To think I almost passed up Galvin Café a Vin’s beer and cider food matching evening, hosted by head sommelier Andrea Briccarello and Mitch Adams of the Thatcher’s Arms in Colchester, for a humiliating evening of losing poker with friends, writes Tim Johns. My fortune in avoiding that Saturday night experience was underlined as soon as I entered the Spital Square-located restaurant and a glass of bubbles was thrust into my hand.
Despite its moniker, this fine fizz with a creamy mousse, bready nose and delicate white and lemony fruit was no northern French wine, but rather Aspall’s Cuvée Chevallier. There are many Champagne alternatives being touted nowadays – posh Prosecco, curious Cava – but this top Suffolk cider is easily their peer. Serving in a flute was a classy touch to boot and one I will adopt.
This year's Bank Holiday Cider Spectacular from those lovely guys at Bristol Cider Shop heads to a bigger venue just south of the river to cope with demand. Heading to the Southbank Club in Southville, the sell-out "cider and sausage" festival returns, with 30 varieties of local cider and perry available to match with plentiful supplies of sausages.
As the blossom emerges on the trees, so last year's cider gets ready for release, and there's no better place to try it then at The Big Apple's annual Blossomtime Festival. Located in the orchard heaven that is Much Marcle, near Hereford and Ledbury, there's talks, walks and plenty to taste and sip.
For your chance to try some of the most innovative cooking in London alongside superbly crafted beers, head to Galvin Café a Vin from 15 to 20 April.
Chef Jack Boast’s characterful cooking has been teamed with beers from London’s oldest family brewer, Fuller’s, cult craft brewer, The Kernel, and one of the nation’s newest, the Wild Beer Co from Somerset for the Galvin brothers first Beer Week.
During the week, each day the plat du jour will be matched with a specially chosen beer, with the week culminating in a Beer & Cider Dinner on Saturday 20 April, hosted by beer and food matcher extraordinaire, Mitch Adams.
Our current seasonal selection has all you’ll want, from light and fragrant Nutbourne Bacchus, Gold-medal bubbles from Dorset's Furleigh Estate, through to England’s first off-dry sparkler from the pioneering Nyetimber. Choose between the impressive debut traditional method sparkling cider release from Jake’s Orchard at Hush Heath in Kent or the more weighty Henney’s Vintage 2011, the victor in our Cider vs Wine challenge.
From Adnams’ refreshingly moreish Sole Star, for those who want flavour without the units, to the utterly delectable and recently relaunched Courage Imperial Russian Stout, ideal with any chocolate that may be kicking around the house.
Created by former-Bulmers cidermaker, Mike Henneys, Vintage 2011 is the cider that took the all-important pork round in the first Cider vs Wine Contest at The Thatchers' Arms earlier this year.
It was up against pretty stiff opposition in the shape of a rich, Portuguese red, Quinta Do Crasto 2010, and the dish, to be fair, also included a tangy sausage, tomato and mixed bean cassoulet.
Residents of Kent have until 18 February to apply for 1700 free tickets to over 100 Kent visitor attractions, from wineries to castles, wildlife parks to historic river tours, for this year’s My Big Kent Weekend, 23-24 March.
Wineries and Cider houses taking part include DrinkBritain.com favourites Biddenden Vineyards, Meopham Valley Vineyards, Terlingham Vineyard, Hush Heath Estate and Chapel Down Winery and Brogdale Collections.
Information on how to apply for tickets is given on My Kent Big Weekend’s website.
The 11th Welsh Perry & Cider Festival 2013 will host the International Craft Cider Festival at its new home, Caldicot Castel in Monmouthshire.
As well as cider and perry from Wales and further afield, there will be live music, local foods and market stalls throughout the May Bank Holiday Weekend. Monday is designated the family day, with plenty of medieval games and activities.
Cider took on wine and won with resounding success at its first battle for the diners’ hearts at The Thatchers Arms on 2 February.
Despite an all-glittering wine cast provided by Harpers Best Sommelier of the Year Emily O’Hare and Adnams’ Dan Probert, the selection from eighth-generation cider maker, Henry Aspall and Beer Writer of the Year, Pete Brown took four of the five rounds.
To think I almost passed up Galvin Café a Vin’s beer and cider food matching evening, hosted by head sommelier Andrea Briccarello and Mitch Adams of the Thatcher’s Arms in Colchester, for a humiliating evening of losing poker with friends, writes Tim Johns. My fortune in avoiding that Saturday night experience was underlined as soon as I entered the Spital Square-located restaurant and a glass of bubbles was thrust into my hand.
For your chance to try some of the most innovative cooking in London alongside superbly crafted beers, head to Galvin Café a Vin from 15 to 20 April.
Our current seasonal selection has all you’ll want, from light and fragrant Nutbourne Bacchus, Gold-medal bubbles from Dorset's Furleigh Estate, through to England’s first off-dry sparkler from the pioneering Nyetimber. Choose between the impressive debut traditional method sparkling cider release from Jake’s Orchard at Hush Heath in Kent or the more weighty Henney’s Vintage 2011, the victor in our
Cider took on wine and won with resounding success at its first battle for the diners’ hearts at The Thatchers Arms on 2 February.