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Fruits of our Labours
From InnSpire - Issue 56 - August 2005
 When
CAMRA HQ announced in 2003 that October was to be Cider and Perry Month,
Chesterfield & District Branch took the fruit by the stalk! For the past two
Octobers local pubs sensitive to the plight of the real stuff have provided
us with a menu worthy of organised trips, and many of them serve it
regularly the whole year through. I have also had the pleasure of nominating
these pubs for the new Good Cider Guide, eagerly anticipated for release in
time for this year’s campaign.
In preparation for our next frenzy of fruit, I decided that is was time I
visited a real live cider farm - meaning to do it every time we’ve headed
West - and finally this June, Andy and I arrived at Sheppy’s Cider Farm just
south of Taunton.
It’s a beautiful setting where orchards stretch as far as the eye can see.
It was good value for money too with free parking and only £2 for a trip
round their museum. Unfortunately the public viewing gallery to see the
presses was closed for maintenance (guess it would be better to visit in the
autumn when it’s all going on). Anyway the £2 was worth it to watch a video
about how they harvest the apples, prepare and press them for their juice.
It may seem obvious to some, but I didn’t know that they don’t add anything
initially: it just ferments itself into alcohol...
clever eh? Being environmentally friendly too, once all the juice has been
squeezed out of the fruit, the left over ‘cheese’ is fed to the farm’s
cattle and sheep.
After fermentation, the ‘cider’ is tasted and adjusted accordingly to be
sweeter or drier. The video didn’t say how the adjustment was done - I guess
that’s because it’s the secret to their great tasting ciders.
The museum was a bit less interesting being full of old farming equipment,
not just cider making goodies. They do have some old presses though and we
stood in awe as we imagined the huge effort it must have taken to work them.
Then it was on to the tearoom for a snack. Punters can have a glass of cider
here but we were both driving and had to be good. More information on the
general history of cider was there for the reading. In the shop we
were able to ‘try before you buy’, which I find with cider is always a good
move.
We only tried a drop of the ones we were interested in but I’m glad we did.
We came away with the stuff that we knew we were going to enjoy... and some
(proper) cheese, and chocolate and...
Anyway, after a wander round some of the nearer orchards, we went away
feeling more informed with an ambition fulfilled and a cool bag full filled
too!
However, craft cider production takes place much nearer to home than the
larger traditional cider makers of the West Country (not to mention Wales).
Punters at this year’s Chesterfield Beer Festival voted ‘Owd Barker’ as
their favourite which is made at Woodthorpe Hall in North Derbyshire. Dick
Shepley is pictured receiving his Cider of the Festival Award from
Chesterfield CAMRA’s Jane Wheat.
See you all in October when we will again be touring the Branch pubs that
offer traditional cider & perry!
Julie Currey
The
Good Cider Guide
From InnSpire - Issue 58 - December 2005
 CAMRA’s
Good Cider Guide was launched at the end of October, packed with information
on every producer in the UK and highlighting all the best places in which to
buy and sample the nation’s best ciders. The book is divided into counties
and contains maps, listings of producers and over 550 cider outlets. It is
priced at £10.99 and available from CAMRA HQ on 01727 867201 or from all
good book shops.
Whilst we enjoyed draught cider & perry, the important market for bottled
products was highlighted as CAMRA launched a new competition to find
Britain’s best bottled ‘real’ cider and perry. The blind tasting of the
National Champion Bottled Cider and Bottled Perry will be announced along
with the National Draught Cider and Perry Champion in May 2006.
If you would like to find out more please visit
www.camra.org.uk/cider
Are You In The
Good Cider Guide?
From: InnSpire - Issue 47 – February 2004
The Good Cider Guide (a sister book to The
Good Beer Guide) is being updated in 2004. The following outlets in our
area known to sell real cider will be surveyed for inclusion in the next
edition:
Arkwright Arms, Sutton-cum-Duckmanton
Chatsworth Farm Shop, Pilsley
The Boat Inn, Cromford
The Derby Tup, Chesterfield
The Hay, Shirland
The Portland Hotel, Chesterfield
The Rutland Arms, Chesterfield
Spa Lane Vaults, Chesterfield
If anyone knows of any other outlets in the
Chesterfield Branch area that sell real cider please can you inform a member
of the committee as soon as possible.
Julie Currey
This webpage was last updated on
Sunday, 20 April 2008
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