It seems that supermarkets will need more space for ciders as breweries continue to produce the beverage to grab a share of its fast-rising popularity.
DB Breweries has just launched a new range of apple and pear ciders (4.5%) called Johnny Arrow.
They will sit alongside the brewery's Monteith's 4.5% ciders - the crushed apple introduced more than a year ago and the pear less than three months ago - and rival Lion's Isaac's (5%), which closely followed.
Isaac's draws on the story that Isaac Newton figured out the law of gravity after an apple fell on his head as he mused in an orchard.
Mention of arrow makes one think of the Swiss William Tell, who, as legend has it, was made to shoot an apple with his crossbow from the top of his son's head as punishment.
But his son was called Walter (or Jemmy, in Rossini's opera, William Tell).
So who is Johnny Arrow?
No-one, according to DB: it is just a brand name.
This range is about $12 a four-pack of 330ml bottles, and cheaper than Monteith's (more than $15) and Isaac's ($17).
However, Johnny Arrow lacks the flavour and effervescence of these other two labels.
Cider is dangerously drinkable: beware of a sore head from Isaac's or a splitting headache from a misguided Arrow.
Delicious
Camla Farm cider (5.5%) might, however, be worth overindulgence.
It is so delicious!
This one comes from an orchard inland of Dunsandel, about 40km south of Christchurch on the main highway.
Annabel and Peter Graham produce single-variety (Braeburn, Cox Orange and Granny Smith) apple juices, and planted the tannic cider varieties of Kingston Black and Sweet Alford for their cider.
These varieties produce a drink that reminds me of apple pie, down to that hint of cloves.
It is sweet, so is best really cold to keep the fruit sugars from being sickly.
Camla Farm is available from the Dunsandel Store (a relatively expensive $5.20 a 330ml bottle or $15.40 in a litre bottle) or from Tom Jones, founder of Dunedin brewery Green Man, who distributes the cider through his Crafty Beers company.
Organic beer
Crafty Beers also handles beers from Mike's Organic Brewery - founded as White Cliffs Brewing in 1999 (and sold in 2003) by Mike Johnson - along the coast from New Plymouth.
The three main Mike's brews are the ale, full of coffee and roasted flavours and surprisingly rich for a 4% brew; lager (4.8%), yeasty with subtle malt and hop flavours, and pilsner (5%), which is dry, hoppy and refreshing.
Limited releases of Mike's each year include a whopping 10.5% whisky porter and a hoppy 9% double India pale ale.
