I landed a week ago as a PR, I'd spent 14 months over through 2008/09 and am moderately familiar now with Toronto and the area.

There is one question that remains, one quest that eludes me. Where can one purchase a bottle, flagon, or vat of something that resembles English Cyder? I am speaking of the sort you'd get in the West Country - cloudy, possbily bitty, sour or bitter, made from apples and not the sugar.

So far I have found one Canadian brand at the LCBO/Beer Stores that could come close but is slightly effervescent and still a bit sweet to the taste. I know you can get Westons which is on the right lines but is akin to asking for lager and getting a pint of Fosters. Fine to quell a need but I'd not live on it! Other offerings seem to be of the Strongbow/Magners(or Bulmers)/Blackthorn range all of which are far too sweet and not at all what I'm looking for.

If anyone has found something good please do share!

well I'm from the West Country we always called it "scrumpy" but this was made on farms by hand. I shouldn't think its called for much past the M4 corridor. Besides why are you calling it Cyder and not Cider?

I'm never sure where the distinction between some 'hard' farm cyders and scrumpy lies but I have a friend who makes his own and assures me that there are differences. So I didn't call it scrumpy.

As to my use of the alternative spelling, I've got into the habit of using cider for the newer mass produced sweeter or fizzy offerings (strongbow, kopparberg et al.) and cyder for the more traditional stuff and didn't really think about it.

I know of a few people who are either English descent or have visited England and enjoy(ed) cyder. I definitely drank my share wherever I was in the UK. I would like to think that its reach could extend beyond the M4!

Yan, dyd yt not occur to you that substytutyng a y for an i ys a byt ponci lyke.

I obviously have way too much time on my hands at the moment ...

Cyder is rarely made, at least not on a commercial scale. Cider, on the other hand, is.

Cyder is made from a single pressing of vintage fruit, rather like “extra virgin” olive oil.

Cider, the drink almost given to agricultural labourers well into living memory, was made from the cyder pulp being re-pressed at the rate of 10 gallons of water to 1 cwt of pulp. This “long drink” was conspicuously different, not only in its alcoholic value, but also its taste. This type of cider could never mature in cask or bottle and was meant for general consumption, at a time when water was not always safe to drink.

As with fine wines, Cyder does mature in cask and bottle, which the connoisseur can appreciate. “Industrial” cider and Perry can hardly be expected to be laid down to mature. Cyder is made with love and dedication, rather than resorting to the apothecaryst's bag of tricks. However, cider enjoys a wide following in the UK and many cider, and indeed wine, imbibers have discovered the “Real Thing”.

With thanks to Minchews Real Cyder and Perry!

J

Alan: Had I done that no - irritating or stupid but not poncy. As I didn't it seems a fairly redundant comment.

Interesting as all that may be, if the LCBO decide in their infinite wisdom and benevolence that they are not going to stock it, then you are SOL in Ontario Im afraid

And tempting as it is to go in and edit the thread title to the proper spelling, I'm going to leave it, just to annoy Novo!

Time to start growing some apple trees I fear.

'preciated

Have you considered making your own cider?
My granddad used to, its not that difficult. He used to get free apples that had fallen on the ground. Mince them up, strain off the juice, chuck in a bit of sugar and wait a bit.

Yup - all my comments are redundant - except for the offensive ones. And I still think it's a tiny bit poncy, a bit like when people change the spelling of their names to have a y instead of an i.

I think this may be what I now look into, as the easy way out doesn't appear that easy.

Imagine that mixed with the wasps in G77's garden. Angry 2 inch black wasps, drunk and leery on semi fermented rancid apple juice.

Then theres what folk round here call apple cider. What they mean is apple juice with bits

flydermays

Have you tried these guys?

J

You have to make it in the morning as wasps get up late.