Mar 23, 2017
An exciting, new event has been announced by the European Cider & Fruit Wine Association (AICV). Across the 6th and 7th September this year will be the inaugural Global Cider Forum. This symposium, over 2 days, will bring together cider making expertise from all around the world to discuss the latest news and opportunities for this global drinks success story.
About 120 participants from all over the world are expected to attend – producers, suppliers, from research and sales – to compare notes on the market situation in the various countries, legal regulations, new trends and topics such as the supply of raw materials.
The event will take place in Frankfurt am Main. With its international airport, the ICE train station and the autobahn network this city does not only provide the ideal transportation infrastructure but it has always been a stronghold of cider culture as well.
Only a few days later, on September 11, the world’s leading fair for beverage technology, drinktec 2017, will open in Munich. As it is only a comfortable three hour train ride away it can be combined easily with a visit to the Global Cider Forum.
For more information please visit: www.global-cider-forum.com
Mar 21, 2017
Thatchers Cider is preparing to stage its Haze Sessions for the second year.
The one-day music event will take place in Bristol on Saturday 6th May 2017.
As the official cider of Glastonbury Festival, Thatchers already has a strong association with live music. The Haze Sessions is part of the Somerset cidermaker’s promotional support for its brands this year, including TV throughout spring and summer, sampling events, social media and digital campaigns.
Marketing Director at Thatchers, Yvonne Flannery says, “Supporting events and festivals is a key part of our marketing activity once again this year – kicking off with our second Haze Sessions event in Bristol at the beginning of May. It’s a great way to continue to make the association between expertly crafted cider and expertly crafted music.
“We’re really excited about The Haze Sessions, we have some fantastic local bands who are each carving out names for themselves nationally. This is a wonderful showcase for their talents alongside our own Thatchers Haze Cider.”
This year, The Haze Sessions features a line-up of four up-and-coming bands, hand-picked with the help of BoomTown’s head of music, Kaptin Barrett, who will also be compering the evening:
- Little Comets, famed for their impromptu gigs in unorthodox venues, feature a mix of tricky percussive rhythms and Afro-beat-tinged guitars.
- Elder Island, a Bristol-based trio with sizzling synths and angelic, otherworldy vocals.
- Eva Lazarus has been making waves on the Bristol music scene for a few years now and is all about the big afro, big voice, big beats and big bass.
- Harry and the Gondolas hail from Somerset and are a three-piece, Nu-Folk ensemble – a festival favourite in the making.
Tickets for The Haze Sessions, which takes place at The Passenger Shed, Brunel’s Old Station, Bristol, go on sale from this week.
Featuring the strapline What Cloudy Cider’s Supposed to Taste Like, Thatchers Haze is a 4.5% naturally cloudy cider, crafted from Discovery, Falstaff, Gala and Jonagold eating apples to create its crisp, sweet finish. All importantly it’s the juice of the Jonagold apple that gives the cider its all-natural haze.
Martin Thatcher, fourth generation cidermaker adds, “Tapping into all of the great things that the consumer is asking for – craft, heritage, and quality, Thatchers Haze is a contemporary cloudy cider for the new generation of cider drinkers as well as those who love apple cider and are looking for something different.
“The Haze Sessions shows how great music and great cider are perfect partners.”
Mar 17, 2017
Westons Caple Rd Cider, the UK’s first craft cider in a can, has formed a partnership to become the Official Cider of Backyard Cinema for the next two years.
One of London’s favourite attractions, Backyard Cinema is known for transforming unique spaces into captivating cinematic experiences. From the Zombie Apocalypse that took place in a top secret location to Romeo + Juliet at St Mary’s Church with a live choir and magical Winter Night Garden at the new permanent venue, Mercato Metropolitano, Backyard Cinema is aiming to change the face of cinema.
Backyard Cinema screens a wide selection of films in unique and iconic settings within London. Each show becomes a memorable evening out, while staying true to its original ethos of being ‘somewhere cool you can watch your favourite films, with great food, drinks and all your mates’. It is anticipated that this year’s Backyard Cinema events will attract 80,000 Londoners.
Tessa Holden, Caple Rd brand manager, says: “We are delighted to have formed a partnership with Backyard Cinema. Backyard Cinema’s audience of young, urban consumers who are eager to try new and authentic experiences and brands, is the perfect audience for Caple Rd. We are very much looking forward to working with them in 2017 and beyond.”
James Milligan, director of Backyard Cinema, says: “We are really excited to partner with Caple Rd Cider, an innovative, young, independent cider, at our new, independent, permanent cinema home, Mercato Metropolitano.”
Caple Rd Cider is now available in 330ml cans at Backyard Cinema, which is set in Mercato Metropolitano, a brand new Italian food market close to London’s Borough Market. The market also includes an Italian deli, 30 independent food vendors and several small bars.
Mar 17, 2017
The National Association of Cider Makers and (NACM) and the Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD) are proud to announce that they will be working in collaboration to create a new General Certificate in Cider Making. This unique training offering is being specifically created for people working within the technical side of the cider industry, ensuring they have a sound grasp of the fundamentals of cider making.
Taking in the full range of cider making processes, from apple selection all the way through to final packaging, this course is aimed at commercial enterprises that take a modern approach to cider making, with a focus on quality.
The equivalent of an A level standard qualification, it will follow in the well-trodden footsteps of the highly respected General Certificates already provided by the IBD in Brewing, Malting and Distilling.
Gabe Cook, NACM Communications Officer, points out that this course is long overdue. “There has been a huge increase in the number of people involved in the production of cider making over the last few years, not just in the UK, but all around the globe. This course will provide the resource for ensuring current and new entrants into the cider making world are operating to the highest standards’
The IBD continues to develop qualifications for professional in the malting, brewing and distilling industries had over 3,000 exam candidates in 2016.
Jerry Avis, IBD CEO says “We are delighted to collaborate with the NACM to provide cider makers with a qualification that will demonstrate the extent of their technical knowledge with the degree of rigor that the IBD examination systems are renowned for. I know that both individuals and our member companies will be equally excited by the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of their art and science”.
Gabe Cook has no doubt that this course will be of the highest quality. ‘The course material is being put together by the world’s greatest cider making minds, who between them have centuries of cider making experience. What they don’t know isn’t worth knowing!’
Feb 19, 2017
As the days start to get longer, and the snowdrops wave their cheery white flags, it feels like the worst of winter is now behind us. To add to this good news is the latest from the world of cider.
Thanks to a rising interest in quality drinks, Russians are turning to British according to the Mail on Sunday
Small Cider Maker, Rosie’s Triple D, is celebrating doubling its production thanks to one of Britain’s highest orchards in North Wales
Thatchers announce a new guide to Cider and Food matching from writer, autor and TV broadcaster, Suzy Atkins,
Feb 7, 2017
The National Association of Cider Makers and (NACM) and the All Party Parliamentary Cider Group (APPCG) hosted its Winter reception at Westminster last night. The event was a great success, with over 150 people from across Government and the wider drinks industry, in attendance.
The Reception showcased the breadth of cider makers in what is a highly dynamic category. Premium products were served to attendees from cider makers, big and small, highlighting the innovative, entrepreneurial and adaptive nature of this rural industry.
But the focus of the evening was very much about the cider industry’s responsible approach to future prosperity. In delivering the keynote speech, Helen Thomas, Managing Director of Westons Cider and Chair of the NACM, emphasised that the cider industry was primarily rurally based and worked hard to uphold the proud tradition and strong reputation of its craft. She said, “We are often one of the largest employers in our communities and as a result we have always recognised the need for community support, local investment, sponsorship of rural training and employment. When we think of our own future, we also consider the future needs of those around us.”
Helen was adamant to point out that as a forward thinking and progressive industry, cider makers don’t just consider their local communities, though. She emphasised the need for cider makers to behave responsibly as they develop and market their brands.
She said, ‘We have always prided ourselves on how quickly we are able to support consumer education with clearer messages on our labels, better information on our websites and support for Drinkaware and the Portman Group. Better education has resulted in reports of excellent improvements in responsible drinking. In the last decade, total alcohol consumption in the UK has fallen by 18% and the number of adults drinking within recommended guidelines has risen to 76%. 38% fewer under 16s have tried drinking alcohol and alcohol related crime is at an all-time low.’
A continued responsible approach towards its local communities and to its consumers will ensure that the cider industry is well placed to return the market to growth.
Helen summed up the mood of the evening. She said, ‘This reception is all about celebrating the great British cider industry and what we bring to the UK economy, especially our rural communities. It is about celebrating an industry that has been here for centuries and we hope will be here for centuries to come. It is a celebration of the diversity of British cider and the passion and enthusiasm of the British cider maker.’
