A new release by Growers is this very dry little cider. Light in colour, bouquet and taste but refreshing nonetheless. It would make a nice summer drink but is fairly expensive given that it comes in a 355ml can but sells at the same price as others that are 500ml! 7/10
From Calidon, Ontario, comes this semi-sweet cider that they refer to as "English style." It is pale in colour with a nice bouquet and a full apple flavour Sweeter than I usually like to drink, but for its type is very good. 8/10.
The second cider I tried from Hard Way Cider Co. in Kingston, Ontario. (See the first here.) This one is a very dry barrel aged cider. It has a light amber colour and light fresh apple bouquet. There is an immediate light apple flavour with light hints of the barrel aging. It has just the right amount of astringency for a cider this dry without being too sharp, though the flavour fades quickly. 8/10
Winner of a double gold at the 2016 Finger Lakes International Wine Awards, is an excellent sparkling cider from Lincoln, Ontario cider maker Vieni. Made from Gala, Mackintosh, Honey Crisp, and Golden Delicious apples with a 6% ABV. It is an off-dry smooth drink with a pronounced apple flavour and a good aftertaste. 9/10!
Kingston now has its own cider maker - Hard Way Cider Company located at 748 Development Drive. VisitKingston has a good article on the company. Open Tue-Sat 11:00-18:00. They started out to create really dry ciders, and their range expresses that. Different from most cider makers, they age the cider in oak barrels. They have some unusual flavours; for instance, one cider is aged in old tequila barrels.
An Irish cider that I tried in Dublin - on tap. Made from 100% fresh pressed apples. This is probably the same as the Dry Irish I had in Northern Ireland in a bottle. Quite good. 7/10
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In Edinburgh at a pub, I tried this bottled cider. Its tagline is "made with the sweetest apples." Despite that, it is not as overly sweet as I feared it might be, and it was not bad when served cold. Strong apple taste that fades after a few sips, and there is not an overtly sweet aftertaste. Refreshing. Made from Jonsgold apples. 6.5/10
Had this on tap in England. Very pale green-yellow colour and lightly cloudy, which may be from the tap pull adding micro-bubbles. A nice off-dry, light, crisp cider.
Tried it both bottled and later on tap at a pub in Keswick. Made by Westons Cider in Herefordshire. "Stowford" refers to the particular blend they use for this cider. They also make a 0.5% ABV version. This one is 4.5% and is quite good. 7.5/10
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Taunton is a dry cider with a pronounced astringent after taste. Good but would be best chilled and with food. 7.5/10
A popular cider available on tap in many pubs. Aspall Draught is a standard commercial with a medium body. Pretty good. Okay 7/10
Has a medium-dry taste sweeter than I like. It has a light but noticeable cinnamon taste that is a little off-putting that may be from tannins. 6.5/10
On tap, this is cider has the tagline "made somewhere in the west country." It is quite different. A pale yellow colour, almost clear with a very light bouquet. The taste is a strong and little sweet. The sweetness disappears to a quite astringent finish. It was just cool when I tried it; it would be better and more refreshing if really chilled. 6.5/10
One of Sweden's premier cider makers, this pear cider has a nice light pear bouquet but is too sweet and has an odd pear taste. I wouldn't care for a second. 6/10
As nice easy drinking ordinary commercial cider, just off-dry. 6.5/10
A French cider from Brittany (as the name inficates) it is widely available in England so it must be one of the more popular imported ciders.
An odd mixture of flavours, starting with a very dry with the flavour of old cheddar! This disappears and is followed by quite dry tannic-like finish. Even the bouquet was lightly of old cheddar aftertaste. 4/10
I tried this in Madrid. It has a nice medium strength in taste and off-dry. Made in Spain but the brand is owned by Heineken. 7/10
Produced by Symonds, Scrumpy Jack is a good just off-dry cider, made from Dabinett and Chisel Jersey apples.
A new dry cider from Blyth, Ontario, made with 100% Ontario apples. A pronounced apple taste but quit off-dry, sweeter than I like. 6.5/10
Each year in early February is the "Les Mordus de la Pomme" apple festival. Located in Les Broussettes, 56140 Saint-Laurent/Oust, Brittany. See also the Facebook page for one of the organizer.
From the Brittany tourism site: "Where would Brittany be without the apple, its emblematic fruit? There are more than 600 varieties of apple in the region and some of them go back a long way. Breton farm cider is made using an ancient process and is the ultimate local drink."
Outstanding Breton Ciders
It’s the skill of the producers that make these ciders great, from the choice of apple varieties to the various stages of production. Like wine, cider also has its outstanding vintages.
Cidre de Cornouaille AOP
In 1996, Cornouaille Cider was the first product from Brittany to be granted an “Appellation d’Origine Protégée” (AOP). It comes from an area that covers 38 communities around Quimper, which meet certain criteria such as hours of sunshine, rainfall or altitude. The area draws on the traditional skills of around 28 producers. Cornouaille is a semi-dry cider made from 100% pure juice and has a golden colour, very fine bubbles and a slight hint of bitterness.
Royal Guillevic, France’s only Red Label Cider
At the gateway to the Rhuys Peninsula, the Cidrerie Nicol, founded in 1928, makes a cider that graces some of the most prestigious tables. Because of its delicate flavour, gourmets consider it to be the “Breton champagne”. It is made from a single apple variety, the Guillevic.
Cuvée Prestige Carpe Diem: a cider for the Elysée Palace
Since 1997, the Cidrerie du Domaine de Kervéguen has supplied its Prestige Carpe Diem cider to the Elysée Palace. Made from late-season apples, this cider is produced in the same way as late-season wines or wines made from dried grapes. An outstanding, traditional cider, it is made using organic techniques and matured in oak barrels.
Other Cideries to Visit
Brest Terres Océanes
Cap Fréhel – Saint-Malo – Mont Saint-Michel Bay
Pink Granite Coast – Morlaix Bay
Quimper Cornouaille
Saint-Brieuc Bay – Paimpol- Les Caps
Southern Brittany – Morbihan Gulf
Where can I try cider?
The Comptoir Breizh Café in Saint-Malo
The Comptoir Breizh Café in Saint-Malo is a crêperie and cider bar with more than 60 recommendations, not just from Brittany but from all over the world. Carine, the cider waitress, can also suggest some original combinations of dishes and ciders.
Le Sistrot in Quimper
Le Sistrot is a must for all cider lovers when in Quimper. There are many different vintages to try including cidre de glace (ice cider) and cidre de feu (fire cider) from Québec, where the bar’s founders spent a few years.
Normandy is the heart of French cider. There are hundreds of cider producers throughout Normandy and Brittany. Here is one suggested cider route east of Caen.
From the cider route website: "To the east of Caen, the Cider Route is a 25 mile signposted trail that
criss-crosses the Pays d’Auge down picturesque country lanes connecting
the villages of Beuvron-en-Auge (one of the ‘most beautiful villages in
France’), Cambremer, Bonnebosq and Beaufour-Druval. Along the way, you
have the choice of stopping off at over twenty cider farms!"
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1. La ferme du Bout du chemin 2. Jean-Louis Caignon 3. Ferme de la vallée au tanneur 4. Genevieve Denis 5. Ferme cidricole Desvoye 6. Domaine Dupont 7. Marie-Louise Foucher 8. Manoir de Montreuil 9. Cave du Manoir de Grandouet |
10. Francois Helie 11. Calvados Pierre Huet 12. Aurélien Lepage 13. Antoine Marois 14. Famille Montais 15. Distillerie des Ambres 16. Thierry Rungette 17. Alain Sauvage 18. Bruno Vilain |
East Coast Cider Festival, Halifax NS
May 28, 2022
Location: Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, 1919 Upper Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 3J5 (map)
Will feature 26 cidermakers from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and P.E.I.
Ludlow Spring Festival
May 14-15, 2022
Location: Ludlow Castle, Shropshire, SY8 1AY (map)
Live music, classic cars, talks n' tipples – what more could you want? All of it takes place in the stunning setting of Ludlow Castle at the Ludlow Spring Festival. We like this one because there's a big emphasis on cider. All in all, there will be over 200 beers and ciders available from brewers based locally and throughout the UK.
Royal Bath & West Show
June 2-4, 2022
Location: The Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN (map)
This event is a little different, The Royal Bath and West Show is a renowned agricultural event. It also plays host to the British Cider Championships. In fact, The Royal Bath & West Society set up the competition in 1895. It is thought that theirs is the oldest cider competition in the world. This year, a selection of ciders will be available each day to show-goers. Another interesting element of the show are the tutor-led cider tasting sessions.
Welsh Perry & Cider Festival
June 2-5, 2022
Location: Caldicot Castle and Country Park, Church Road, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, NP26 4HU (map)
Brogdale Cider Trail
August 26-27, 2023
Location: Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ (map)
Taste over 40 locally produced ciders. A free shuttle bus will be running from Faversham mainline train station to Brogdale.
