October is cider month!

Across the country, October is traditionally a month when apples and pears are harvested and the production of cider and perry can begin. Since 2003, CAMRA has dedicated October to promoting the availability real cider and perry in our pubs, clubs and festivals. Luckily for us here in Sheffield, cider month coincides with our Steel City Beer & Cider Festival. Last year’s festival featured almost 50 different ciders and perries, with more than 2,300 pints of the stuff being consumed over the four days. This year’s festival promises more of the same for fruit lovers, so why not head down to the Kelham Island Museum to try some?
Cider and perry at the Steel City Beer & Cider Festival
There are also a number of pubs around the city who make a real effort to serve quality cider and perry throughout the year. Our 2018 Cider Pub of the Month is the Clubhouse on London Road, which offers three hand-pulled ciders, often including fruit-flavoured cider from the Lilley’s range. Meanwhile, the Harlequin on Nursery Street serves more than 20 ciders, mainly on gravity, with a handy blackboard showing the latest offerings along with some tasting notes, so whether you prefer your cider dry, sweet, or somewhere in between, there’s something for everyone. Around the Kelham Island area, the Fat Cat often features hand-pulled cider, the Kelham Island Tavern serves Weston’s cider and perry, and Shakespeares offers three changing ciders on gravity. Wetherspoon pubs throughout Sheffield are also a good bet for boxed cider, and sometimes have cider festivals on during the year.
The cider board at the Harlequin
While there are no cider producers in our branch area, nearby Dronfield has two: Woodthorpe Hall Cider and the Drone Valley Brewery. For cider lovers heading out that way, real ciders are often available at the Travellers Rest at Apperknowle and the Miners Arms at Hundall. So if you’re out and about in October and spot real cider or perry on the bar, give it a go! Dominic Nelson

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