Ever thought CAMRA is just for beer-drinkers? Think again! Almost from its inception, CAMRA has taken a keen and active interest in Britain's other traditional long alcoholic drink; cider. So if you're keen on real cider - the sort that's made from pure apple juice and not artificially gassed up or processed - CAMRA is for you.
CAMRA's network of local branches covers all of Britain, from Cornwall to the North of Scotland, and amongst their key activities is a series of local and regional beer festivals - and virtually all of these sell a range of tasty traditional ciders. In addition, a number of these festivals (often called "beer and cider festivals") take pride in presenting a particularly wide range of cider and perry (cider's "sister" drink made from pears), sometimes up to 80 different types, and attract enthusiasts from miles around. These festivals are some of the best places on the planet to taste a range of traditional cider and perry; they include the festivals at Leeds (March), Newcastle (April), Reading (May), Stockport (May/June), Cardiff (October), and Norwich (November). And of course, there's a great range of cider and perry at CAMRA's Great British Beer Festival, held annually in the first week of August at London's Olympia. (NB don't fret if your favourite cider bar isn't listed above. These were simply the first half-dozen that came to mind).
Working through its specialist cider and perry committee CAMRA actively promotes the interests of everybody who enjoys good cider and perry.
a. We lobby national and European government to improve the lot of traditional cider-makers, for example by warding off damaging changes in agricultural subsidy regimes
b. We support excellence in the making and selling of real cider by organising a range of prestigious awards: CAMRA's Champion Cider and Perry of Britain, the Pomona Award for services to real cider, and CAMRA's Cider Pub of the Year
c. We maintain a network of regional contacts to keep in touch with the real cider scene nationwide, and liaise with the growing number of regional/national producers' organisations
d. We publish regularly CAMRA's Good Cider Guide. This essential handbook brings together articles by noted cider-makers and other experts with an unrivalled listing of the nation's cider and perry producers, right down to the very tiniest, and the best places to buy what they make - information you won't find anywhere else
e. We celebrate each October as Cider and Perry Month, showcasing a range of cider-related activities across the country, many in partnership with other like-minded organisations.
We'll be glad to help. Talk to the cider bar staff at your local CAMRA festival; have a look on our website; buy CAMRA's Good Cider Guide; or best of all, join us! (There's a membership form on the website).
See also; APPLE; October is Cider Month
© CAMRA 2004
