Apfelwein, or Viez or Most are German words for cider. It is made from a mix of sour tasting apples, such as "Bohnapfel" or "Speierling", respectively. It has an alcohol content of 4.8–7.0% and a tart, sour taste.
Apfelwein with Bembel
Cider-making equipment on display along Viezstraße
Viezstraße road sign
Heil Eschbacher Traditions Apfelwein
Cider is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples. Cider is widely available in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The UK has the world's highest per capita consumption, as well as the largest cider-producing companies. Ciders from the South West of England are generally higher in alcoholic content. Cider is also popular in many Commonwealth countries, such as India, South Africa, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. As well as the UK and its former colonies, cider is popular in Portugal, France, Friuli, and northern Spain. Germany also has its own types of cider with Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse producing a particularly tart version known as Apfelwein. In the U.S. and Canada, varieties of alcoholic cider are often called hard cider to distinguish it from non-alcoholic apple cider or "sweet cider", also made from apples. In Canada, cider cannot contain less than 2.5% or over 13% absolute alcohol by volume.
Cider, in the traditional Hessian "ribbed" glass
Cider jugs. Somerset, England
Few traditional horse-drawn circular cider presses are still in use. Many may still be seen used as garden ornaments, flower planters, or architectural features.
Layers of pomace wrapped in canvas