Cider (and a Perry) For a Change...

Where better to enjoy ciders and a perry in Hastings, than at The Jolly Fisherman (facebook page), 3 East Beach Street, Hastings TN34 3AR (tel: 01424 428811), the first micropub in Hastings (blog). Opening hours (usual, but can be a little flexible, eg on Pirate Day and other special occasions, keep a check with their facebook page), now are Tuesday to Friday 4-11pm; Saturday 2-11pm; Sunday 2-10.30pm; unlikely to be open on a Monday. Anyway... 

On my last visit I started off with two-thirds of a pint (indeed, I chose two-thirds for all the ciders too) of a perry from Dorset cider maker Temple (website), their 6.5% Hendre Huffcap & Winnal's Longdon Perry; the 2 pear varieties used, unsurprisingly, Hendre Huffcap (National Perry Pear Centre) and Winnal's Longdon (National Perry Pear Centre). How to describe this slightly cloudy perry? What you would expect, hard to make anything up really, definitely tasting of pear with a dry finish, very good!🍐

My first cider, from Herefordshire based Ross on Wye Cider & Perry Company (website) was their 6.1% Five Apple Oak Cask Cider, and I apologise, but I cannot discover anywhere the apple varieties used, usually a blend, no doubt. Just slightly cloudy, what I would call a 'proper' real cider, great balance with a dry, bitter even, finish, very good indeed! 🍏🍎

The first of 2 very clear ciders, and both very good, but I've drunk them before so I'm not surprised by the quality, was from Kent, Biddenden Vineyards (website) Bushels (6.0%). This is a medium dry cider, made with a mixture of "orchard ripe culinary and dessert apples" although still not individually specified by them, unsurprisingly. Anyway, this is a very easy to drink medium dry cider, too easy actually, therefore potentially dangerous to drink, nice one! 😉

Also from Kent and the second clear cider, Turners Cider (website) Dry Cider (6.5%), again, the varieties of apple used are not specified, so obviously a carefully selected combination of their locally grown apples to endure the correct blend. This had a big apple aroma, more subtle taste, with a lovely dry finish, very nice again, and easy to knock back!🍏

Finally, another cider from Herefordshire, this time Little Pomona (website), which started up with the EU part funding their business and orchard with its 4 classic cider apple varieties, and that now produce their ciders, in this instance, their 5.8% Little Miracle. This is a blend of "3 different vintages" which produced a deep orange/gold colour, slightly cloudy and slightly sweet to start off with, a tartness to the aroma and a dry finish, not bad at all, cheers!🍏🍎

Hastings Jolly Fisherman: Perry, Cider & Beer

Yesterday I visited The Jolly Fisherman, 3 East Beach Street, Hastings TN34 3AR (website), a lovely wee pub that I have written about a few times now, eg blog. OK, I didn't drink cider this visit, although I had intended to, but had a couple of perries, and a significant dark beer. 

I started off with the very easy to drink Turners Cider of Marden in the Weald of Kent (website) Perry (5.5%), gluten free and vegan friendly, and made with 100% Kentish Pears. Medium dry, pale, with a big pear fruit aroma, very refreshing indeed, nice one!

But Oliver, the landlord, was a bit disappointed in me, I could tell, as he suggested I should try the "more complex" Ross on Wye Cider & Perry Company (website) Bartestree Squash & Gin Pear Perry, there's a mouthful in just the name! Made in Herefordshire blending two different pear variety perries, Bartestree Squash Perry and Gin Perry, yes, I was confused at first! A 5.6% dry perry, a wee bit bitter, pale yellow with a big fruity nose, I got peach as well as the pear you would expect, and Oliver was correct, complex and well worth drinking indeed. 👍

Then John came into the equation, well, I was halfway through the complex perry when he came into the bar, and he obviously needed company, so, after his suggestion what I should drink before I left was pretty special too, I decided to have another, just a two-thirds this time though... From WAY up int' north of England, from Wylem Brewery in Newcastle (website), and their 6.5% "Hazelnut Praline Coffee Porter" Macchiato. Personally, I got chocolate hazelnut praline more than the coffee suggested, but certainly a BIG beer, body++ and, and I've said similar before, a bit of a pudding beer, amazingly good considering the sweetness, cheers all! 👌