Cider - proper scrumpy farmhouse styles

[caff]

I'd like some advice on cider.

And I'm not talking the stuff you buy in supermarkets, or fancy bottled craft cider.

I'm talking strong 7%-8% farmhouse still cider with a vinegary tang, and ideally a rich dark colour.

I remember trying a rum-cask aged one at a beer festival a few years ago, and I've never found anything as good as that since. Funnily enough after a couple of pints of it I can't remember the name of it...

Any tips? So far I'm looking at Wilkins down in Somerset, that seems to tick the farmhouse/vinegary style box.

 

[caff]

Had Thatchers, a decent cider but not quite what I'm looking for - I'm looking for something richer, deeper colour, wild, with a tangy (almost vinegary) flavour.

Addlestones looks alright, I might give that a go.

Ascension Sonic Titan look good - punchy ABV, I'll definitely check that out when they open for online sales.

 

[caff]

I've discovered the one I had at a beer festival was from a tiny farm-shop place down in Wales called M W Waktins - there's no sign of a webpage, webshop or anything. So yeah - I think the style I'm looking for is very much a local thing.

I've tried Black Fox from Dunkertons, and whilst nice, it isn't the gut rot stuff @InvaderGIR is referring to

I might try an order from Wilkins - he seems to take phone orders. It'll probably turn up on the back of a tractor

 

[caff]

Caff, i think you might be referring to Gwatkins Cider??

https://gwatkincider.co.uk/

Yeah I checked them out - they look pretty good. I might place an order with them.

In the meantime, I've opted for this bad boy - https://www.gwyntcidershop.com/draught/black-dragon/

I seem to remember having it on draught once and being pleasantly surprised by it. It's Welsh and not really a proper farmhouse cider, but I have a dim memory of it being very fruity and loads of body

 

[caff]

I hear your quest caff. I'm still trying to find a cider I had years ago. It was a dry rich scrumpy, very smoky and woody and an almost bright orange colour with plenty of sediment.
I'd reccomend Wyld Wood by Westons but only if you find it in the 3L box. The bottle version is not the same and is carbonated.
I believe it is pure apple juice left to ferment more or less naturally. Its tasty stuff and has that atringency you may be looking for. You can usually find it in the cash and carrys like bookers.

I plan to be planting my own cider apple mini orchard later this year with 3/4 varieties in a cordon arrangement.

Yep exactly! I feel like there are loads of great ciders out there, if you look hard enough you might find them.

The craft beer scene has done a lot to elevate beer into wonderful and unusual styles, but the same cannot be said for cider. Most "craft" cider I see is trying to imitate trashy supermarket stuff, rather than appreciate the core roots of cider.

Your mini orchard sounds amazing - please do it. If I had the space I would. Would love to hear you stories about growing and cider-ing.

 

[caff]

It's a shame that the producers of that kind of cider are the least likely to do online sales. A friend and I have been making and selling cider since 2008. In 2010 we bought three acres and planted 350 apple trees (three quarters are trad cider varieties). We make around 2000L a year in the time we have available but have enough apples for two to three times that. We have made rum cask and whisky cask, but usually use ex-Bordeaux red wine casks. Our ciders are different every year because we don't follow a recipe and we allow naturally-occuring yeasts to do the alcohol fermentation. We also let them brew all the way so they are strong (around 7% usually) but dry. Bone dry. One review on Untappd suggested 'think Atacama desert'. The colour is down to the varieties you use and the cask. The first time you use a Bordeaux barrel (they only use them for three years) the cider comes out pink. Varieties like Yarlington Mill naturally give a darker colour.

Anyway, during the early years we spent a lot of time in the West Country learning our craft by meeting the makers and sampling lots. Here are my recommendations for non-commercial cider and perry makers:

Kevin Minchew http://www.minchews.co.uk/ in Gloucestershire. Kev is hooning mad in a nice way.
Derek Hartland https://www.facebook.com/ciderandperry/ - Also Gloucestershire and like stepping back in time. He sells Mills and Boon books and cassette music tapes, and he wears a Queen's Silver Jubilee pinny. Also a bit bonkers.
Mike Johnson https://rosscider.com/ - Mike was so helpful and makes great cider and perry. He has won awards for helping starters in the cider business. Fantastic guy.
Roger Wilkins https://twitter.com/wilkinscider?lang=en - Mudgley, Somerset and what a character! There are always red-faced old men drinking here, even at 10 in the morning. Try his cheddar and his blue cheese.
Andrew Heck https://www.heckscider.com/farm-shop/ in Street near Glastonbury.
Gwatkin Cider https://gwatkincider.co.uk/ - like stepping back 100 years and getting cider made by ZZ Top. They are incredible cider makers, I don't think they have one in their range that I don't like. My fave is the Somerset Redstreak when they have it. Try their Cheddar. Monumentally aged with salt crystals in the middle OMNOMNOM. We once asked for a VAT number when buying some cider and he thought about it for two minutes, then said, "Ain't got none... don't want none" in the darkest West Country accent ever. Avoid the Geese.
Westcroft https://www.westcroftcider.co.uk/ more Somerset loveliness made by an interesting character. Janet's Jungle Juice has won Best UK Cider three times.

This list isn't exhaustive by any means. There are many more great cider makers, and all over the country. We are in the Northern Cider Makers group which has forty members. Always be sure to check they use wild yeast, don't add anything, and use trad methods.

Cheers, that's a great list - I'll have to try Gwatkin and Wilkins. Do you sell any of your own stuff online?