Finding outlets for cyder

Sometimes finding outlets for cyder as a small scale producer is difficult. With no economies of scale it is hard to compete with the larger players in the industry. Many samll scale producers of cyder or beer are also unwilling or unable to deal with supermarkets who are notoriously ruthless in their dealings. Specialist off licences are few and far between. So when someone like Real Beer Box want to take your produce it can be as real lift. This could well be the future for the growing number of small scale producers denied access to public in their local tied pubs. Good on you chaps!

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

Checkley Brook Cyder to appears on ITV's Countrywise

Many thanks to the Countrywise team from ITV who came out to do some filming at our Cyder orchard. The weather was very good allowing for some lovely shots in the burgeoning orchard. We should be on a show going out in December. We will let you know nearer the date. Managed to make 800 litres of cyder too that weekend. Took a sample to the Crown Inn Woolhope, a great food and cyder pub. Let's hope they take it!

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

Cyder orchard maintenance - hedging and dead wooding

Been doing lots of orchard maintenance, recently. Cutting down an over grown hedge. Hawthorn ARRGGGHhh! Nasty spiky stuff. it is important to let light and air into your cyder orchard. This stops the cyder apples rotting on the trees and increases yields. This is also why it is important to deadwood the cyder apple trees too. Managed to manage 200 litres of cyder too from the early windfalls, mainly the Broxwood Foxwhelp apples as these ripen the earliest out of any of the trees we have. Thanks to Mark the Fireman who came out to help me make cyder. Always good to meet another cyder enthusiast!

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

Cyder at the Quy Mill Festival

Just spent a lovely day at the Quy Mill Kestival Quy Mill Festival selling my bottled cyder from a stall for the first time. It was a great experience and I met loads of lovely people including Tony from My Chocolate Explosion. Got lots of good adive from fellow stall holders and good feedback for the cyder. If people are aware it is dry before they drink it - it goes down well. It is too dry for many members of the public though. Will certainly love to go next year when the event will be bigger.

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

Cyder at specialist off licence

The specialist off licence Bacchanalia in Mill Road Cambridge will be the first to stock our bottled cyder. Hurrah! Ed the manager obviously knows his stuff. first delivery tomorrow!

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

The Quy Mill fair

Come to the Quy Mill Festival at the Cambridge Quy Mill Hotel
& Country Inn this coming bank holday Monday. http://bit.ly/9gnlR3 There will be plenty to do and I will be selling my cyder on a stall. The organisers expect a bout a thousand people. Live music and hog roast too!

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

Cyder bottled!

Just finished my first bottling run for our cyder. Thanks to Mark from Moonshine Breweries and the chaps from Iceni for the help and advice they gave me on this particular journey.

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

Fordham Festival

The Fordham Music Festival starts tomorrow. Lots of great music and great cyder including our own. http://bit.ly/b0It8P Come down and have some fun.

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

Our cyder at the Hereford Beer Fest Hurrah!

Our cyder makes it's first appearance at the Hereford beer fest Beer on the Wye this weekend. I shall be judging a perry competition too! Perks of the job I suppose. I am quite honoured, should be a laugh in a beautiful setting on the Wye river.

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

Fordham Festival

Our cyder will be sold at the Fordham Music Festival this year. This is a small well organised festival with lots of great music (Simple Minds hurrah!) and things to do, it is also child friendly. Very cheap for the entertainment provided and free camping too. Checkout their website Fordham Music Festival. They are supporting local mental health charities, so you will be having fun in a good cause.

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook