Cider Is Not Beer

Never having had "Redd's", but I imagine it's pretty sweet and that the sucrose is used to back-sweetened it, rather than as a fermentable?

How would you know? (I've read that some cheap beers and malt liquors can approach 50% or less barley malt, so...).

Well, since we're on the topic, the TTB COLA has it a "MALT BEVERAGES SPECIALITIES - FLAVORED" - same designation as many "craft" beers loaded with flavoring ingredients - but, then, a lot of so-called "wine coolers" are (or "were" since many have disappeared) also "malt beverages" - including most flavors of Gallo's Bartles & Jaymes, Seagram's (from Genesee), Mike's, etc.

 

Wouldn't you be able to tell by the head? Most ciders the head dissipates much quicker than beer. I also find the cider buzz quite different from beer, I am confident I could tell them apart.