New cider bar in Loughborough Junction reopens on Fri 19 to Sun 21 May 2017

[mango5]

Thanks very much. Great stuff!

The Guardian Weekly have just tweeted it to 17,000 people. I'm a bit worried now!

This weekend is gonna be like Country Show Chucklehead innit. Queue around the block and sold out when you get to the front.
Hope you've got a mail order leaflet and mailing list signup ready so you can meet demand!

 

[RareBird]

Cider I up landlord!

 

[Streathamite]

I am normally fully occupied all weekend, but I am severely tempted....

 

[Ol Nick]

For those of us who are not experts, can you explain the difference between farmhouse cider and bashing your head against the wall until your brains start to seep out onto the ground? By which I mean I'll be away, but in the New Forest so may be able to find a decent pint to support you vicariously.

 

[spanglechick]

I'm unlikely to make this now because of reasons. So, with sadness: Cider I down, landlord.

 

[Gramsci]

Definitely will drop by.

Anything from Devon?

I grew up on the Barbican in Plymouth where the fishing fleet had there harbour. Most of the many pubs served cider from barrels. The real rough stuff.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

How does Stella Artois cidre compare in the rankings of conglomerate ciders?

It is reasonable. Tastes less watery than Bulmer or magners. Sweeter than your strongbow types. Not as full on as your scrumpy jacks.

 

[Brixton Hatter]

How does Stella Artois cidre compare in the rankings of conglomerate ciders?

I find them all pretty similar really. The Stella one is not as objectionable as Magners/Bulmers/Rekorderlig (which are all way, way too sweet) but it's still a bit bland.

All the major brands use concentrated apple juice, which is stored in huge vats so they can produce consistent stuff all year round. It's generally pasteurised and filtered, which takes away all the body, character and flavour, leaving a fairly bland 'apple' taste. Real cider producers generally run on a yearly cycle, juicing the apples in the autumn, fermenting through late autumn/winter, then maturing in oak vats in the following year. Taste is subject to all sorts of things - including the temperature of the summer/autumn/winter, the blend of apples, the method, the skill of the cidermaker etc.

For those of us who are not experts, can you explain the difference between farmhouse cider and bashing your head against the wall until your brains start to seep out onto the ground? By which I mean I'll be away, but in the New Forest so may be able to find a decent pint to support you vicariously.

The New Forest has some decent cider - and there's the New Forest Cider Stall sometimes at Borough Market which sells good stuff. Have fun

As for 'bashing your head against the wall' - just drink it slowly. Or have some of the less strong stuff I'll have on offer. Or have 2/3 pint!

 

[Brixton Hatter]

Ok the results are in!

Here are the winners of a free pint of delicious cider (as picked at random by Baby Hatter):

BoxRoom
isvicthere?
friendofdorothy
Agent Sparrow
MrSki

PM's on their way.

spanglechick you also got picked out before I'd read your message about not coming. If you change your mind, feel free to redeem!

 

[299 old timer]

Good luck with the venture. What is your opinion of the cider produced in Asturias, Spain by way of interest?

 

[ViolentPanda]

Good luck with the venture. What is your opinion of the cider produced in Asturias, Spain by way of interest?

According to a Spanish friend Asturian cider is the canine's castanets, as is Galician cider. She decried West country still ciders as "lacking in flavour".

 

[MrSki]

canine's castanets

 

[leanderman]

My favourite cider story came from my late father, who said that an American soldier posted to Devon in 1944 got so so drunk on my father's uncle's farm scrumpy - 14 pints being the apparent measure - that he was too sick to embark, and missed the first day's action at Normandy.

 

[SpamMisery]

Any photos of inside the bar?

 

[Brixton Hatter]

Any photos of inside the bar?

later….

 

[Brixton Hatter]

According to a Spanish friend Asturian cider is the canine's castanets, as is Galician cider. She decried West country still ciders as "lacking in flavour".

I actually don't think I've ever tried it. A Galician mate of mine has been telling me about it though. I am going to investigate...

 

[Lucy Fur]

Good luck mate, I'll be down later to be cidered up! Ev.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I actually don't think I've ever tried it. A Galician mate of mine has been telling me about it though. I am going to investigate...

Still, sour but still appley. Worth investigating if you like the rough "rural" style of cider.
Greebo and I, in the spirit of international co-operation, have sampled a couple of German "Apfelweins" over the last year, and can report that they're tasty! Possman is the best-known brand in Germany, but isn't the be-all and end-all that Possman like to think.

 

[sim667]

Im not gonna join in with the trying to grab a free cider..... but wanted to say good luck with it! I bloody love cider, so definitely want to come and pay a visit..... I've worked on a bar at festivals that did loads of flavoured cider too, orange, lemon, raspberry...... I bet you've got all that kind of thing covered though.

Whens the urban cider meet then?

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

Will drop in tonight but only for a quick one as I have to work tommorow (boo hiss)

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

The thing about flavoured cider is it tends not to be great cider.

Good cider is cider flavoured.

At least in my experience. They are fine for pub or bar stuff but not something I'd put on a cider tasting list.

 

[Thimble Queen]

See you tonight!

 

[sim667]

The thing about flavoured cider is it tends not to be great cider.

Good cider is cider flavoured.

At least in my experience. They are fine for pub or bar stuff but not something I'd put on a cider tasting list.

Id agree with that, its a novelty isn't it? Mind you I drank buckets of the orange cider.

They had some kent garden ciders on that bar too, which were nice. They collect up peoples garden apples, so its a right old mish mash of apple types in their cider.

 

[sim667]

It is reasonable. Tastes less watery than Bulmer or magners. Sweeter than your strongbow types. Not as full on as your scrumpy jacks.

I really can't get on with stella artois cider, it gives me really bad indigestion and I find it quite a sharp taste.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

Id agree with that, its a novelty isn't it? Mind you I drank buckets of the orange cider.

A lot of them are nice in an alcopop kinda way. Drunk cold on a hot day filled with sugar and mind death.

 

[sim667]

A lot of them are nice in an alcopop kinda way. Drunk cold on a hot day filled with sugar and mind death.

Yeah, this bar was at a festival in august, so that makes sense

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

Will you take plastic or should I hit the cashpoint beforehand?

 

[ViolentPanda]

A lot of them are nice in an alcopop kinda way. Drunk cold on a hot day filled with sugar and mind death.

All those sweet-ish "cider with other fruits" brews make me feel sleepy, even just a bottle of them. I prefer cider that puckers your lips and strums your tastebuds.

 

[Orang Utan]

I haven't tried the Carling or the Stella cos i just know. I always go for the strong ones anyway. 6% and above. More flavour. Better value inebriation.

 

[sim667]

I haven't tried the Carling or the Stella cos i just know. I always go for the strong ones anyway. 6% and above. More flavour. Better value inebriation.

K cider all the way