It’s January, and I’m a cider writer, so, as is written into the Code of Ethics of the Guild of Cider Writers (not yet a real thing, but feels like it might not actually be too far away?), I am duty bound to write about Wassail. The good news is that this ancient custom has, rather wonderfully, been well documented and explored over the last few years.  Notable examples include Colin Cater’s fab book and, cider photographer in residence Bill Bradshaw’s stunning imagery.  Yours truly also wrote about wassailing  in my first book, Ciderology (still available to purchase!), encapsu ..read more

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One of the signposts that gives me confidence to say that 2019 is the year the world gets to #rethinkcider is that there is so much bloody stuff going on.  The fact that I have to extend your reading misery by doing this article over two parts is testament to the sheer number of cider events taking place this year.  But, of course, dear readers, as we know, quantity is not necessarily commensurate with quality.  Well, luckily for us ciderphiles, it just so happens that we have a stellar line up of events. First up, exceedingly imminently, and in the first flush of  is the j ..read more

My approach to writing articles on my own website is a little like my approach to my tax return – I really want to do it and gain great satisfaction when I do, but it takes a lot of energy.  So I procrastinate. And then get distracted (“ooh, look, a badger…”)  In this case I’ve been procrastinating for 5 months.  Crikey, it wasn’t even Christmas the last time I wrote. Where did the time go? I know I’m nearer to 40 than to 30 because all I seem to say is “Isn’t the year going fast?!” But, for me, it is going fast, and for that I need to be thankful.  Sitting in the golden su ..read more

Here’s a little fun for your Christmas Eve Eve…brought to you by Eve’s Cider! Autumn and Ezra, the tireless and dedicated makers of Eve’s Cider, kindly hosted me on the Finger Lakes leg of my Ciderology World Tour last month.  I earnt my bed and board by featuring in their annual Christmas video. All I can say is Laurence Olivier eat your heart out.  Or maybe not. Oh, and it just so happens that Eve’s Cider produce some of the most incredible ciders and perries, not only in the US, but anywhere in the world.  Their spectacular Albee Hill features in Ciderology, and their Kingsto ..read more

Season’s greetings cider heads! As has been the way of 2018, I have woefully neglected this website as a place to have a good old yak to you.  Come the New Year that is going to change. You see, when you write a book (Ciderology – out now and buy it here!), it takes all the stuffing out you.  I thought it was simply a case of write 45,000 words, hand it to the publisher and job done – cider book achieved.  Apparently it’s not as simple as that.  So to anyone you has ever written a book I salute you! And speaking of books, some twerp on a bridge wants to flog one to you: &n ..read more

White rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits! It is with no small amount of pride that an extract from my forthcoming book, Ciderology, has made its way into UK National newspaper, The Independent.  Woo hoo! So for those of you who have already pre-ordered the book (surely all of you?), but just can’t wait to have a sneaky peak, then follow this clear, emboldened link to the Indy website to have a mooch!   cider tasting and book launch Ciderology is having its official launch at Hawkes Urban Cidery and Taproom in London on Wednesday 26th September at 7.30.  Cider, perry and much ..read more

I currently find myself in a rather bland hotel, escaping the early onset Autumnal drizzle, supping endless flabby flat whites, whilst grabbing an hour or so between an appearance on local radio and set up at the Witcombe Cider Festival where I am curating the Craft Cider Bar. It’s all go. It’s been like that for most of the summer, and you know what, it’s been a bit of game changer I reckon.  The New Wave (or insert your preferred term here) cider movement has been busy, what with the UK’s first Cider Salon, an exceptional Imbibe Live, cider catching the eye of beer journalists, wholesal ..read more

Happy World Cider Day! Yes, like you, I wasn’t brilliantly aware that the slightly spurious date of 3rd June had been allocated this honour.  It is (and for once I do not jest) neatly nestled in between Chicken Rotisserie Day and Hug Your Cat Day.  But, any occasion that champions the magnificent world of cider is good by me, so I’ll be celebrating by cracking open a chilled bottle of 2015 Eric Bordelet Poiré. Cheers! A celebration of world cider this weekend is very poignant, for the wondrousness of the cider people and products of the global community was once again brought home t ..read more

This week I ran another round of my Cider Courses with the Beer and Cider Academy in London.  These are not courses on how to make cider – there are other people, such as Peter Mitchell,  who do that thoroughly and professionally.  No, my courses seek to address what I consider to be the major problem within the UK cider category – a lack of language and styles. Ask any person on the street to name a style of beer and most would be able to say ‘Lager’, or ‘IPA’ or ‘Stout’.  Ask the same people to name a wine grape varietal and, again, I suspect that the considerable majorit ..read more