Cider making at Pear Tree Farm

Another fantastic year for our apples and pears … but first we had to pick them!

2 days, 2 men, 400 kilos of apples of five varieties and 275 kilos of perry pears – all off one perry pear tree! Note the hard hat. 

Our small orchard has two "Bramley", two old-fashioned "Annie Elizabeth", two "Belle De Boskoop" and a few we have yet to identify. 

Simon Abbiss (pictured below), from just south of Hereford, brought in his mobile mill and press and set it all up - a pressing engagement!

The apples are raised on a lift, dropped into the hopper and milled. Simon then makes up the 'cheeses', nine a side, and they are pressed, each in turn, until the fruit is finished.

Pears are treated in exactly the same way. Although small and pretty tough, each pear contains an amazing amount of juice.

And now at last the delicious end result...

Pear Tree Farm Cider and Perry were exhibited in February 2006 at the Leicester Beer Festival (see picture right).

At the festival, the man from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said:

“Your Cider and Perry proved very popular with the more experienced drinkers, and were easily the driest we had on the bar. The true level of popularity can be judged by repeat orders, of which both had a reasonable number.”

Now it's ready to drink... a perfect summer afternoon's pursuit, sitting, drinking and dreaming under the trees that gave us the apples.

You’ll have to come here to try it and make up your own mind!