Real cider is a long-established traditional drink which is produced naturally from apples and is neither carbonated or pasteurised. However real cider is in a similar situation to that which faced real ale some 30 years ago with the number of outlets for real cider is diminishing, even in the West Country. The situation with perry (which is made from pears) is even worse, as it is rarely available away from the farm gate. It is unfortunate that many of the most well known ciders in the UK are cold, fizzy keg products which have been produced artificially rather than naturally. It is well worth you tracking down some real ciders and perries and more and more people are discovering for themselves how deliciously mellow, aromatic and intoxicating the flavours of naturally produced real cider can be.
As a result of the difficulties facing real cider, CAMRA set up a cider and perry committee within CAMRA to inform consumers about the choice of real cider and perry available and to encourage the producers to continue production.
CAMRA has launched a new scheme to promote pubs serving real cider. If a pub near you has at least one real cider available throughout the year then please submit the pubs details below and we'll send out a free window sticker to the pub.
Submit a real cider pub View Cider Pubs
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. 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.
More Info Cider & Perry Month Events Adopt a Cider Pub
After a year of local and regional judging rounds the
Ye Olde Cider Bar in Newton Abbot has been announced as winner of the National award in 2011.
Nominations for
Cider & Perry Pub of the Year 2012 are
now open.
Please submit your nomination today.
See the full list of past winners & finalists
Nominate a Cider & Perry Pub or Club for the 2012 Competitoin
CAMRA is delighted to announce that
Virtual Orchard Hard Core Cider, and
Rathays Painted Lady Perry won Gold medals at CAMRA's National Cider and Perry Championships 2011, held at the Reading Beer and Cider Festival over the May bank holiday weekend.
The full results are:
Cider
GOLD - Virtual Orchard, Hard Core (of Wolverton, Buckinghamshire)
SILVER - Gwynt y Ddraig, Black Dragon (of Llantwit Fardre, Glamorgan)
BRONZE - Hartland, Sweet (of Tirley, Gloucestershire)
Perry
GOLD - Rathays, Painted Lady (of Sutton St Nicholas, Herefordshire)
SILVER - Gwynt y Ddraig, Two Trees (of Llantwit Fardre, Glamorgan)
BRONZE - Ralph's, Old Badland (New Radnor, Powys) and Oliver's, Medium (of Ocle Pychard, Herefordshire)
See the full list of past winners
The Pomona Award is named after the Roman Goddess of apples, and is presented during October, CAMRA's Cider and Perry Month.
Much consideration and deliberation goes into each entrant and it must be noted that the Pomona Award is not automatically awarded annually as it may be decided, after long discussion that no presentation will be made. In essence the Pomona Award is presented by CAMRA to the person, people, organisation, place or thing who has done the most to promote real cider or perry over the previous 12 months or for ongoing work to promote cider and perry.
Nominations for the Pomona Award 2011 are now open.
More information about the award
Make a nomination for this year's award