The process is really simple: They start with pasteurized apple cider and mix it with yeast (they use champagne yeast, which you can get online or from a homebrewing store), then add caramelized sugar to help the fermentation along.

Galas, Gravensteins, Newtown Pippins, Rome Beauties and Winesaps are a few common varieties that can add amazing nuances and depth to hard cider. Though you won't often find more than a few standard apple types in a regular grocery store, some specialty markets carry an expanded selection.

Hard cider is the adult version of apple cider. Although apples and pears are the most common fruit to use, ciders can also be made from strawberries, peaches, plums, etc. Interestingly, if apple cider is left unpasteurized and unrefrigerated, the cider will start to ferment naturally and turn itself into hard cider.

Organic Apple Juice Apple Juice marked as 'organic' simply means that the apples used to make the juice were organic. To the extent that that is important to you, you should use organic apple juice. I am not aware of any impacts on taste or flavor of the finished hard cider.