A selection of our most favourite photographs of the week.
View this years Cider and Perry winners at the Show.
See you next year!
Cider is called “seidr” in Welsh. And there has been a lot of seidr enjoyed the last few months!
With reason to celebrate Welsh cider after the recent award to Gwyntt Y Ddraig at the International Cider and Perry awards.
With more and more small artisan producers emerging onto the competition and festival scene, it’s exciting times for the revival of traditional real cider in Wales.
The Welsh Cider and Perry Society is proving to be a catalyst for these producers. The societies aims are to encourage a greater appreciation of these natural craft drinks, spearhead a new era of orchard planting and promote Welsh perry and cider as an indigenous alternative to wine.
The last bank holiday of May, Welsh cider makers and fans, gather for the annual competition and festival in the grounds of the Clytha Arms in Monmouthshire for the Welsh Cider and Perry festival. I’ve been for many years, and is exciting as the Clytha is a fantastic pub anyway, the festival adds another dimension with around 40 different makers producing many different ciders and perries, and various live bands on to entertain the drinkers throughout the weekend.
This years event, despite the rain there was a good turnout. The weather improved on the Sunday and by all accounts it was another successful weekend.
The results for the Welsh Perry and Cider championships that are held at the festival are as follows:
Welsh Perry & Cider Championships 2010
Cider
Dry Draught Cider
- Gold: Palmer’s Upland Cyder Cheeky Jackdaw Cyder
- Silver: Des Devlin Drunk Dragon Dry
- Bronze: Blaengawney Heartbreaker
Medium Draught Cider
- Gold: Seidr Dai Knotted Kernal
- Silver: Rosie’s Triple D Medium
- Bronze: Ty-Bryn Cider, Oak Barrel Medium Sweet
Sweet Draught Cider
- Gold: Springfield Dabinett
- Silver: Seidr O Sir Cantref
- Bronze: Rosie’s Triple D Black Bart
Spirit Cask Cider
- Gold: Rosie’s Triple D Wicked Wasp
- Silver: Berriew Bettws
- Bronze: Troggi Penallt
Bottled Still Cider
- Gold: Springfield Dabinett
- Silver: Rosie’s Triple D Rampant Ram
- Bronze: Blaengawney Heartbreaker
Bottled Sparkling Cider
- Gold: Ty-Bryn Cider
- Silver: Blaengawney Dabinett
- Bronze: Ty Gwyn Medium
Champion Cider
- Gold: Springfield Dabinett
- Silver: TyBryn Medium-Sweet
- Bronze: Rosie’s Triple D Wicked Wasp
Perry
Dry Draught Perry
- Gold: Llanblethian Orchards Pick ‘n Mix
- Silver: Three Saints Burgundy
- Bronze: Bragdy Penywern Dry
Medium Draught Perry
- Gold: Ty-Bryn Blakeney Red Medium Sweet
- Silver: Seidr Dai Hellen’s Early
- Bronze: Bragdy Brodyr Silver Lady
Sweet Draught Perry
- Gold: Raglan Cider Mill Old Vicarage
- Silver: Troggi Llansoy
- Bronze: Gwynt Y Ddraig Two Trees
Bottled Still Perry
- Gold: Blaengawney Perry
- Silver: Three Saints Divine
- Bronze: Rosie’s Triple D Perfect Pear
Bottled Sparkling Perry
- Gold: Troggi 2008-EP
- Silver: Ty-Bryn Medium Sweet
- Bronze: Palmer’s Upland Cyder Blakeney Red
Champion Perry
- Gold: Ty-Bryn Blakeney Red Medium Sweet
- Silver: Raglan Cider Mill Old Vicarage
- Bronze: Troggi 2008-EP
Follow @ArfurD for more Welsh Cider updates and the Brew Wales blog.
If you want to attend a Welsh cider festival this weekend (10-12th June), get along to Cardiff and the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival. Cheers!
Class 1 Two bottles of sweet cider
1st Gaymer
2nd (joint) Alan Berry and Thatchers
Class 2 two bottles of Medium < cider
1st Glastonbury Abbey
2nd Orchards Cider and Perry
3rd Burrow Hill VHC Rosie’s Triple D
Class 3 Two Bottles Dry Cider
1st Sheppy and Son
2nd Perry’s cider
3rd Helen McDonald
Class 4 two bottles of organic cider
1st Sheppy and Son
2nd Butford Organics
3rd G Travis
Class 5 two bottles of cider
1st Perry’s cider
2nd Gaymer
3rd Olivers VHC J Mitchell
Class 6 Two bottles of cider bottle fermented
1st –
2nd –
3rd –
HC Olivers E Whale
Class 7 two bottles of single variety cider
1st Sheppy and Son
2nd Alan Berry
3rd John Hecks
Class 8 two bottles of single variety apple juice
1st Bridge farm cider
2nd Peter Dart
3rd Woodston manor partnership
HC Patricia Thompson
Class 9 two bottles of blended apple juice
1st Woodstone manor partnership
2nd Patricia Thompson
3rd Messrs Winsor
HC Butford Organics
Class 12 One gallon dry cider
1st Rose’s Cider
2nd R Wilcox
3rd Bridge farm cider
Class 13 One gallon medium cider
1st Alan Berry
2nd Rose’s cider
3rd Country man cider
HC West milton cider company
Class 14 international two bottles of cider
1st Iberica
2nd Rosquijeau
3rd Matlock
Class 10 Two bottles of perry
1st Lizzie Hecks
2nd Gwatkin cider
3rd New Forest Cider
Trophies
Supreme champion cider
Glastonbury Abbey Reserve Rose’s cider
Arthur Davies cup (classes 5 and 7)
Perry’s cider reserve Sheppy and son
Champion farmhouse cider
Rose’s cider reserve bridge farem cider
Vigo apple juice trophy
Bridge farm cider reserve Wooodston manor partnership
ESS Perry cup
Lizzie Hecks reserve Gwatkin cider co
Westons cup – best organic
Sheppy and son reserve butford organics
Common ground special award
Dorset nectar
Industry Coopers trophy – craftsmanship within cider industry
Albert Rixen
Results are in from this year’s Royal Bath and West show.
The biggest event in the rural calendar had great weather the entire week, and also with over 300 Cider and Perry entries which was a record for this event. With the average attendance each day being over 40,000 people!
It was my first time to the Bath & West, the size of the showground and the diversity of rural and farming practices you could see demonstrated was staggering. Also the care and craftmanship that had gone into making the produce that was being judged.
This year was great for local Somerset cider producers, Heck’s who scooped multiple awards, the highest was for their bottled Perry.
The results are as follows:
Class 1 Two bottles of sweet cider
- 1st Gaymer
- 2nd (joint) Alan Berry and Thatchers
Class 2 two bottles of Medium cider
- 1st Glastonbury Abbey
- 2nd Orchards Cider and Perry
- 3rd Burrow Hill VHC Rosie’s Triple D
Class 3 Two Bottles Dry Cider
- 1st Sheppy and Son
- 2nd Perry’s cider
- 3rd Helen McDonald
Class 4 two bottles of organic cider
- 1st Sheppy and Son
- 2nd Butford Organics
- 3rd G Travis
Judges tasting the high standard of cider and perry entries at the Bath & West 2010
Class 5 two bottles of cider
- 1st Perry’s cider
- 2nd Gaymer
- 3rd Olivers VHC J Mitchell
Class 6 Two bottles of cider bottle fermented
- 1st –
- 2nd –
- 3rd – HC Olivers E Whale
Class 7 two bottles of single variety cider
- 1st Sheppy and Son
- 2nd Alan Berry
- 3rd John Hecks
Class 8 two bottles of single variety apple juice
- 1st Bridge farm cider
- 2nd Peter Dart
- 3rd Woodston manor partnership / HC Patricia Thompson
Cider and Perry entrants marked on the producers map at the Bath & West 2010
Class 9 two bottles of blended apple juice
- 1st Woodstone manor partnership
- 2nd Patricia Thompson
- 3rd Messrs Winsor
HC Butford Organics
- Class 12 One gallon dry cider
- 1st Rose’s Cider
- 2nd R Wilcox
- 3rd Bridge farm cider
Class 13 One gallon medium cider
- 1st Alan Berry
- 2nd Rose’s cider
- 3rd Country man cider / HC West milton cider company
Class 14 international two bottles of cider
- 1st Iberica
- 2nd Rosquijeau
- 3rd Matlock
Class 10 Two bottles of perry
- 1st Lizzie Hecks
- 2nd Gwatkin cider
- 3rd New Forest Cider
Supreme champion cider
- Glastonbury Abbey Reserve Rose’s cider
- Arthur Davies cup (classes 5 and 7)
- Perry’s cider reserve Sheppy and son
Champion farmhouse cider
- Rose’s cider reserve bridge farem cider
Vigo apple juice trophy
- Bridge farm cider reserve Wooodston manor partnership
ESS Perry cup
- Lizzie Hecks reserve Gwatkin cider co
Westons cup – best organic
- Sheppy and son reserve butford organics
Common ground special award
- Dorset nectar
Industry Coopers trophy – craftsmanship within cider industry
- Albert Rixen
What looks like a delicious event begins on Friday the 9th of July. The first Cider festival is being held at the Ship and Castle, Congresbury, North Somerset, – they are hoping to run them every year if its a success!
There is no admission fee, the entertainment is totally free and there will be at least 15 ciders from the area throughout the 10 days.
We are hoping people will come ready for an afternoon of fun, food and cider. Why not bring a blanket or deckchair, chill out and listen to the music and drink loads of local cider! Although there is lots of decking furniture and benches.
The BBQ will be a selection of the top 20 local sausages that can be purchased on a skewer with bread and sauces. There is also a full Sunday lunch on offer too from £9 per roast!
Then on the Sunday the 11th July a jazz and sausage BBQ just before the World Cup final happens which will be showing on our 50″ TV screen in the garden (fingers crossed for good weather!!!)
Then on the 18th July – the Mangled Wurzles for the afternoon.
The pub has a huge garden and a raised decking – perfect for totally chilled afternoons in the summer sun!
More details and venue address:
The Ship and Castle
Tel: 01934 833535
The High street, Congresbury
North Somerset, BS49 5JA
A really relaxed Northern cider festival takes place in July when the Stubbing Wharf hosts its 4th Cider Festival, from 2nd to 4th July 2010.
The annual Cider Festival has become a growing success year on year, well-known for showcasing one of the largest selections of ciders and perries in the north of England. This year, the pub has decided to add an extra day to the event and the Festival will be running for a full three days, from Friday to Sunday, with attractions for dedicated enthusiasts, CAMRA members and families too.
As well as a range of over 70 different ciders from producers across the length and breadth of the UK and beyond; there will be canal boat cruises, live music from some popular local turns, a magician and children’s entertainment. There’s free admission too, with 10% discount on Festival Ciders for CAMRA card-carrying members on the Friday. Saturday includes a hog roast and live entertainment too.
Sunday will be a more family-orientated day. As well as cider, a delicious array of apple juices will be served up with attractions including the Stubbing’s ‘Magician Laureate’ and live entertainment including the Ryburne Longsword Dancers.
“The Cider Festival has become an event that’s now attracting a growing following throughout the north and beyond. The best craft ciders from around the UK, all combined with traditional music, a hog roast on Saturday and Sunday creating a wonderful weekend of fun and enjoyment. It’s great to be able to introduce ‘real’ cider to those who have previously only had the big name, mass produced brands”
“It’s surprising how both real cider and the attitudes towards it are changing, and appeal to many different people, that’s why we now have several craft ciders on the bar at the Stubbing at all times and they are selling extremely well.”
Says the Stubbing’s Mathew Browne
Boat trips will be running up and down the canal all weekend. Coupled with the Stubbing Wharf’s great reputation for its food locally and the canal boat cruises there is plenty to make it a great day out.
The Stubbing Wharf is a pleasant walk from Hebden Bridge along the Rochdale Canal towpath, for visitors arriving by rail, or for designated drivers, there’s ample parking and a plentiful choice of apple juices too.
The pub is situated on bus routes (details below), accessible on foot from Hebden Bridge. You can of course arrive by boat using the canal; indeed the Stubbing Wharf Cruises will be providing canal boat cruising during the Festival.
Location
The Stubbing Wharf is located off the A646 on the west side of Hebden Bridge, sandwiched between the River Calder and the Rochdale Canal. If you are in the car, there is ample parking (although this may become limited as the Festival becomes busy). Or if you are on the bus, numbers 590 592 594 stop close by. By train or by foot, The Stubbing Wharf is a short walk along the canal towpath after lock 11.
Contact details
The Stubbing Wharf
King Street
Hebden Bridge
W. Yorkshire
HX7 6LU (Google Map)
01422 844107
info@stubbingwharf.com
www.stubbingwharf.com
Over the next week cider lovers have no less than 8 exciting regional cider events to get yourself along to.
Represented from Suffolk in the East, to South Wales in the West, to Newark in the North(ish). There are some really talented cider and perry producers coming to the forefront, some for the first time this year. You’ll be able to taste a wide range of local ciders and perries to the event, and maybe even meet the producers themselves – at events just like the ones below.
Here on the Real Cider community, we are getting more and more interest from a wide range of cider drinkers. However, some are not sure where to start, so why not share your experiences of your next cider event with us!
Would you like to review the cider event that you are going to?
We’d love to be able to share your experiences with other like-minded cider fans, virgins to old-timers.. Don’t be shy! We are just looking for a few paragraphs about the event, your favourite ciders, and anything else. If you have photos that would really bring the article to life.
Read the recent Hove cider festival review to get an idea of what we’ve written about from previous cider events.
Essex
The Chappel Cider Festival
- When 4 – 7 Jun 2010
- Where CO6 2DS
- Description Up to 70 types of cider. Entrance is free. At the Anglian railway Museum www.earm.co.uk
Hampshire
Southampton Beer & Cider Festival
- When 3 – 5 Jun 2010
- Where Southampton Guildhall, Southampton
- Description www.shantscamra.org.uk/beerfestivals/sbf2010 Features the first outing of 146 Cider, plus others!!
Nottinghamshire
Newark Beer & Cider Festival
- When 28 – 30 May 2010
- Where Riverside Park in the shadow of Newark Castle.
- Description Since the first festival in 1996, it has become a major attraction drawing both the enthusiast and the inquisitive to the banks of the River Trent to enjoy great music, good food and, of course, an amazing selection of cask conditioned beers and ciders www.newarkcamra.org.uk/festival/cider.htm
Northamptonshire
Newark Beer & Cider Festival
- When 27 – 29 May 2010
- Where Delapré Abbey
- Description The Northamptonshire Beer Festival (also known as the Delapré Abbey Beer Festival) is organised jointly by the Northants branch of CAMRA and the Friends of Delapré Abbe www.northantscamra.org.uk
Suffolk
Dove Street Inn Beer Festival, Ipswich
- When 26 – 31 May 2010
- Where The Dove Street Inn, 76 St. Helens St, Ipswich, IP4 2LA (map)
- Description 60+ beers, milds & Ciders see www.dovestreetinn.co.uk
South Wales
Welsh cider and perry festival at The Clytha Arms
- When 29 – 31 May 2010
- Where The Clytha Arms
- Description Taste over 70 different types of cider and perries www.welshcider.co.uk Near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, South Wales. Address and Directions from:www.clytha-arms.com / Tel: 01873 840 206
Somerset
Cider and Perry show at Bath and West show, Shepton Mallet
- When 4 – 6 Jun 2010
- Where Bath and west showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
- Description The biggest cider competition in the country takes place in the Orchard and Cider pavilion at The Royal Bath and West Show. Entrants from all corners of the kingdom compete for the title of Supreme Championship. This year the Pavilion’s theme is Wessex in honour of our show president, Sophie, Countess of Wessex. www.bathandwest.com
West Sussex
Glastonwick, west sussex
- When 4 – 6 Jun 2010
- Where Church Farm, Coombes, West Sussex
- Description For the 15th consecutive year, and our fourth at the fabulous rural location of Coombes, this popular festival will again bring sleepy Sussex to life in June 2010. http://efestivals.co.uk/festivals/glastonwick/2010/
View all our listed forthcoming cider events.
If there is an event that isn’t listed that you know about, please leave the information as a comment below. Thank you!