Cider help, please!

[BrabusMog]

Sister and future brother-in-law are coming over for dinner this Friday and I'd like to have some nice cider to drink post-meal.

From a brief stint in the West Country last summer I know that Stowford Press is a pretty decent choice when compared with Strongbow, Magners et al but trying to find it has become tedious in the extreme. Weston's (who I believe make Stowford Press) have organic cider in the box available in Waitrose/Tesco, will this be any good? The only reason I haven't got it bought yet is because the +7% alc volume has made me worried it may be another hobo's delight.

[k22wes]

if you can find it get thatchers, or westons is ok but very strong.

[Alfa numeric]

Thatchers Old Rascal has recently usurped Westons Organic as my cider of choice, so I'd receommend that. Both are currently 2 for £3 in Sainsbury's.

[LordGrover]

Treat them to some Black Rat.

[OllieC]

None of the 7% 'proper' ciders dont taste like they are that strong, or at least none that i have tried. They are also much less fizzy than the likes or strongbow etc

For easily available stuff, Westons old rosie (7%) is good, as is Henry westons reserve (or something like that)

Thatchers is also very nice !

[Alfa numeric]

OllieC said:

For easily available stuff, Westons old rosie (7%) is good, as is Henry westons reserve (or something like that)

They're a bit sweet for me.

Who else fancies a cider now?

[BrabusMog]

£6.20 for a 3l box of Weston's Organic Cider in Tesco, I think I'll give it a spin

[Plotloss]

Waitrose do Stowford.

[BrabusMog]

Plotloss said:

Waitrose do Stowford.

Not by me they don't, unfortunately.

[Plotloss]

Thatcher's Katy is a good also ran.

Then there's Brothers Pear Cider, Festival Strength being very good.

[bobr]

Try your absolue damnest to get thistly cross. It has never been beaten in my book. http://www.thistlycrosscider.co.uk/index.html

[Mobile Chicane]

I'm a big fan of Aspalls (even if they call it cyder). For me, a hallmark of a decent pub is if they have this on draught.

[smack]

I am a fan of the strong ciders, especially when I don't feel like beer. Westons and Aspall from what I have read, are made from apples, rather than your "Mass Irish" brand that makes it from concentrate and water.

[fadeaway]

My two favourites for a while have been:

Thatcher's Katy
Aspalls Premier Cru

Stowford press is very nice to though

[kiteless]

Go to your nearest Waitrose, and stock up on Dunkerton's Black Fox. It is utterly delicious, and packs a subversive punch.

http://www.dunkertons.co.uk/

ETA linky

Edited by kiteless on Tuesday 14th September 22:56

[Buzz word]

I have been working my way through the selection they have in tesco. I have got through westons, thatchers, merrydown, henneys, frome valley and aspalls.

For me Aspalls premier cru was the best tasting by a fair way, but I really enjoyed the cloudy kind of buzz from the merrydown.

[ClassicMercs]

kiteless said:

Go to your nearest Waitrose, and stock up on Dunkerton's Black Fox. It is utterly delicious, and packs a subversive punch.

http://www.dunkertons.co.uk/

ETA linky

Edited by kiteless on Tuesday 14th September 22:56

+1
Even better with the Ocado discount deals they send me - between 10 and 20% off for deliveries early in the week - and take a 10pm delivery slot for free delivery (tight git I am).

Although the offers on Aspall are too good to ignore at present - Sainsbugs and Asda from memory. Going on holiday just round the corner from Aspall in a few weeks. Shame they don't seem to be set up for the public like the Hereford boys. Always a warm welcome from Ivor Dunkerton and the others - if 200 miles from home.

What about some Perry as well ? Had a superb Olivers Perry last night.

[BatterseaV8]

Rattler Cider one of my favorites!

http://www.thecornishcyderfarm.co.uk/cydershop.htm

[Roger645]

Aspalls premier cru, Waitrose do it, or Costco do it now cheap!

[BoRED S2upid]

If they are proper Cider fans they won't want bubbles in it! I went to a real ale festival the other week and the last few pints of proper cider nearly killed me, it was pretty strong. Had nothing to do with the copious amounts of Real Ale I drank.