End of the season at Checkley Brook

Well another cyder making season over for Checkley Brook Cyder. After nine days of milling washing and pressing cyder apples, just under 5000 litres of apple juice is in the fermenting bins awaiting natures magic of wild yeast fermentation. We installed my mother's statue of Bacchus in place to overlook and bless the proceeding so hopefully it'll be a vintage year. Thanks again to all who came to help. Dabinett, Michelin, Broxwood Foxwhelp, White Norman, White Beech, Yarlington Mill, Nehou, Styre and some Bramleys were all used this year. An improved water supply (hose from house:-)) for washing the apples and equipment proved to save much labour this season. A few more tweeks to do yet though.

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

Preparations for the autumn's cyder making

Well I think all the preparations are complete for the next 10 days of washing, milling and pressing those cyder apples. I had a second juice collection tray fabricated so we can do 'double pressing' on a single press Voran press. Thats saves a few grand on upgrading! The usual suspects are coming along to help and we are pleased to have Ian coming all the way down from Aberdeen to help this year. The years harvest is large and we hope to press 8 tons or so and to aim for 4500-5000 litres. The process has never been so efficient with the new water supply so all looks good. We are taking down my mother statue of Bacchus, the god of merriment, so let us hope he smiles on the whole preceeding!


Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

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

Big Apple Autumntime event in Much Marcle

Had a great day out at the Big Apple Autumntime event in Much Marcle identified a couple of apple trees. Firstly as white Norman above.
The second was a tree I reclaimed from an overgrown hedge, it was a Yarlington Mill, great for blending with the other trees in the orchard!



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

Apple day in Cambridge

Apple day in Cambridge today. 60 gallons of juice pressed for cider round at Phil and Jane Corrigan's. All the fruit is collected locally which would otherwise have rotted on the ground. This event's has been going for a few years now and could easily outgrow it setting in Phil and Jane's back garden. A great day for the kids, with fresh as can be apple juice to drink and last year's cider for the parents. There ar lots of these events springing up now. Could these be considered part of Camerons big society? ;-)

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook

The History and Virtues of Cyder republished

Nearly thirty years ago my father R.K. French wrote a book 'The History and Virtues of Cyder'. This book has inspired many cyder makers over the years. Written when cyder was possibly at it's lowest ebb, the book is a plea for the return to real cyder as opposed to 'white cider' - the carbonated chemical soup the bain of many a fifteen year old getting drunk on a park bench. Well from my generation anyway. Anyway this awesome book has been republished. Buy it! Please.

http://bit.ly/aRQfoG

Herefordshire Cyder at Checkley Brook