Hands up who loves a deliciously cold and smooth pint of cider? Even better if it’s locally produced and made with love! We’re big fans of cider here at the Oakeley Arms, and you’ll find some great choices of Welsh and craft cider available from the bar.

The humble apple is a wonderful British icon, and here in Wales there are small-scale craft cider producers up and down the country that are turning simple apples into delicious and award winning ciders. The lush and fertile fields of Wales have been linked with cider making for hundreds of years. Traditionally, cider was brewed to give to the farm workers who flocked to the rural areas to work on the land in the summer and autumn.

The late nineteenth century saw a decline in cider production in the UK, until Percy and Fred Bulmer began producing cider on a large scale in Herefordshire. They needed reliable apple sources and so worked with local landowners and farmers to plant and grow cider apples on in huge orchards. The industry boomed in Herefordshire throughout the twentieth century and Bulmers grew to be one of the leaders in cider production as they invested money and time into research and development.

Today, the techniques of cider making are the same as they have always been although the technology of cider making has inevitably changed dramatically over the last few generations. Sadly, the industry  began to decline dramatically in the 1980s, but luckily, a band of small, local cider makers were able to step in and helped to revitalise the industry and the image of cider.

And it’s not just Herefordshire that is renowned for its cider making – you’ll find craft cider producers up and down the counties of Wales, from Denbighshire to Cardiff. So why not work up a thirst for a delicious and traditional drink – a taste of cider is a taste of the local landscape, culture and rural history. See you at the bar!

Image by Nick Manning (freeimages.com)