CAMRA is not just for beer-drinkers!
Almost from its inception, CAMRA has taken a keen and active interest in Britain's other traditional long alcoholic drink: cider. And if you want to try the real thing - the sort that's made from pure apple juice and not artificially gassed up - where better to enjoy these delights of the orchard than in the county with such rich tradition?
Cider was originally produced by farmers to be drunk by the farm labour force during the following year, especially the busy times of hay-making and harvest. However, the demand grew and cider came to be sold to local pubs and cider merchants for re-sale in towns.
For 350 years cider Herefordshire has been the major player in cider-making in Britain, with many notable Herefordians playing their part in the development of the industry. Today, the cider makers range from the multinationally-owned Bulmers to the smallest farm-based operation and Herefordshire ciders and perries continue to set the standards for the industry with many cider-makers attaining many awards. See below for a list of the county's cider-makers.
CAMRA and the Cider Drinker
The CAMRA Good Cider Guide (5th edition published October 2005) is an essential handbook containing an unrivalled listing of the nation's cider and perry producers, right down to the tiniest, and the best places to buy what they make. It also includes articles by noted cider-makers and other experts to add to your enjoyment of the miller’s art.
CAMRA campaigns for cider
CAMRA has a specialist cider and perry committee through which actively promotes the interests of everybody who enjoys good cider and perry. Its objectives and achievements can be seen by on the cider and perry pages of the National CAMRA Website.
CAMRA and the Cider Drinker
CAMRA presents The Pomona Award annually to an individual or organisation making a major contribution to the cider and perry industry. This award has come to Herefordshire several times in recent years, notably to Dunkertons Cider in 2005; The Big Apple in 2007; Mike Johnson of the Ross-on-Wye Cider company in 2009 and Tom Oliver in 2013.
Try visiting the Big Apple, when the parishes of the Marcle Ridge celebrate their heritage of apples and pears, cider and perry, or the perhaps the Cider Museum in Hereford which is open all year.
CAMRA sells great cider
Virtually every CAMRA Beer Festival these days sells a range of tasty traditional ciders. Our own Beer on the Wye features cider or perry from most of the cider-maker in the county plus selected makers from adjacent counties, totalling over 120 different in 2015.
What is Pear Cider?
There's really no such thing – it's just a stupid name invented for perry by marketing whiz-kids. It will only normally be found applied to pasteurised and fizzy bottled perry. If you want the real thing watch out for perry under its old – and correct – name.
