Cider


About cider and perry


Although CAMRA campaign mainly about beery issues, we also support the production of traditional cider and perry.

Real cider is a long established traditional drink which is produced naturally from apples and is neither carbonated or pasteurised. As cidre is made from apples, perry is made from perry pears, which tend to be smaller and harder than dessert pears

Cider / Perry Not Recognised as being real by CAMRA

If it is :-

  • “any cider that has been carbonated”
  • “any cider with flavourings EXCEPT pure fruits, vegetables, honey, hops, herbs and spices”

As with real ale, real cider is a living, unpasteurised product, that offers far more flavour and character that its keg equivalent.

But unlike real ale production, which can happen at any time of the year, real cider & perry can only be made when the fruit is ripe. Great skill goes into its production. It is a producer rather than a brewer, that makes cider & perry. They may use a mixture of bittersweet and bittersharp cider apples or sweet dessert apples, or a mixture of the two to make cider; but perry can only be made from specialized perry pears, which are high in natural tannin.

The choosing, pressing and blending of the fruit to make cider is just as much of a craft as making beer and produces a vast range of tastes, styles and aromas, similar to those produced in fine wine. Like wine, each year’s fruit produces a unique vintage, so much so that cider and perry has been sometimes called ‘The Wine of the West’.

October is a very active time for producers, especially for those who make only a small amount of cider. Harvest time for cider fruit is roughly from September to November and by October production is in full flow. Consequently, CAMRA have designated October as National Cider and Perry month.

Apple logo
Real cider and perry is becoming more popular in the Newark area and is regularly served via hand pump or from the cellar at the following pubs:-

The BargeThe Fox and CrownJust Beer Micro pubThe Prince RupertThe Ram Oscars The Final Whistle Southwell

If you know of any other pubs in our area that regularly stock real cider and perry please e-mail the details to our apple representative at apple@newarkcamra.org.uk