Blame It On The Cider by Roger Evans

Title: Blame It On The Cider

Author: Roger Evans

Year: 2002

Format: Paperback

Page Count: 126

Price new: £7.95 (Amazon)*

Price used: £0.01 (Amazon)*

*accurate at the time of posting

Description: (TLDR)

A book of funny cider related stories from Somerset.

On the back of the book it says:

"Somerset was once a county filled with cider orchards. They could be found everywhere, even in the years just after the war.

Local writer Roger Evans was born, brought up and still lives in Somerset. He remembers the happy-go-lucky times when children were free to roam and the orchards played host to jenny wrens, robins, blue tits and grazing pigs, cattle and sheep. With his friends, he would go scrumping and once in a while, cider tasting - mostly from the stores kept in forbidden territory - neighbours' garages and barns.

In  this funny, nostalgic book, brimming with anecdotes and amusing incidents, all attributed to the effects of drinking cider, Roger takes the reader on a journey round the county and finds a hilarious or chaotic story to tell wherever he goes.

One evening in Bridgewater a local man, much the worse for wear after several pints of strong cider, was forcibly ejected from the Blue Boar in the Penel Orlieu area. Unhappily for him, this coincided with the passing of a police officer on a bicycle. They collided noisily and fell together in a heap onto the road. The law was not amused and action was demanded. The man was dragged some 50 yards to the Duke of Monmouth pub in the High Street. There the officer proceeded with an arrest, advising the drunk that the reason was for knocking him off his bike outside the Duke of Monmouth. 'That's not true !" Shouted the drunk. 'It's a bloody lie, it was outside the Blue Boar.' 'Can you spell Orlieu ?' Asked the officer. 'Course I bloody can't' retorted the drunk. 'Well I can spell High Street.' Replied the officer and continued with his arrest."

Ciderlore: Cider in the Three Counties by Fiona Mac

Title: Ciderlore: Cider in the Three Counties

Author: Fiona Mac

Year: 2003

Format: Paperback

Page Count: 224

Price used: £5.99 (Amazon)*

*accurate at the time of posting

Description: (TLDR)

History, science and folklore of cider in Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

On the back of the book it says:

"This is anything but a dry book ! It tackles the subject of cider and perry in the three counties of Hereford, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire in a slightly unusual way, in that the art of cider making from selecting varieties of fruit, planting and growing trees to the packaging and marketing of the completed product, is woven into the history and stories of cider makers from 1900 to the present day. There is both art and science in cider making, an activity which is done injustice through the persistence of scrumpy, however jovial an image that may conjure up. Yet scrumpy is covered too, as are the aspects of folklore and tales of the effect of cider drinking , along with descriptions of the cider houses that have and still do exist in the Three Counties.

Various tensions are apparent- between cider makers, cider drinkers and cider campaigners, and within the ranks of cider makers themselves. Whilst producers want to co-operate at one level to promote cider and perry as generic drinks, they are also in competition with one another and reluctant to share information that they perceive as family or trade secrets.

The information is presented in a number of themed chapters, which also detail the history of the national cider making names within the three counties, as well as those whose produce will only normally be found at source, or at best within a few miles of the cider press.

At the end is a section which lists the current established cider producers and cider houses mentioned in the text, whether they are open to visits and where products can be found. Accompanying this is a brief description of various organisations, grants, planting schemes and local festivals mentioned, with a contact point.

Fiona Mac is an accomplished story teller and collector of local tales, customs and folklore, living in Herefordshire, who has collected the stories and information in this book through conversations with the cider drinkers and cider makers of the Three Counties. She is a national campaigner for CAMRA (The Campaign For Real Ale) who defends the preservation of small  scale cider and perry making through her in-depth knowledge of cider and perry as a vibrant living tradition.

CAMRA's Good Cider Guide 2005

Title: CAMRA's Good Cider Guide
Author: Emma Lloyd  (Editor)
Year: 2005
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 256
Price used: £0.01 (Amazon)*
*accurate at the time of posting

Description: (TLDR)
A less than complete listing of cider producers and outlets in 2005 with over 30 pages of additional articles from Dave Matthews, Tom Oliver and others. Well worth the low used price for the articles alone.

On the back of the book it says:
"The all new CAMRA's GOOD CIDER GUIDE, now in it's 5th edition, features more than 700 traditional cider producers and outlets in the UK and is an indispensable volume for all cider enthusiasts, whether new to the scene or long-standing fans.
Good cider is a long-established traditional drink, but much of the cold fizzy products we are used to seeing are far from the real thing. The popularity of real cider is permanently rising, as more and more people discover how deliciously mellow, aromatic and intoxicating the flavours of naturally produced cider can be. CAMRA's GOOD CIDER GUIDE offers a county-by-county directory of UK cider producers and outlets and provides unique, in-depth knowledge for the cider consumer.
In addition, various writers, cider enthusiasts, drinkers and experts alike come together to provide feature articles on production techniques, orchards, the history of cider, cooking with cider recipes and regional specialisations, from Normandy in France to the celebrated orchards of the Asturias in Northern Spain."

Somerset Cider Folklore & Customs by Jon Dathen

Title: Somerset Cider Folklore & Customs
Author: Jon Dathen
Year: 2006
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 122
Price new: £8.95 (Amazon)*

*accurate at the time of posting

Description: (TLDR)
Lots of amusing and sometimes hard to believe stories relating to orchards, apples and cider in Somerset 

On the back of the book it says:
"In the western counties of England, and in Somerset in particular, cider was, and for many still is, an integral part of the rural way of life. Over the centuries, folklore and customs have become entwined with the growing of apple, trees, the harvesting of fruit, and the production and consumption of cider. Some of these beliefs and practises are practical, a method of fermentation or a saying recording the best time to plant a tree. Others belong to the realm of magic and pagan belief, these include the propitiation of orchard spirits, ceremonies to ensure a robust harvest, and the many little 'somethings', done 'just for luck'. A richly absorbing apple anthology, superbly researched and altogether different form what the reader might expect. Here is preserved the history and all the fun and seriousness of the folklore and customs connected to  cider - from wassailing to apple games and Toad Swimming, its makers and drinkers, throughout the county of Somerset, in the past and the eternal present"

Ciderland by James Crowden

Title: Ciderland
Author: James Crowden
Year: 2008
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 256
Price new: £18.29 (Amazon)*
Price used: £5.56   (Amazon)*
*accurate at the time of posting

Description: (TLDR)
Lots of nice pictures with plenty of information on cider and it's history. The biggest part of the book is taken up with in depth profiles of 20 cidermakers from the Three Counties and the South West.

On the back of the book it says:
The South-west of England is justly famous for it's wide variety of delicious ciders. Although the drink has been produced there for centuries, over the last thirty years there has been a quiet revolution in the industry characterised by a steady growth in the number of new cider producers. These cidermakers vary from small, local companies to well established outfits pumping out millions of gallons a year.
In Ciderland, James Crowden explores the history and culture of cidermaking (and cider drinking) from the seventeenth century to the present day, and takes us on a tour around the West Country and beyond, visiting a large number of cidermakers who communicate a rare infectious passion for their age-old art. He also takes a look at the rise of perry-making and profiles the people dedicated to getting the best out of their local pears. One very important section covers the history of sparkling cider and the evolution of methode champenois in England from 1632 onwards. In addition Ciderland also includes comprehensive summaries and descriptions of most cider and perry producers from the Channel Islands to Herefordshire. The result is magnificent companion to a drink that is enjoying a widespread and well deserved renaissance.
JAMES CROWDEN was born in Plymouth and brought up on the edge of Dartmoor. After Bristol Oxford and the Army, he lived for various periods in Afghanistan, the Outer Hebrides and the West Country, and has worked as a shepherd, sheep-shearer, cidermaker and forester. He has written numerous books including several volumes of poetry and local history, and also appears regularly on TV and Radio 4.

Somerset Cider Handbook by Alan Stone

Title: Somerset Cider Handbook
Author: Alan Stone
Year: 2009
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 152
Price new: £7.74 (Amazon)*
Price used: £8.50 (Amazon)*
*accurate at the time of posting

Description: (TLDR)
Mostly the back story of over 30 Somerset cider producers.

On the back of the book it says:
The first ever comprehensive book on Somerset Cider-makers
Who makes cider
Why they make it
What they make
Where can you get it
What is there to see
Nearly 40 Somerset cider producers interviewed plus articles on cider heritage. A complete picture of the Somerset cider industry today
Over 150 pages with numerous photographs

Orchard, a year in the life of a Herefordshire cider orchard by Gareth Rees-Roberts

Title: Orchard A year in the life of a Herefordshire cider orchard
Author: Gareth Rees-Roberts
Year: 2009
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 136
Price new: £5.00 (Amazon)*
*accurate at the time of posting

Description: (TLDR)
An introduction and 136 big pages of colour pictures of one orchard at all times of the year.

On the back of the book it says:
"This is  book that needs few words, being a visual  contemplation of a year in the life of a sixty-acre cider orchard. The photographs allow you to meander through the trees on paths made by sheep, to stand and feel the warming rays of the morning sun, to wander along the garlanded spring avenues, to shelter from the summer rain under dark green boughs, to observe the activity of spiders revealed by the autumn dew shining in their webs, to imagine the flavour of cider made from the varieties of ripening apples, and to consider the moods of the year and the passing of time.
Gareth Rees-Roberts attended St. Martins School of Art before going on to study the guitar at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded the Julian Bream Prize for his playing. He has lived in the Welsh Marches for over thirty years, working as a musician and instrumental teacher, and as a freelance photographer. In 1983 he was founder and first chairman of Mid Border Arts, and was responsible for the running of the first Presteigne Festival. In 1997 he was elected as an  associate of the Royal Photographic society. Since the 1980s he has held more than a dozen solo exhibitions, mainly of his black and white landscape photographs, which he develops and prints using traditional darkroom methods and materials."

Cider by CAMRA Books

Title: Cider
Author: CAMRA Books
Year: 2009
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 189
Price new: £12.08 (Amazon)*
Price used: £0.01(Amazon)*
*accurate at the time of posting

Description: (TLDR)
Lots of nice pictures and articles from various contributors such as Ted Bruning, Dave Matthews and Tom Oliver on Cidermaking, Cider At Home, Cider Abroad and Conservation with lots of useful information. Easy to read and a good all round introduction to the subject.

On the back of the book it says:
"Proper cider and perry - sprightly and gloriously sharp - made with apples and pears and nothing but, is a wonderful drink. But there's so much more to it than that. It has lore and legend, magic and mystique. More than any other native British beverage, it connects the drinker with the countryside, with country people of the past and their customs and beliefs. Take a golden glass of cider, and one sip can conjure up a scene of autumn mists strolling lazily over gently sloping fields, ancient hedgerows and orchards laden with ripe fruit. But to experience all of this for yourself you must do more than merely drink - you must visit the ancient orchards. With beautiful colour photography, Cider meets the people who tend our orchards, live with them and extract their refreshing liquid essence.
Cider is a lavishly illustrated celebration of real cider and it's cousin perry, for anyone who wants to learn more about Britain's oldest drink. With features on the UK's most interesting and characterful cider and perry makers, how to make your own cider, foreign ciders, and the best places to drink cider - including unique dedicated cider houses, award winning pubs and year-round CAMRA festivals all over the country - Cider is the essential book for any cider or perry lover."

Making Cider: Crossman's Cider Made in Britain by Jon Kent

Title: Making Cider: Crossman's Cider Made in Britain
Author: Jon Kent
Year: 2014
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 63
Price new: £10.00 (Amazon)*
*accurate at the time of posting

Description: (TLDR)
Approx 50% pictures documenting a year in the life of Crossman's Cider

On the back of the book it says:
365 days
16 varieties of apple
1,493 hours of sun light
10,000 gallons of cider
And more than 50,000 bees !
Photojournalist Jon Kent spends a year discovering how traditional Somerset Cider is made and the people that make it all  possible !

The Guide To Welsh Perry & Cider by Pete Brown and Bill Bradshaw

Title: The Guide To Welsh Perry & Cider
Author: Pete Brown and Bill Bradshaw
Year: 2013
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 108
Price new: £9.88 (Amazon)*
Price used: £7.70 (Amazon)*
*accurate at the time of posting

Description: (TLDR)
A good introduction to cider and perry with details of 27 Welsh producers.

On the back of the book it says:
Whether you're a cider aficionado or just someone who enjoys what they eat and drink, no visit to Wales is complete without sampling the locally made craft cider and perry. From a point of virtual extinction in the late twentieth century, the Welsh cider making tradition has exploded since the millennium, making Wales one of the most exciting cider and perry making regions in the UK.

Good artisanal cider and perry are natural drinks which can rival wine as well as beer, offer a great accompaniment to food and have a variety of styles and flavours way beyond the stuff you usually pour over a glass of ice. This book  tells you what Welsh cider and perry are, how they are made and how to get the most out of them.

Includes:
The surprising history of cider and perry in Wales
A directory of Welsh cider and perry makers
A guide to the best cider and perry pubs in Wales
Festivals and events throughout the year where cider and perry can't be missed