A Somerset craft cider has been crowned the best cider in Britain at CAMRA’s National Cider and Perry Championships.
Following more than a year of local tasting panels and regional heats, Harry’s Scrummage was selected by a panel of judges as the best cider in the country. Each cider in the competition was judged on its individual taste, aroma, flavour and overall appeal.
Made by Harry’s Cider in Long Sutton near Langport, Scrummage is a blend of bittersweet and bittersharp cider apples, grown by cidermaker Harry Fry and his son Toby in the orchards on their family farm. It is a well-rounded medium cider, fresh and fruity with a golden colour. Judges described it as “a sharp but easy drinking cider that stretches to a long lingering and pleasant aftertaste.”
Cidermaker Harry Fry says, “This award is a great achievement for us, in recognition of the hard work our family team has put in over the last few years. The name ‘Scrummage’ was borne out of my passion for the game of rugby, and it felt well suited to our family ‘team’.
“We never imagined that our orchard would produce champion cider. We are all very proud, with a huge desire to continue improving our techniques and achieving further successes.”
Harry’s Scrummage is not the only cider in the range that is attracting attention, as Harry’s Dabinett sparkling cider was recently awarded a Silver award in the International Cider Challenge. The Dabinett is also the reigning champion of the Arthur Davies Cup at the British Cider Championships, presented to the overall winning cider in the taste and presentation class.
Scrummage is available in 3 litre retail pouches and 20 litre ‘bag in box’ formats via selected retailers and distributors. It can also be purchased direct from the Harry’s Cider farm in Long Sutton, which is open to the public on Saturdays between 10am and 4pm.
Harry’s Cider is a family business and fast-growing brand that produces traditional and sparkling ciders in the heart of Somerset ‘ciderland’. Based on the family farm in Long Sutton, Harry and his son are the farmers, growers, producers and processors, giving total control over the end product.