Cider, when did it get so popular?
Discussion
OK so first of I know in some areas cider had always been popular! But I'm sure most will remember like me, the only cider I remember seeing growing up was merrydown, white lightning, K cider,T'n'T. It was unfashionable and was the tipple of tramps and underage neds. But now here I sit at the age of 37 enjoying a kopparberg!! In the pub last night there was a huge amount of people drinking various brands and flavours. Its seems so popular between the young and old. When did it get its popularity back?
The market seems to have split into two for some reasons. You have the horrible colourful stuff flavoured with a variety of additional flavours aimed at chavs drinking in beer gardens (Bulmers Toffee Apple flavoured?!?), and you have the decent stuff from companies like Weston's etc (the family reserve is lovely)
I think it's a combination of the availability of the two that makes the market so much bigger than it was.
I think it's a combination of the availability of the two that makes the market so much bigger than it was.
I've always been a cider drinker, right from the age of about 15; I'm 39 now.
It's funny as "back in the day" you were regarded as a bit of a pussy for drinking cider, I never understood why though as cider always had a higher alcohol content than lager and I could always out drink my lager drinking mates.
K cider still to this day; I don't have it often as it is a crap cider, wrecks me but I've taken a shine to Henry Westons Vintage at 8.2%; I've polished off three tonight, Old Rosie is pretty good too and Sainsburys do a nice Taste The Difference one. I like some of the fruity Koppenberg Ciders but generally they are too sweet.
As for tinned ciders; alot is very poor, Stongbow isn't that great in a tin, it is far better on draught when it's a hot summers day in a pub garden, Merrydown isn't too bad, however both Sainsburys and Tesco seem to have stopped selling it.
I do like the cloudy stuff that is a bit tart, however it seems to only be found in the odd West Country pub.
It's funny as "back in the day" you were regarded as a bit of a pussy for drinking cider, I never understood why though as cider always had a higher alcohol content than lager and I could always out drink my lager drinking mates.
K cider still to this day; I don't have it often as it is a crap cider, wrecks me but I've taken a shine to Henry Westons Vintage at 8.2%; I've polished off three tonight, Old Rosie is pretty good too and Sainsburys do a nice Taste The Difference one. I like some of the fruity Koppenberg Ciders but generally they are too sweet.
As for tinned ciders; alot is very poor, Stongbow isn't that great in a tin, it is far better on draught when it's a hot summers day in a pub garden, Merrydown isn't too bad, however both Sainsburys and Tesco seem to have stopped selling it.
I do like the cloudy stuff that is a bit tart, however it seems to only be found in the odd West Country pub.
When marketing people realised that you get more than £4 for less than a pint (500ml bottle) and if you add ice it makes it seem fancy.
Wetherspoons usually have a decent variety of cider from westons, thatchers etc on draught.
My local serves old rosie on draught which is amazing and goes down very nicely with some pork scratchings after a long day at work.
Wetherspoons usually have a decent variety of cider from westons, thatchers etc on draught.
My local serves old rosie on draught which is amazing and goes down very nicely with some pork scratchings after a long day at work.
Symbolica said:
When it stopped being made from 100% apple juice and companies started adding all sorts of odd s
t into it.
The manufacture of tramp juice type "cider" has been a long way from traditional cider making for a very long time. I would say that traditionally made cider has become much easier to get hold of in recent years, alongside all the stuff that has moved into the alcopop market.t into it.I'm more interested in good beer, but have cider occasionally. We are lucky to be 5 minutes from Thatchers, though admittedly rarely get round to picking some up. Gold is ok in a pub, Vintage much better.
Not from somerset
, but Gwatkin's Yarlington Mill was probably the best I ever had. Strong oaked flavour might be a bit much for someone that occasionally has decent mass produced stuff though.
Not from somerset
, but Gwatkin's Yarlington Mill was probably the best I ever had. Strong oaked flavour might be a bit much for someone that occasionally has decent mass produced stuff though.Edited by mizx on Sunday 21st September 21:40
thelittleegg said:
That's precisely when it was popularised. Magners, circa 2008, lots of marketing and suddenly everyone was drinking it by the pint with ice.
Yup, great campaign in marketing terms. Didn't even need to be made in to a cocktail, just add ice!Nicest I've had is some vintage cider from Healeys (the people who make Rattler in Cornwall). Had one in Tavistock as well; landlord recommended not to have more than two... can understand why now...
Part of my stag do was at the Healeys farm, the testing session they do there is very good, even friends that don't like cider enjoyed that as they have some different variants.
Around here, cider has always been popular, but now there is a better choice - Strongbow/Blackthorn seems to have disappeared from the taps and has been replaced with Rattler or Westons (or in certain unfortunate cases, Sommersby). There are always the flavoured bottles in the fridge, not the best choice, but I can manage one or two if there is no other cider. More and more pubs seem to have the boxes of proper cider on the bar now, which is a good thing
Around here, cider has always been popular, but now there is a better choice - Strongbow/Blackthorn seems to have disappeared from the taps and has been replaced with Rattler or Westons (or in certain unfortunate cases, Sommersby). There are always the flavoured bottles in the fridge, not the best choice, but I can manage one or two if there is no other cider. More and more pubs seem to have the boxes of proper cider on the bar now, which is a good thing
I've been drinking cider for nearly 40 years - back in these days there wasn't much of a choice! Nowadays there are so many of these horrible flavoured ciders that they appeal to many younger drinkers. I can't stand them - far too sweet and sickly.
And don't start me on manufacturers who call them "apple ciders"! What else are you going to make cider from? Pears?
And don't start me on manufacturers who call them "apple ciders"! What else are you going to make cider from? Pears?
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