What We’re Reading: Sláinte. The Complete Guide to Irish Craft Beer and Cider
by
The Pagan Rite WASSAIL! Brown, Bradshaw and World’s Best Ciders.
In their extremely useful guide World’s Best Ciders: Taste, Tradition and Terroir, Pete Brown and Bill Bradshaw devote a few pages to explore Wassail traditions and celebrations. (The UK cover -pictured- even features the image of a torch-lit wassail).
According to Brown & Bradshaw:
“Like all the best traditions, the ritual of wassail is rooted in the past but allows every community to imposes it’s own stamp. It’s growing in popularity because it is an unmediated, unbranded entertainment that links us back to the land and the passing of the seasons.”
Celebrate Wassail: Grab a copy of World’s Best Ciders, pour a glass of cider or mug of wassail, and explore Wassail traditions past and present.
For more of Bill Bradshaw’s Wassail imagery visit IAMCIDER: iamcider.blogspot.com
Sterling Publishing www.sterlingpublishing.com
Cider Mixology: Aperitivo Tertulia.
Cider Mixology: Aperitivo Tertulia
A Bit About Wassailing.
About Wassailing From the National Association of Cider Makers:
“Wassailing is the chief custom associated with cider apple trees. The word wassail is derived from the Anglo Saxon ‘wes hal’ meaning ‘good health’ or ‘be whole’. The earliest written records of wassailing date from the late 17th century.
This custom is performed to protect the trees from evil spirits and to make them bear a plentiful crop and is still carried out in the West of England. The rite involves five main elements: gathering around an apple tree, singing the Wassailing song, pouring cider over the tree’s roots, loud noises and a toast.
The pouring of cider over the roots symbolised the carrying forward of the life juice of the tree from one year to the next. It was also the custom to place a cider-soaked piece of toasted bread in the fork of the tree to attract good spirits while guns were fired into the trees so as to frighten away the evil spirits. The health of the tree would then be drunk as often as was felt necessary. Nowadays, it is traditional to hold the rite on Twelfth Night.
Over time, the custom was adapted and added to, so that each area had its own variation. The date for instance varied, and old tea kettles and tin trays might be clattered together to scare away the spirits instead of firing guns. In Herefordshire it was traditional for Morris Men to take part by dancing around the trees.”
Source: National Association of Cider Makers.
Link: www.cideruk.com
Cider Ireland. Then and Now: AppleFest. Slow Food Apple and Craft Cider Festival.
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica:
Cider used to be made in the south of Ireland, but the industry had almost become extinct until revived by the Department of Agriculture, which in 1904 erected a cider-making plant at Drogheda, Co. Louth, gave assistance to private firms at Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, and Fermoy, Co. Cork, and provided a traveling mill and press to work in the South Riding of Co. Tipperary. The results have been highly satisfactory, a large quantity of good cider having been produced.
Source: 1911 Encyclopedia Brittannica. The eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, first published in 1911
Entry: Cider
Find an online version at archive.org
From the Cider Ireland website:
Cider Ireland is a group of like-minded apple growers and cider makers from the island of Ireland.
As a group we can promise you that we are owner operators who only make cider from 100% Irish grown apples, that the cider we produce is made from the juice of pressed apples, never, ever from concentrate, and we don’t add colourants.
Read about Redefining Irish Cider
Slow Food Ireland Celebrating AppleFest
21st – 22nd, September 2013
First Look: World’s Best Ciders: Taste, Tradition and Terroir. What We’re Reading.
Authors: Pete Brown and Bill Bradshaw
Publisher: Sterling Epicure
Published: October 2013
256 pages
ISBN: 1-4549-0788-6
ISBN13: 9781454907886
Lucky to get an advance copy of World’s Best Ciders: Taste, Tradition and Terroir (US/Can version) – we are hunkering down with a craft cider for a good read and will report back with more detailed comments soon.
First impressions:
Hard bound and extensively illustrated with color photographs.
World’s Best Cider explores contemporary cider in the context of cider history, regional terroir, and local cider traditions. Authors Pete Brown and Bill Bradshaw examine world ciders by country, provide cider recommendations and tasting notes, and include profiles of several influential cider artisans responsible for crafting some of the world’s best ciders.
Pre-order a copy now via Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
http://www.sterlingpublishing.com
Available for purchase October 2103 at your local bookseller, including these sellers who carry books by Sterling Publishing:
In the USA
Hastings
Northshire Bookstore
Powells
University of Washington’s Bookstore
Tower.com
In Canada
What We’re Reading: CIDERLAND by James Crowden
CIDERLAND by James Crowden
Meet the West County’s cider makers in this informative read. A great introduction to the world of South West England’s traditional West County cider culture, with numerous in-depth profiles of the regions cider makers.
“Ciderland includes comprehensive summaries and descriptions of every cider and cider producer in the West Country and covers topics such as cider folk traditions and remedies, placing cider making firmly within the local culture. Photographs by Claire Lloyd Davies.”
Cider Ireland: Real Irish Craft Cider Makers
“Cider Ireland is a group of artisan Irish cider producers, making cider from Irish grown apples. It’s all about the apple.
Cider Ireland is a trade association for makers of what we consider to be Real Irish Craft Cider. We have a collective and sincere interest in the quality and integrity of the final product.”
A Brief History of Apples and Cidermaking in Ireland by Mark Jenkinson, September 2012
“Apples in Ireland Apples are an integral part of Irish culture and history and are first recorded from pips found at an archaeological excavation in Co. Meath and carbon dated to over 5000 years ago.
Cidermaking in Ireland For various historical reasons it is thought that cidermaking in Ireland stretches back at least 2000 years if not much further.”
Read the full article A Brief History of Apples and Cidermaking in Ireland at Cider Ireland
Irish cider makers and members of Cider Ireland:
Ballinteggart House, Drumnasoo Road, Portadown, Co. Armagh
Twitter: @armaghcider
Ballyhook Farm, Grange Con, Co. Wicklow
Twitter: @CraigiesCider
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Highbank Orchards, Highbank Organic Farm, Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny
Twitter: @highbankorchard
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Mallow, Co. Cork.
Twitter: @Longuevillecork
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Quickpenny Road, Lusk, Co Dublin
Twitter: @DavidsOrchard
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Sean McAtee, Forest Road, Forkhill, Co. Armagh
Ardress East, Portadown, Co. Armagh
Twitter: @MacIvorsCider
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The Turrets, Nohoval, Belgooly, Kinsale, Co. Cork.
Twitter: @StonewellCider
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2 Agars Road, Lisburn, Co. Down
Twitter: @TemptedCider
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Moorstown, Cahir, Co. Tipperary
Twitter: @theapplefarmer
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Toby’s Handcrafted Armagh Cider
Twitter: @TobysCider
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Images and maker information from Cider Ireland – visit the website for more maker information.
Cider Mapping the World: The World Map of Cider
Mapping world cider activity: The World Map of Cider
Created by Eric West, Certified Cicerone, BJCP judge, and the man behind Cider Guide, The world guide to cider, perry, and related drinks website. Look for the upcoming The Cider Guide To North America, slated for publication sometime in 2013.
The World Map of Cider is an ongoing effort and is updated regularly.
The map markers are divided into (9) categories:
Cidery 
Winery 
Brewery/Meadery
Ice Cidery 
Distillery
Bar/Pub 
Bottle Shop 
Orchard/Museum/Other POI
Event/Festival
Last updated: January 31, 2013
To make additions to the map: Please send your feedback to map {AT} ciderguide {DOT} com!
Cider Mapping the United States & Canada: The North American Cider Map Project
Mapping North American cider activity: The North American Cider Map Project.
Created by David White, virtual orchard keep at the Oldtimecider.com website, current President of NWCA, The Northwest Cider Association, and co-owner of Whitewood Cider Co.”Handcrafted in Olympia, Washington” fame.
The North American Cider Map Project is an ongoing effort and is updated regularly. The map markers are currently divided into (4) categories:
Red Markers: Cider Producers. Green Markers: Stores that sells cider. Yellow Markers: Establishments or bars that serve traditional craft cider. Blue Markers: Cider Education Resources
The North American Cider Map Project also includes an alphabetical listing of cider makers and resources flagged on the map.
Last updated: January 24, 2013
To make additions to the map contact Oldtimecider.com
