CIDER AT THE ROBIN HOOD BEER AND CIDER FESTIVAL

Next week, the Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival returns - and as the name of Nottingham CAMRA's flagship event suggests, it's about so much more than just beer. 

This year’s festival will feature over 150 ciders and perries - and even the occasional cross between cider and perry known as a pider.

Over 50 cider and perry makers will be showcasing their wares at the event - and with October having been declared Perry Month by CAMRA, there is no better time to explore the beauty of these pear-based drinks. 

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Rare finds 

Three Saints' Top Tree perry is made from the fruit of two trees at the top end of an ancient orchard, and it is believed that these two trees are the only ones in existence of this variety.

Monnow Valley's Gunpowder Plot perry, meanwhile, has been hugely popular at previous festivals - so after an absence of a few years, it's sure to be in demand this year upon its return. 

Ross’s Thorn, Flakey & Friends perry is also likely to cause a stir, due to the ecver-increasing scarcity of the Flakey tree.

Rich heritage 

Some of the cider makers supplying this year’s festival have a long-standing history of cider making. The Johnson family, for example, have been making cider since the 1930s (now under the Ross Cider name), with the Hecks family having been in the trade since 1841.

The Olivers family made cider for many generations before a brief break a few generations ago. Current cider producer Tom Olivers' grandfather decided that, with machinery taking over the harder jobs, the farmworkers no longer need cider for refreshment. In practice, that demand for cider never waned, and Tom has now kickstarted the family business once more.

Festival firsts 

Otley's Subcider produce their cider using apples grown on the slippery slopes of the Otley Chevin, a steep ridge which forms part of the Wharfe Valley. The orchard was originally planted in the 19th Century, but the cidery will be making its Robin Hood Beer Festival debut this year.

This year's festival will also be the first to host cider from Cai Main Orchards, based in the Clwydian Hills of North Wales but with Nottingham-born founder Nigel's roots firmly planted in our area, while Appletreewick Cider from the Yorkshire Dales is also supplying the festival for the first time.

Local favourites 

The East Midlands section of the Cider Bar will feature ciders, perries and piders from over a dozen local makers.

Although not traditionally considered a cider-making area, the East Midlands now has an impressive number of cider makers. Some, such as Torkard in Hucknall and Three Cats in Derbyshire, have been established for over twenty years, and many more have followed since, with new ones still coming onto the scene. Many of these will also be entering the 9th East Midlands Real Heritage Cider and Perry Competition which is being held at the Festival on the Wednesday afternoon.  

A number of local makers have already won awards in national and international competitions this year. Monkey Bridge Cider took first place in the draught dry cider category at the Yew Tree Cider Challenge, while Sisson & Smith has won awards at the Big Apple Cider & Perry Trials, the International Cider & Perry Competition, the British Cider Championships, the Royal Three Counties Show and the Yew Tree Cider Challenge.