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Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
 Posted - 04/01/2005 : 15:01:12
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I've sent off some queries, and hope to get a proper reply soon, but here's a teaser (full details to follow soon, with any luck):
In the village of Putley (Herefordshire) they have an annual series of events under the umbrella name "Big Apple". In May (I think it's due to be the first weekend in May this year), they have a weekend where they do a variety of orchard walks and talks about cultivation/pruning/etc, and they also have a cider competition.
(According to our friend Mike Henney from Frome Valley Cider) anyone can enter, all you have to do is enter one gallon of your own cider, and all entrants become judges and get to taste and judge everyone else's cider . (Also per Mike, apparently it's reasonably common for people who've only made a few gallons for a hobby to get well commended).
I've written off to try and get more info, and will let you all know when I hear anything. Assuming the facts are reasonably close to what Mike's told me, above, then I reckon we're definitely entering and will plan a camping and cider weekend. If any of you lads (well, I suppose that just means Al this year) want to enter, then it'd be great to meet up with you there. (In fact, if any of you really want to enter, you can enter with a gallon of our stuff - although we'll be picking the best two for Mrs I and myself to enter, so you'd have to have 3rd best). |
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Al Caholic
Cider Bus Convert
Vatican City
145 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2005 : 13:57:49
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Hmm Berrow Hill head to head with the London brew.
Not really sure I'd want to spare a gallon as I only have eleven. The event sounds like a laugh though
Al 
Zider I up barkeep! |
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Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2005 : 16:46:54
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That's a shame Al.
I must admit that I'd not seen it as giving away a gallon of your own cider, but of a fun way to swap a gallon of my cider (which might not be of the absolute highest quality, as much as we love it and talk to it every might) for a little bit of everyone else's cider (which, I imagine, may well be at least as nice as ours).
Are you sure you're not just wary of taking on the challenge of Thames-cider ? |
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Gents
HMZ God
Trinidad and Tobago
2214 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2005 : 09:29:13
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Wow the challenge has been thrown down now!
I have read some stuff about the Big Apple before, but didn't really know the background to it, I remember thinking some of the winners names sounded unfamiliar, so this explains why.
Please let us know when you have more details, it sounds like a great weekend. Maybe i can enter a gallon of Janets Jungle Juice and claim it as my own!?!?
ZIDER! |
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Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2005 : 11:58:40
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I'll let you know when I hear. I had an email from the 3 Counties Cider and Perry lady a day or two ago. She said that she thought it'd be OK for us to enter the Big Apple, but just wanted to check whether us being soft southerners was a problem (I did tell her we got the apples from the 3 counties. If they say "No", they're obviously scared of the Larndon cider revivial )
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Al Caholic
Cider Bus Convert
Vatican City
145 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2005 : 14:04:04
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When you put it like that Ivanhoe, I think I was looking at the competition from the wrong angle!
Is there a closing date for entries as I think the Berrow Hill might be making an appearance. Incidentally, I tried a bit the other night (just to check it was ok you understand) and it wasn't too bad at all. I can't say i'm hoping for great things but it should be a laugh in any case.
On the subject of taking on the Thames Special and wariness, it strikes me that anything crafted anywhere near a body of water that filthy hasn't got a chance against a brew derived from apples picked within sight of Glastonbury Tor!!!!!
(that be fightin talk)
Al
Zider I up barkeep! |
Edited by - Al Caholic on 06/01/2005 14:11:32 |
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Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2005 : 14:44:20
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Great stuff Al. Nice to see a bit of rivalry (but we'll still win if you dare enter Glastonbury Tor was a revered site of the past, but in today's rabidly capitalist world, it's definitely been replaced by Canary Wharf. When you see our cider, dressed in pinstripe bottle with red braces, you'll be choking on your baler twine).
Seriously, it'd be great if you fancied entering. Me and Mrs I will be there, and hopefully a few of the other London cider crew. We'll be looking to take over a campsite or friendly B&B and get on with some serious tasting. I reckon it'll be a good weekend away (and not very far for you to come).
I haven't heard back from the ciderlady with details yet, but as soon as I have them I'll let you know.
{tasted ours the other day, when racking off, and at least three out of the four were pretty decent already. Mind you, we've still got plenty of time to make a mess of it before any taste-off}
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Al Caholic
Cider Bus Convert
Vatican City
145 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2005 : 14:47:19
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And there'll be no cheating like baking it in the oven or soaking it in vinegar right???
Al
Zider I up barkeep! |
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Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2005 : 17:08:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Al Caholic
And there'll be no cheating like baking it in the oven or soaking it in vinegar right???
Oh bugger. You've read my mind :0) |
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Tharg drinker of cider
Cider Bus Convert
Borneo
184 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2005 : 18:58:09
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Might I remind you that the apples for Thamesider was picked within sight of May hill, in the glorious three counties? I'm up for putting on me pearly whistle and bringing along a gallon of mine. I reckon our metropolitan brew should turn a few heads - or cross a few eyes at the very least.
And you will know us by the trail of empties.... |
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Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 15/01/2005 : 11:14:34
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I had a call from the Big Apple lady last night. She was v friendly and said that anyone could enter, as long as they had made a gallon of cider. More details on the SE1 board here:
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read.php?2,20070,page=32
We plan to make a weekend of it. If it interests any of you guys, then it'd be great to see you.
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Gents
HMZ God
Trinidad and Tobago
2214 Posts |
Posted - 16/01/2005 : 14:51:43
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Is this event the same time as "Blossom Time" (1st & 2nd of May)?
I'd be interested in coming along, we could probably camp somewhere nearby. Are you interested Al, or any of the other local cider makers/drinkers?
ZIDER! |
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Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 17/01/2005 : 09:17:35
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Yes Gents (Blosson Time), sorry for confusion. Big Apple is the umbrella name for all the stuff they do (May, October,etc).
The lady says that they will send out info a couple of months before the date, and she was a bit vague about whether someone did camping last year or not.
If not, this could be the perfect time to camp at Broome Farm (the man who has a fire pit in his orchards for late night cider drinking whilst camping). Haven't got my map out, but it's probably 5 to 10 miles away (although ideally we'd be camping in the garden of the village pub in Putley) |
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Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 21/03/2005 : 14:33:09
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Updated details are now out on the Marcher Apple Network, see here: http://www.marcherapple.net/bigapple/ (or should I have said "look here", given proximity to Wales?)
I got a copy of the competition rules a couple of days ago. There is a draught category (where you need to enter 1 gallon), or a bottled category (where you need only enter two bottles).
???See any of you there???
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Gents
HMZ God
Trinidad and Tobago
2214 Posts |
Posted - 21/03/2005 : 15:41:54
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Not sure if i can afford yet another weekend away, but id be up for getting the train there and back for the day to take part in one of those daytime cider-tasting sessions. Anyone up for doing it on the bank holiday monday? It takes about 2 hours from Temple Meads to Ledbury which isnt far away, we can get train back about 7-ish and have a few take-away ciders on the journey home.
Al, are you going to have any cider left to enter???
ZIDER! |
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Ivanhoe Martin
Cider Bus Convert
Oman
273 Posts |
Posted - 21/03/2005 : 17:16:55
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| We'll have a car, so if you're planning to come to Ledbury early doors (i.e. before the cider gets flowing) then I could probably be persuaded to give you a lift from the station to Putley (around 5 miles at a guess). We'll be camping just where the road to Putley turns off the main road between Ledbury and Hfd, so it wouldn't be much of a trip to go back to pick someone up from the station. You could then doubtless save the cost of a taxi back by persuading someone to drop you from Putley village to the main road (main rd between Ledbury and Hfd) and get a bus to Ledbury, if you called Ledbury Tourist info and asked re bus times. 50% of people leaving Putley will have to come via the road you need to get to to get to Ledbury. |
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Big Apple - early warning
