17 markets around the world and continues to grow at a rapid pace as more and more people are introduced to the crisp refreshing taste of Magners.

You can check the Magners website to find out if this cider is sold at restaurants or package stores in your area. If you're in the Atlanta area, look for it at Ri-Ra, Stout, Brewhouse Cafe, The Marley House, Mac McGee's, Greens Package, Total Wine and Kroger. The list of places you can find Magners is growing, but if your store doesn't carry it, consider asking the store owner or manager to bring it in for you.  

Now for the fun part, Magners is sponsoring a give-away for a BBQ tool set (as shown in photo). For your chance to win it, please leave a comment below and mention what your favorite gluten-free food is to grill outside. The winner's address must be in one of the lower 48 states and the deadline to enter is July 17th at 12 midnight EST. The winner will be announced on Monday, July 18th. Good luck!   


*Special thanks to Magners for my sample 6-pack and for sponsoring this fun give-away for my readers!