Cider and Perry

What are cider and perry?

Cider is a fermented alcoholic drink made from apples and is produced in much the same way as wine; it is not brewed like beer.

Perry is made from pears, usually from specialised perry pear varieties. Unpalatable for eating, and used only for perry, they have varying levels of astringency and tannins. Some modern perry (sometimes marketed as pear cider) can additionally be produced from dessert pears which will have no tannins and little bitterness.

CAMRA is committed to playing a leading role in the provision of information, education, and training to all those with an interest in cider and perry.

So is it real?

In order to be real, cider and perry should never be concentrated then diluted – either in terms of the juice used, or the alcohol content.

We use #NotFromConcentrate for our online campaigning for real products, and you can find a map and list of producers below.

Click here for a link to the Real Cider and Perry producers as recognised by CAMRA.

May & October are Cider and Perry Months!

CAMRA celebrates Cider and Perry Months in May and October.

Unlike real ale production, which can happen at any time of the year, real cider and perry can only be made when the fruit is ripe and is tied to a natural cycle of the apple and pear trees found in orchards around the country.

May was chosen because it is when the orchards bloom and begin producing fruit which will then be harvested. It is also when cider and perry production in the previous year reaches maturity and can start being enjoyed.

October is also a very active time for cider makers when production is in full flow and most cider producers are harvesting the fruit.

What is real cider?

Gloucestershire CAMRA

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