Recently in Ciders Category

The Campaign for Real Ale has this morning forecast that as many as one in eight British pubs will disappear within the next four years.

It blames a triple whammy of massive hikes in beer taxes, unfair competition from loss-leading supermarkets and the economic down for the potential loss of up to 7,500 pubs by the end of 2012.

CAMRA has called upon the Chancellor, Alastair Darling, to act immediately by:

• reducing Value Added Tax


• investigating the feasibility of reduced tax on beer sold in pubs


• setting minimum prices for off-sales

CAMRA Chief Executive Mike Benner said: "Action to support pubs in the Pre Budget report, next Monday, is essential in order to prevent a bloodbath of pub closures following the traditionally busy Christmas trading period.

"This year's increase in beer tax has forced publicans to increase beer prices, making visiting the pub less affordable for hard pressed consumers."

The Government had to freeze beer tax whilst a reduced rate for pubs was considered, he added.

"Well-run community pubs help reduce alcohol related disorder and binge drinking by providing a safe, controlled and supervised environment for people to have fun and enjoy a drink.

"Pubs play a vital role in community life and provide a much valued sociable leisure activity for millions.

"Despite overwhelming political and media concern, supermarkets continue to push below cost alcohol deals. Current promotions include 18 bottles of premium lager being sold for £6.99 and 45 cans of lager for £18.

"These deals are utterly irresponsible and are ripping the heart out of community life by closing pubs. The Government must act now to end irresponsible alcohol price promotions that are encouraging alcohol misuse, undermining communities, ruining livelihoods and damaging peoples' social lives."

A pioneering Somerset cider-maker has scooped the Campaign for Real Ale's 2008 Pomona Award.

Named for the Roman goddess of apples, the Pomona honours outstanding achievement in the promotion of real cider or perry.

Roger Wilkins, who runs Wilkins Cider from his farm near Wedmore, Somerset, was praised by CAMRA for his lifelong devotion to producing some of the most renowned cider in the county. Some customers have been regulars for more than thirty years.

Roger took over the family business after the death of his grandfather in 1969, and currently produces up to 20,000 gallons of cider per year. The brand was named 'Cider of the Year' at both the 1988 and 1989 Great British Beer Festival.

Afterwards, Roger said: "I am delighted to receive this recognition for doing something that I love and for carrying on the tradition of farmhouse cider-making that my grandfather taught me.

"I must also thank all the people who have supported my work over the years, and I hope they have enjoyed my cider."

Sarah Newson, vice-chair of CAMRA's Cider & Perry Committee, added: "This phenomenal contributor to the industry thoroughly deserves this award for his sheer enthusiasm and commitment to producing the best real cider.

"With his farm overlooking Westhay Moor Valley, Roger could not produce cider in a more stunning location. Maybe these surroundings have been the inspiration for his continued success!"

Tonight sees the launch of three separate real ale events up north:

The 12th Louth & District Beer Festival, at the Mason's Arms, Louth (live music on Friday and Saturday evening)

The 34th Steel City Beer & Cider Festival, at Cemetery Park, Sheffield (live music Thurday and Friday evening, entertainment all day Saturday)

The Huddersfield Oktoberfest Beer & Cider Festival, at the Irish Centre, 86 Fitzwilliam Street, Huddersfield (free entry for CAMRA members on all three days)

I wrote recently of the massive slump in beer sales in pubs across the UK.

Unsurprisingly, share prices are already being hit. Following downbeat reports by two leading investment analysts, Credit Suisse and Landbanki, Enterprise Inns dropped 3.6% in value on Friday.

That would be bad enough, but this is just the latest nail in the group's coffin - it's now worth less than half what it was a year ago and is poised to drop out of the FTSE 100 next month.

Other brewers downgraded by Landbanki include Marstons, Mitchells & Butlers and Greene King. Only J D Wetherspoon - one of the few highstreet pub chains to enthusiastically promote real ales - was recommended to investors, and that's simply because Landbanki believes the market's low expectations have actually left the stock underpriced.

Nor is cider faring any better. Sales of the much-promoted Mangers have certainly lost their fizz, and are expected to have plummeted by 15% in the six months ending 31 August. Its Irish owner, C&C, reportedly anticipates little upturn before January 2009.

It's heartening to so many councils recognising the great tourist opportunities presented by beer festivals and collaborating with their local CAMRA branches. One such is Eastbourne, where tickets have gone on sale for their own event at the town's Winter Garden on 9-11 October.

Last year's festival, the fifth, attracted 3500 visitors and tickets were completely sold out on the Friday and Saturday evenings. As a further incentive to book early this time, a two-for-one ticket offer has been set up via the August edition of Waitrose Food Illustratrated. Bookings can also be made on 01323 412000.

Sponsors include the family brewers Harvey's, which has been producing beer in nearby Lewes since the 18th Century and currently owns more than 40 "tied" pubs.

Eastbourne Borough Council's Emma Wilkinson told us: "Festival goers can look forward to more than 100 real ales with the chance to sample the likes of a Fruit Bat, Kamikaze and Ginger Tom. Good old pub grub will be on the menu throughout the event and the festival opens each evening, with a special afternoon family session on the Saturday rounding up in a huge pub quiz.

"Thursday evening will see the return of the popular jazz night session, with local musicians turning up to entertain crowds on the Beer Festival stage, plus the Oompah band will be back with more foot stomping beer kellar fun."

Can't think of a better excuse to head down to the seaside in October.

Cheers!

Television soaps come under a lot of fire for their hyperbolical slant on modern life - all sex, drugs and punch-ups - but there's one area where I actually wish life would imitate art.

Whenever the cast of Emmerdale, Coronation Street or Eastenders pop into their local pub (and there's only ever one, just as no one's allowed to move to any location where there isn't an existing set), they always ask for a pint of their local beer.

The Woolpack has Ephraim Monk on tap, the Rover's Return serves Newton & Ridley with Betty's hot pot and you'll probably earn yourself a "Walford kiss" from one of the Mitchell brothers if you ask for anything other than Churchills in the Queen Vic.

Even the longest-running soap in history - Radio 4's The Archers - has Shires Bitter for the folk of Ambridge to drown their sorrows down at the Bull.

But go into most real-life pubs and you'll be lucky to see anything beyond the national blands - sorry, brands - dished out in every other corner of the land.

This country has a fine brewing tradition stretching back several thousand years, hardly surprising when you consider the dangers posed by drinking the water back in the days when urban sanitation comprised of a bucket and an open window.

So next time you drop into an unfamiliar pub and spot a guest beer or cider behind the bar, look a little closer. If it tickles your tastebuds, all the better. I've began plenty of my happiest relationships with regional ales that very same way.

According to tonight's edition of the Birmingham Evening Mail, West Bromwich currently boasts the cheapest pint in the region.

Over at the Marksman public house on the town's high street, owner Belal Hussain is reportedly charging a mere 89p for bitter, lager and cider (although the article offers no clue as to which specific brands are on tap).

I was most taken with one regular, quoted as saying how nice it is to buy two or three pints and "have change from a tenner". I'd be fascinated to know which pub in West Bromwich is currently charging between £3.34 and £5.00 for a pint.

But is the Mail correct? Is this the cheapest pub in the Midlands? Are customers merely getting what they pay for? Do let me know.

I'm mildly unsettled by the Bromsgrove Beer Festival's decision to base the logo for its 2008 incarnation upon the 1960s telefantasy series The Prisoner, which older readers will recall was set in a mysterious village from which no one could escape.

Still, if the local pub offered as many real ales as will be on tap across the country this weekend, maybe no one wanted to do a bunk.

Anyway, here are a few dates for your social calendar (If you know of any other events we should be listing here, just drop me a line):

Till Saturday: Chelmsford Beer Festival, Admirals Park, Rainsford Road, Cheltenham; Bromsgrove Beer Festival, Bromsgrove Rugby Football Club, Finstall Park, Finstall, Bromsgrove; Plymouth Beer Festival, Plymouth Pavilions, Millbay Road, Plymouth.

Till Sunday: Derby Beer Festival, Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby; Woodcote Festival of Ales, off A4047, Woodcote, Oxfordshire.

Next weekend: Greenwich Beer & Jazz Festival, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich; Kent Beer Festival, Merton Farm, Merton Lane, Canterbury; Boxmoor Beer Festival, Camelot Rugby Club, Chaulden Lane, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead.

Cheers!

I've just heard from Solihull CAMRA's Bob Jackson that there are still a couple of spaces left on the branch's excursion to Liverpool over the long weekend of 11-14 September.

The headquarters this year is the Premier Inn at Albert Dock, which is offering an attractive £195 three-night package for twin or double rooms.

The full itinerary will be published shortly at the branch website, but I'd really recommend getting in touch a.s.a.p. if you fancy joining what's certain to be a magical mystery tour of Merseyside's top alehouses.

Cheers!

It takes a lot to dampen the spirits of real ale enthusiasts, but last summer's appalling weather and widespread flooding left many a CAMRA member drowning their sorrows as pubs were shut down and events cancelled throughout the country.

One such casualty was the popular Worcester Beer Festival, called off when its venue - the city's famous racecourse - disappeared under several feet of water.

Twelve months on, however, the organisers are determined their ninth festival (14-16 August) will be the biggest yet. More than 10,000 visitors are expected to sample more than 200 ales, as well as 100 ciders and perries.

And appropriately for a racecourse, festival chairman Bill Ottaway and his team are hedging their bets by arranging back-up sites should the weather take a turn for the worse. Let's all keep our fingers crossed that they aren't needed.

Meanwhile, Solihull CAMRA has launched full steam ahead with plans for our tenth beer festival, to be held on 3-4 October at the Royal British Legion in Union Road.

Last year's event, which coincided with the branch's silver jubilee, proved such a huge success that we managed to drink the event dry a full two hours ahead of schedule.

As well as the 35 ales we've lined up, there'll be entertainment on tap as well: the White Hart Morris Dancers will be waving their hankies and bells about on Saturday lunchtime, with the laidback foursome Blues Basement slipping into a mellow groove on Saturday evening.

You can read all about this and other local activities at our award-winning website.

Can't wait that long?

Well, you could always hop along to the Finstall Park football ground this weekend, for the sixth Bromsgrove Beer Festival. The organisers are promising "no amplified music", so you'll be able to enjoy your pick from 100 real ales and two dozen ciders in relative peace and quiet.

Cheers!