Pasteurized vs. Unpasteurized Cider: What’s the Difference?

Did You Know? Pasteurized vs. Unpasteurized Cider

If you’ve ever looked closely at the cider at Merridale, you may have noticed something interesting: our cider in cans is pasteurized, while our 1L bottled cider is unpasteurized.

So what’s the difference? And does pasteurization change the cider?

What Is Pasteurized Cider?

Pasteurization is a process that uses heat to help stabilize cider by reducing the naturally occurring yeast and microorganisms that can remain after fermentation.

At Merridale, we take a low and slow approach to pasteurization. Rather than exposing the cider to unnecessarily high temperatures, we use gentle heat over time.

The goal is simple: stability without losing the character of the cider.

This is particularly important for cider in cans. Cans are designed to travel, sit on store shelves and be enjoyed well beyond the farm, so stability and consistency matter.

That’s why all Merridale ciders available in cans are pasteurized.

Shop Canned Cider →

What Is Unpasteurized Cider?

Unpasteurized cider skips that final heat treatment.

Our 1L bottles contain unpasteurized, living cider, allowing us to offer cider in a form that stays particularly close to the way it exists here at the cidery.

Because the cider hasn’t been pasteurized, naturally occurring yeast can remain active. That means an unpasteurized cider can continue to develop subtly over time.

It’s one of the reasons we love our traditional 1L bottles. They offer a different way to experience craft cider and its connection to fermentation.

Shop 1L Bottled Cider →

Why Doesn’t Every Merridale Cider Come in a 1L Bottle?

This is where the distinction between our cans and bottles becomes important.

We don’t bottle every Merridale cider in our 1L format.

Our bottled cider selection is intentionally more limited, while all of our ciders are available in pasteurized cans.

So if you’re looking for the widest selection of Merridale cider, check out the cans. If you’re interested in experiencing one of our unpasteurized ciders, look for the ciders we choose to offer in our traditional 1L bottles.

Neither format is inherently “better.” They’re simply two different ways of enjoying craft cider.

Why We Make Both

For us, cider starts with the fruit.

Traditional cider apples are grown in our Cowichan Valley orchard, picked when they’re ready, pressed and fermented here at the farm. From there, how we package the finished cider depends on where it’s headed and how we want you to experience it.

Pasteurized cans allow us to share our full cider lineup in a stable, convenient format.

Unpasteurized 1L bottles let us preserve another side of traditional cider making: living cider that hasn’t undergone heat pasteurization.

Different package. Different approach. Same orchard-to-glass philosophy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merridale cider pasteurized?

It depends on the format. Merridale cider in cans is pasteurized using our low and slow process. Our 1L bottled ciders are unpasteurized.

Is all canned cider pasteurized?

All Merridale cider sold in cans is pasteurized. Other cider producers may use different production and packaging methods.

Are Merridale’s 1L cider bottles pasteurized?

No. Our 1L bottled ciders are unpasteurized living ciders.

Does Merridale make every cider in a 1L bottle?

No. We only offer select ciders in our unpasteurized 1L format. Our complete cider selection is available in cans.

What does “living cider” mean?

Living cider generally refers to cider that hasn’t been pasteurized or otherwise processed to eliminate all remaining microorganisms. Because yeast may remain, the cider can continue to develop after packaging.

Does pasteurization mean the cider is cooked?

Not in the way you might imagine. At Merridale, we pasteurize low and slow, using controlled heat to stabilize our canned cider while protecting its flavour and character.

Which should I choose: canned or bottled cider?

It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to explore the full Merridale cider lineup, cans give you the most choice. If you’re interested in unpasteurized living cider, explore our select 1L bottles.

From the Orchard to the Can or Bottle

Pasteurization might sound like a small technical detail, but it’s part of a much bigger cider story.

The next time you pick up a Merridale cider, take a look at the package. A can and a 1L bottle aren’t simply two different containers. They represent two different approaches to bringing cider from our Cowichan Valley orchard to your glass.

And now you know.