Until we were busted for our involvement in cider trading.

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

They inspired my core values.

Quite delicious, especially tsty to me when the weather dips down a bit.

crop will be.

called McKenzie. It was pretty good. Only other one I've tried lately is Angry Orchard, which I wouldn't bother to buy again. I only tried their Black Cherry one but they have an apple one too (McKenzie). The best ciders are from northwest France (Brittany and Normandy) if you ever get to try some do. With the popularity of cider growing, maybe some places are importing them now. They leave American ciders in the dust. To describe the French ciders, the liquid is champagne-like, very bubbly, but heavier like a beer with a not-too-sweet delightful apple flavor. Just excellent.

http://www.winemag.com/2015/09/02/the-best-french-ciders-you-should-drink-this-fall/

I live in Melbourne, Australia and the Dan Murphy's bottle shop stock many ciders from all over the world, including France. I'll check and see if they've got any of the ciders from that winemag link.

Btw do you know know any Aussie ciders? I like 5 Seeds Apple with a dash of vodka.

Henry of Harcourt!!!

My cousin took me to the cidery (is that a word?) when we visited a few years ago.
They serve an APPLE and PEAR blended cider that is the best cider I've ever had.
I think you can only purchase it on the spot.

http://www.harcourtcider.com.au/retail-outlets

http://www.maldoncastlemaine.com.au/ant/profile/henry-of-harcourt

A very pleasant drive from Melbourne and a wonderful stop. Drink the cider and watch the ducks!

Since I can't get it here, I drink Magner's Pear Cider, as I prefer the more delicate taste of the "Perries"...

Did you see Bendigo btw? Very charming place, my family have been there loads of times. Next time we go we'll have to stop off and try this cider you mentioned.

Beautiful little place.
Reminded me of the U.S. west.

We didn't do any prospecting, we mostly ATE!

Do visit Harcourt.... and don't forget to call first and ask if they have the apple/pear blend available.
They don't ship it to stores, its a private blend...

Check out a place called The Woodhouse, well, if you haven't already. We went there on our last trip and they make these amazingly delicious wood fire pizzas with very unique ingredients.

I'm a little embarrassed by the post following mine about Australian ciders! I didn't know Australia was known for cider, wine - yes, but not cider. I'll have to see if anyone is importing any from Australia. Thanks for the info on 5 Seeds Apple, would love to try it.

I planted some heirloom apple and other fruit trees so I've become interested in all things apple in recent years. It will be a few more years yet before I start having some decent crops though. Will have to check into what types of apples are popular in Australia.

It's about 10.5%, but nobody really knows. Suffice to say that if you drink it you will go blind!

the black cherry and it was delicious.

I also like pear versions of cider and in general enjoy the flavor more than beer.

but grew to love scrumpy in England. Scrumpy is totally dry and still, and, well, it's definitely an acquired taste. For years, I could not find dry ciders in the states, but I've discovered a few lately that are not half bad, and only lightly effervescent. I can't recall the brands, but I always recognize the labels when I see them.

Because it's made from a field blend of fully mature apples, but generally has a lot of robust flavors working in unison with a good tannin bite; something I grew to like.

I'd love to go to Cornwall or Somerset and get the real stuff they serve during their scrumpy fests. The stuff that still has bits of apple in it.

Scrumpy varies enormously from sessionable through to full on battery acid.

Way better than the commercial stuff.

Dry, applely and sparkling like champagne.

yum

without a link to your online store.

personal consumption only.

But seriously - we've perfected the process.

Let the ground up apples oxidize to a dark dark brown before pressing out the "cheese"

Use sulfites to cleanse the the sweet cider of nasty wild microbes.

Use French Champagne yeast.

Condition (carbonate) in bottle.

We have some heirloom eating apples - and some wild apples - that make great cider.

Every "vintage" is different.

yum

Less acid than apple -- no reflux!

Most of my female friends don't drink beer, but they LOVE pear cider.

This is the best tasting pear cider I've found (so far):

the correct name for pear cider is "peary". Cider is exclusively for apples.

But I do love the pear stuff!

Apologies for going all grammar nazi, but Perry enthusiasts can be very pedantic about Perry as opposed to pear cider.

I wasn't sure about the spelling. Thanks!

Crispin Cider started here in Minneapolis, but moved when it got bought out.

Some other ciders are:
Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery (they make a light one called Loon Juice, delicious)
Sociable Ciderwerks
Urban Forage Winery and Cider House
Wyndfall Artisan Cyder
Sweetland Orchard

....is that we are meant to get involved in "real cider" campaigns, but it's difficult to dish out awards for the best cider pub when nobody in the branch actually drinks the stuff!

I have a friend in Wales who is a member of the Cardiff branch of CAMRA, I'll have to ask him if they're getting involved in "real cider" campaigns.

On the one hand, it does result in plenty of scrumpy being available at beer festivals. On the other hand, it does all too often result in cider being reduced to a campaigning afterthought.

In the part of the country where I live it's the pubs with a strong emphasis on cask ale who are the keenest on selling scrumpy.

Enjoy.

Yum. Uncle John's cider mill is about 40 miles north of me, so it's pretty convenient to get good cider. My favorite cider, though, is to buy unpasturized cider and let it sit in my refrigerator until it starts to get fizzy. Nirvana.