Cider

[FunkyDenz]

Yep, but that's strongbow, it's a bit crap, it's the cider version of Fosters or Carling. We've got two litres of Weston's to drink in a bit, after breakfast and before bed. Long night.

[Glasto_1]

I have in the past drunk the odd pint or 2 of PVC (Pernod-Vodka-Cider) ...

... but I just can't think why

[smytho15]

I have in the past drunk the odd pint or 2 of PVC (Pernod-Vodka-Cider) ...

... but I just can't think why

[Derby_Dave]

Cider is a drink that was completely unpopular and untrendy in Britain until about five or so years back, until some marketing genius decided to sell "Irish Cider" to us. Being complete mugs, suddenly everyone in England, anyway, "loved" cider, in the same way they drink Fosters 'cos they think you can buy it in Australia.

Prior to the great Irish marketing cider revival, it was somewhat embarrasing being a cider drinker. Even growing up near Longleat, a very short hop from Glasto, this was true. When getting a round in I would confidently order the ale, the Stella etc, then meekly, and with hushed tones, add "and a pint of dry cider please".

When I went off to college in London in the early nineties it was the same. Indeed in my whole five years at college, I only knew one other regular cider drinker, whom I am still friends with to this day, united in our experince of drink related ostracisation and denigration. I remember us being cock-a-hoop when we realised that in alcoholic terms, every pint of cider was 1.5 pints of lager. That certainly shut up some of the piss takers in the footy team, and explained why my friend and I regularly lost all the drinking games. Our pint of "gay boy" as cider was known in my college, suddenly had some macho.

And nothing really changed after that, until the marketing genius above. I swear, the English would eat shit, if it was packaged "Irish Shit", or "Aussie Turd". So in the crazy way that this world works, the English started drinking a quintessentially English drink only after the Irish started to sell it to them (in much the same way that Mr. Guinness copied London Stout after a trip to London).

I knew the game was up during the 2004 Euro Finals. I was in a bar with a group of twenty, when I offered to get the first round in. All twenty, yes all, wanted Magniers on ice. I laughed, nay chuckled, thinking they were taking the piss. "No we are serious". "WTF", retorted I, "you have taken the piss out of me for years for drinking apple juice". "No we haven't - we've ALWAYS liked cider", came the feeble memoried reply.

So it came to pass that cider is now trendy. From a supermarket choice of Bow/Olde English/Blackthorn there are probably more varieties on sale than real ales. Now I feel a bit ambivalent about this change. Its a bit like having a favourite small band, and wanting them to make it big. Then when they do, you feel a bit miffed when suddenly everyone likes them and you have to jostle for position in big arenas.

Still vindication is something I suppose.

And all these young trendy cider-cum-latelies, who will never know the taunts and humilation of cider drinkers of years afore, will never really appreciate the magical fruit juice in quite the same way....

[LusciousLucy]

Thanks! you have been very informative, i am from Adelaide, i guess I'm just a sheltered child. They have a great viticulture program at Adelaide University, that i was thinking of studying there next year, yu should come and educate us all about British cider.

[from the land downunder]

Adelaide does a viticulture course??? Hmm...interesting! Am now considering switching my BD Farming course to Wine Production next year! See you there maybe!

[Buddhafish]

Kent cider is Kick arse stuff too Biddenden come in at about 9% and is so nice but if i have 3 i am smashed so the girlfriend has banned it when we go to the pub that sells it. however i do have a crafty one when i go there alone.

[LusciousLucy]

Hell yeah, Adelaide is like THE place to do viticulture, South Australia is the wine state after all!

see you there!

[benisright]

Cider is a drink that was completely unpopular and untrendy in Britain until about five or so years back, until some marketing genius decided to sell "Irish Cider" to us. Being complete mugs, suddenly everyone in England, anyway, "loved" cider, in the same way they drink Fosters 'cos they think you can buy it in Australia.

[Fat Northern Lad]

Our local Morrisons has the full range of Brothers - including the legendary festival strength!!

[llcoolphil]

Cider is the work of the devil. Fact.

[Paul ™]

Real Ale is the work of the devil. Fact.

[rexclark]

i got a bottle of buckfast the other month for old times sake i found it reasonable but the misses poured it down the sink after a muthful i salved a glass and a half.

[Glasto_1]

smytho15 - fairly certain it was a shot of each and the rest cider. Only had it once or twice - that was enough.

[4AssedMonkey]

I realise that this is probably not target audience for the following statement but here goes.

Does anyone else think that the 'traditional' still, pressed ciders at Glasto are rank? Tried a few this year and wasn't impressed to be honest. Much prefer proper ale/bitter, but not much of that around the place. Shame.

[ukslim]

I realise that this is probably not target audience for the following statement but here goes.

Does anyone else think that the 'traditional' still, pressed ciders at Glasto are rank? Tried a few this year and wasn't impressed to be honest.