Unlike real ale production, which can happen at any time of the year, real cider & perry can only be made when the fruit is ripe. Great skill goes into producing both products. Great store is placed by the Craft Brewer in the quality of ingredients and variety of flavours created by the malt, hops, yeast and water used to brew the beer. 

It is a Producer rather than a Brewer that makes cider & perry. They may use a mixture of bittersweet and bittersharp cider apples or sweet dessert apples, or a mixture of the two to make cider; but perry can only be made from specialized perry pears, which are high in natural tannin. 

The choosing, pressing and blending of the fruit to make cider is just as much of a craft as making beer and produces a vast range of tastes, styles and aromas, similar to those produced in fine wine. Like wine, each year's fruit produces a unique vintage, so much so that cider and perry have been sometimes called 'The Wine of the West'. 

October is a very active time for producers, especially for those who make only a small amount of cider. Harvest time for cider fruit is roughly from September to November and by October production is in full flow. 

CAMRA already have the month of May set aside as Mild Month and following on the success of the Mild campaign, CAMRA has now set October aside as Cider & Perry Month. 

Please watch this space for new announcements on activities happening in your region during Cider & Perry Month.

Is there a good cider pub near you?

CAMRA launched a scheme to promote pubs serving real cider. If a pub near you has at least one real cider available throughout the year then please submit the pubs details below and we'll send out a free window sticker to the pub. 

• View Cider Pubs Near You
• Submit a real cider pub

Cider & Perry Month Events

During the month of October 2011, CAMRA branches and pubs hosted numerous events across the country to celebrate Cider Month. Thank you to everyone who took part in Cider Month 2011!

Common Ground Apple Day - 21st October each year

Another way to get involved in the celebrations is to link in with Common Ground's Apple Day.

Common Ground is an organisation that encourages other groups to do things, mainly on a campaigning basis. 2011 saw the 21st Apple Day and local events took place throughout the UK in celebration.

Contact: info@commonground.org.uk

Go to the Common Ground website