Over the years we at George Hornsby's Premium Cider, have gotten a lot of questions about our namesake, George. People always want to know why he started making cider and why he decided on a rhino as a mascot instead of some cute, furry little rodent.

All we can tell you is what we've heard... and while we can't guarantee that it's really all the way it was, it is the way we choose to remember it. George always was one for a tall tale.

George grew up in England. A proper British lad, he loved to spend time in local pubs with his mates enjoying pints and impressing the ladies with his grand plans for the future. Never one for convention, George discovered that he much preferred the tart and refreshing taste of the local hard ciders to the heavy ales that his friends preferred. The bright apple flavors and charming effervescence of the hard cider matched George's adventurous spirit.

Always the adventurer, George wasn't content to dream in a pub, he had a thirst for adventure and excitement. And so George set out to travel the world... his initial plan to visit all seven continents and climb the seven summits. He climbed mountains in Asia, mushed to the North Pole, and went on safari in deepest Africa. It was in Africa that he first encountered the mysterious rhino. George spent days mesmerized by a herd of rhinos as they went about their business, grazing and sunning themselves. So enamored was George of these magically graceful beasts, that when he awoke one morning to find that poachers had struck the herd during the night, he took up the cause, adopting Rhino preservation as his cause célèbre.

Years later, George settled in America. He enjoyed his new adopted home but missed the sweet, apple taste of the hard ciders of his native Britain. George began brewing his own cider and slowly started to introduce his Amber Draft to a curious American audience. To George's delight, the Americans loved his pub style hard cider, and begged him to share it with the masses looking for an alternative to their traditional brews.

As the brand grew, George decided that he needed a mascot as unique as the light, fruity flavor of his ciders. George chose his beloved rhino, the majestic beast he so admired from his travels and encouraged drinkers of his cider to "break out of the herd" for a taste that is as unique as the rhino on its label.

The conservationist in George was so strong and his love for rhinos so deep that we upheld his wish and still support the cause today through the IRF (International Rhino Foundation). If you ever travel to the horn of Africa, keep a close eye out for George and his khaki safari suit, he still visits frequently.