Imperial: Imperial is another term borrowed from the beer world and stems from the days of the British Empire when they would send strong beers to their troops across the globe and when British brewers attempted to create impressive drinks for export to the Baltic states. An “imperial” came to designate beers with big, bold, flavors and a much higher alcohol content. Similarly, cidermakers have begun making various types of cider in the imperial style which means these ciders usually have a luxuriously rich depth of flavor, are heavier bodied with more viscous mouthfeels, and have an ABV in the range of 8-12%. This cider style has appeared in England, New England and is especially popular in the Pacific Northwest of the US, but it is likely (hopefully) going to take hold in other regions as well.