Mixed Batch Case of 2024 first releases

Turning Japanese 2024

Style: Medium, Real Pyder.

Strength: 6.0% ABV.

Year: 2024.

Attributes: Gluten Free, Unfiltered, Unfined, Vegan, Vegetarian.

Allergens: Sulphites.

Orchards: Greenway Fruit Farm, St. Piers School, Donations, Horam, UBF

Varieties: Kikusui Japanese Pears, Michellen, Dabinett, Bramley

Little Terror 2024

Style: Dry, Real Cider.

Strength: 6.2% ABV.

Year: 2024.

Attributes: Gluten Free, Unfiltered, Unfined, Vegan, Vegetarian.

Allergens: none.

Orchards: Little England, Quarry Fram, Terrible Down Barn

Varieties: Field blend, Michelin, Dabinett & Browns

Little Digger 2024

Style: Medium Sweet, Real Cider.

Strength: 5.6% ABV.

Year: 2024.

Attributes: Gluten Free, Unfiltered, Unfined, Vegan, Vegetarian.

Allergens: Sulphites.

Orchards: Little Shepherd, Newick Allotment Orchard

Varieties: Field Blend

Apple Appeal Donations
Each year local folk bring us their unwanted apples and swap them for cider. Tons of apples arrive at the cidery in bags and boxes ready to be washed and pressed. We rarely know what we've been given, but we know its locally grown, untreated fruit that's appreciated by the donors. Most people tell us it alleviates their guilt to bring the fruit that would otherwise have rotted on the ground and they get the added bonus of going home with bottles of finished cider!

Terrible Down Barn
Possibly the site of a violent battle in the dark ages, certainly named after one. It may be associated with the battle of Lewes, but that is disputed. Perhaps more likely the name commemorates a terrible viking raid in which the land was stained red with the blood of defenders and attackers.

It's a less terrible spot these days situated just where the low weald meets the high. Sheltered by the south downs and drenched in sunshine and rain this orchard produces a great harvest most years, far more than Nigel and Jude can get through. We harvest the rest, each tree providing a different variety in a range of colours, sixes and flavours its a delightful orchard to harvest and regularly contributes to some of our favourite batches.

Greenway Fruit FarmThis commercial farm near Herstmonceux has 40 acres of sandy, free draining Sussex land. The advantage of supplying locally is that fruit can be picked ripe and sold fresh, which maximizes its taste, flavour and nutritional properties. We take their unsaleable apples helping to reduce waste and close the loop.

Horam
This small private orchard on the outskirts of Horam is owned by a family with far more fruit than they need. Looking a lot like yellow apples, this orchard is home to four Kintsuke Japanese Pear trees which we like to use in our Pyder Turning Japanese.

Newick Allotment Orchard
This community project planted an orchard alongside the allotments and 2024 saw it's first harvest with far more fruit than allotment members could use. We swapped cider for their surplus and look forward to including any more they have in the years to come.

Little Shepherds, Blackboys
A couple of lanes from us is this small private orchard, the hobby of the old owner. It is filled with mature trees, and some fascinating examples of grafting experiments with several trees bearing multiple varieties. When first invited to harvest fruit the orchard was overgrown and hard to access, now its looking in great shape and is home to a wide variety of animals and plants, including pesky deer who chew the young leaves and buds as high as they can reach.

Quarry Farm, near Battle
The cider fruit used in this batch come from Sussex's only commercial grower of cider apples, Quarry Fram. Most of the fruit used to get sent to the west country but we now turn up to pick in the Autumn so some at least stays local - adding rich tannin depth and a long finish to our ciders. They have a farm shop with an excellent cafe, if you happen to be visiting nearby Bodium Castle.