Ukcider Meets
From Ukcider
Thought it might be an idea to have a page where we can post a description and photos from any meetings that occur between members of the ukcider community. So here goes...
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Ross on Wye Festival, August 2007
Cider and perry makers at this year's event were: Barbourne, Border Orchards, Broome Farm, Gregg's Pit, Gwatkin, Malvern Magic, Marches Cyder Circle, Raglan Mill, Seidr Dai, and Severn Sider.
Ukcider folk in attendance included: John Parry, Mark & Karen (Rockingham Forest Cider), Ray & Gail (Torkard Cider), Tania & David (Birmingham CAMRA etc.) More pics from John and Ray are likely to follow.
Larger Image
Meet the Cider (and Perry) makers on Saturday
Welsh Perry & Cider Championships at "The Clytha", 26th-28th May 2007
As usual there will be a good smattering of ukcider members here. It's well worth the journey.
Blossomtime celebration, Dorset 12th May 2007
Another great afternoon was had by all as the rain luckily held off to allow the outdoor gathering, maypole dancing and morris display to go ahead surrounded by the natural beauty of this lovely south Dorset location. It's an annual village event in Rose's Orchard which also attracts cidermakers from Dorset and further afield. This year ukcider members who attended included Ni and Sharon from Marches cyder circle, Andy and Linda from London, Barry Topp from New Forest Cider, Michael Cobb of Knytshall, (others) and new friends included Penny from Owermoigne cider museum, Bo who brought Perry from Shaftsbury and Liz Copas of 'Somerset Pomona' fame.
Pictures and videos have been added to the blossomtime celebration page.
"Swan & Rushes" Cider & Cheese Festival, Leicester. 12th May 2007
Some members of the ukcider 'Midlands Posse' met up for an informal gathering and chat at this excellent little Cider & Cheese Festival held at the Swan & Rushes pub on Infirmary Square in Leicester. The Cider & Cheese are served from two bars / tables set up in the yard come seating area at the rear of the pub; a blue tarpaulin stretched overhead kept the rain off and provided some shade from the sun (we had both...), and provided a nice blue ambience...
There were nineteen ciders available from Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, which had been collected by the landlord in the week before and were very fresh, in excellent condition. The Festival had been open from Friday evening and by the time we arrived at opening time midday on the Saturday, the Hecks Perry (and only perry) had already gone. Thirteen cheeses were originally on offer, including an excellent Brie from Sharpham and (so I'm told...) an excellent Blue goat's cheese from Harbourne.
Pictured here from left to right are Mark Shirley (Leics APPLE bod & producer of 'Rockingham Forest Cider'); Phil Andrews (compiler of the French Producers lists on ukcider); Phil's wife Sue; Gail (partner of Ray Blockley); Susie Shirley (sitting in red top, Mark's sister-in-law); and finally the beard is attached to Paul Shirley (Mark's big brother. Both Susie and Paul are heavily involved with Leicester CAMRA and contribute to ukcider). Mark's wife Karen arrived later after a bout of shopping. Second pic has Sue, Phil, Ray, and Gail
On the left side of this photo you can see some of the cheeses, served with a choice of French bread or good old-fashioned Cream Crackers; apple and celery was also available. As can be seen from the chalk-board, £2-40 per pint was a very good price for such excellent produce. The cheeses were sold by weight, being available in a range of portion sizes.
The nineteen ciders were stacked in a corner and apart from the 3 ciders in the foreground, were all in Bag-in-Box containers. The cider was sold in pints, halves or thirds; the latter was very popular with those who wanted to taste everything on offer - or just wanted to retain some dignity...
Tania and David arrived mid-afternoon, and soon settled into the Third-pint glasses and the cheeses. The most popular topic of conversation was cider (surprisingly!) followed by cheese... The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, and we all had a great time. The northern (Nottingham) contingent had to leave after five hours to catch the train back home, so we left Tania, Susie, David, Mark and Paul to continue to represent ukcider.
Big Apple Putley, May 6th 2007
Another significant event in the ukcider calendar.
Geoff Morris and Sue, Andrew Lea gave a talk on the science behind craft cider making, Ni and Sharon, Roy Bailey, Rose Grant, Tom Oliver, John Parry, Dave Yates, Liz Williams
Congratulations to Rose Grant who won a first prize for her medium draught cider.
http://www.bigapple.org.uk/cider_trials_2007.html
Putley Trials Winners List: http://www.cider.org.uk/putley_winners_2007.pdf
