Westons is launching a collection of canned craft ciders for the off-trade market, which will add value to the cider category. This follows the launch of Caple Rd Cider, the UK’s first craft cider in a can.
The collection of lightly sparkling ciders is available from this week in Tesco stores nationwide and comprises Caple Rd No. 5 and two cloudy flavoured ciders under the Rosie’s Pig brand, which both have an authentic craft look and feel.
Rosie’s Pig Handbrake Cloudy Cider with Damson is a slowly matured, medium-sweet cider which has hints of cherry and hedgerow fruits and a sharp finish. Rosie’s Pig Flat Tyre Cloudy Cider with Rhubarb is made from freshly pressed apples paired with a refreshing infusion of rhubarb juice to provide a fruity taste and tart finish.
The final launch in the collection is the result of a collaboration between Westons Cider and Purity Brewing Company to create a hopped cider – Pure Hopped – which is a blend of English cider made from apple juice from Herefordshire and a dash of the finest hops from Worcestershire.
“Pure Hopped is the result of a chance meeting on a visit to Worcestershire-based fruit and hop farm, Stocks Farm, which brought together Westons head cider maker Guy Lawrence and Purity’s founder Paul Halsey. As they meandered though hop bines and orchards at Ali Capper’s idyllic Stocks Farm an idea struck them both. They shared a cursory look and both thought ‘what if…’
“Enjoying a drink at the end of the walk, looking out over the rows of hops and apple orchards, Guy told Paul to bring his finest hops to the cider mill where they would combine them with a unique blend of 100% cider apples. Two weeks later they poured two glasses straight from the tap.”
