That word normally means fermented, in most European cultures. In America, the word got changed to be a softer cousin, just like apple juice really, around the 1930s. But those same characteristics are a big part of cider's appeal.
Ladies can drink it instead of beer.
It's low in calories, it mixes with things. It's got a lot of positives. Apples combine readily with most other fruits, opening myriad possibilities for punches and spritzes, but cider has long been blended with beers, too. One unusual benefit the cidery provides is a new market for Sebastopol-area apples, fruit that historically has been primarily pressed into juice use. Apple juice is the main ingredient in all Ace flavors.