Cider & Perry Months
May and October are Cider & Perry Months!
CAMRA supports and campaigns for cider and perry throughout the year, and we spotlight it with celebrations in October and May.
Why May and October?
Unlike real ale production, which can happen at any time of the year, real cider and perry is generally a seasonal product and can only be made when the fruit is ripe. Production is tied to a natural cycle of the apple and perry pear trees found in orchards around the country.
The month of May was chosen because it is when the orchards come into bloom and fruit begins to set. Cider and perry production from the previous year reaches maturity in May and can start being enjoyed so it’s also a time for celebration of the fruits of cider makers labour!
October is an equally busy time in the cider makers calendar, when fruit is harvested, milled, pressed and stored for fermentation and cider and perry production is in full flow.
Happy Cider and Perry Month!
Head to CAMRA’s events platform to find Cider and Perry Month events near you, submit your own event, or check out the timeline below for our pick of some of the largest cider and perry events taking place this May. Some tastings and events will need to be booked in advance so make sure to look ahead to avoid disappointment!
You can join the celebrations on social media too, just use the buttons below or search #NotFromConcentrate to find all the juiciest real cider and perry news.
This May, ‘Perry: A Drinker’s Guide’ hits bookshelves too. This world first publication from CAMRA books and author Adam Wells is a dedicated and comprehensive guide to this most wondrous of drinks. Beautifully illustrated throughout with stunning colour photography, ‘Perry: A Drinker’s Guide’ takes the reader on a journey through the magical world of perry, with information on its troubled history, the many different varieties of pear, how it’s made, and, most importantly, a guide to styles, countries, regions and producers. See below for all the events across the country, or head to the CAMRA shop to pick up your copy today!
May 1-7
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Happy Cider & Perry Month! Today also marks the publication of the first ever consumer guide to perry, from acclaimed writer Adam Wells. Get your copy now! |
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We’ll have exclusive content available just for CAMRA members on our Learn & Discover pages throughout May, including in-depth perry guides from author Adam Wells. If you’re not already a member, join for full access. |
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Today, you can head to Ross on Wye for a launch party and perry tasting for Perry: A Drinkers Guide. A few spots are still available so grab yours while you can! |
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Whether it’s a weekend to enjoy or avoid the weather, head down your local for a pint of real cider or perry. Search for venues that serve it with our easy, filterable list of every pub in the UK. |
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Do you know a cider or perry champion? Nominations for CAMRA’s prestigious Pomona Award are now open! Click to read more about the award, and how to make a nomination. |
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Last years Pomona Award winner, Elizabeth Pimblett, was nominated for her work as director of the Museum of Cider in Hereford. Find out about the musuem today. |
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Want to find your local cider and perry producers? We’ve got you covered! Click to see the UK’s most comprehensive list of real cider and perry makers. |
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May 8-14
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Looking to take your cider and perry knowledge to the next level this Cider & Perry Month? CAMRA members get 10% off Beer & Cider Academy training, brought to you by Gabe Cook – The Ciderologist – a world authority on cider education. |
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Reviews are in for “Perry: A Drinker’s Guide”! Author and drinks educator Jane Peyton says it’s “a love letter to perry” and that “Not only is Adam Wells one of the great drinks writers, he is an even greater evangelist for cider and perry.” Get your copy today. |
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Cider apple and perry pear orchards are blossoming this time of year, so why not check out our recommended picks of producers of cider and perry to visit. Their orchards offer magnificent views, a lovely atmosphere, with a bonus of cider and perry! |
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Join Ciderologist, Gabe Cook, for a deep dive into Pagan Gods and the creation of Earth, Stinking Bishop, British Army khaki uniform in WWI, and 300 year old trees, with his history of perry for CAMRA Learn & Discover. |
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Don’t forget to make your nomination for the Pomona Awards. Named after the Roman Goddess of apples, this award is presented by CAMRA for outstanding achievement, commitment, or contribution to the promotion of real cider or perry. |
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Cider and Perry Month comes twice a year, but CAMRA campaigns for cider, perry, and it’s makers all year round. Click to read about how we’re promoting these drinks. |
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Join globetrotting Ciderologist, Gabe Cook, on the first stop of his World of Cider series. Exclusively for CAMRA Learn & Discover, click to find out about the cider scene in Scotland. |
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May 15-21
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James Finch, “The Cider Critic” and former winner of CAMRA’s Pomona Award says Perry: A Drinker’s Guide is – “perfect, all of Adam’s passion and considered objective view comes through. It’s serious but also happy and encouraging. I had no idea it was going to cover so much ground, so kudos on the “Making Perry” section in particular with all the process, faults and packaging coverage. The food pairing is a great addition too. It’s a book many will read and come back to over and over again for many years, from inquisitive drinker to wannabe Perry maker. The photos are also outstanding”Click to get your copy! |
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This time of year blossom is opening in cider and perry orchards across the UK, starting in the south and heading north as the weather warms. Head to twitter to see the latest from #BlossomWatch and follow spring’s progress |
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Blossom isn’t just the first step of cider production, it also supports the wildlife that makes its home in our traditional orchards. Click to read about how #BlossomWatch is part the National Trust’s work on bringing blossom back. |
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Our friends at Fine Cider Company offer a discount for CAMRA members. Click to get 10% off their educational cider tasting package “The Fundamentals of Fine Cider” |
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Join Gabe Cook on the next leg of his “World of Cider” odyssey as he travels to the Basque Country and Northern Spain to explore everything it has to offer. |
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We’ll have a film from Adam Wells, author of Perry: A Drinker’s Guide, coming soon to CAMRA Learn & Discover. Today you can have a sneak peak of what’s in store |
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We’ve learned that Napoleon probably didn’t call perry “the English champagne” but what makes cider and perry sparkle? Head to Learn & Discover with wine and cider writer Rachel Hendry’s to find out. |
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Find events near you
CAMRA branches, cider and perry makers, pubs, museums, and social clubs all run events to celebrate cider and perry throughout May.
You can see events that have already been submitted on our Events Map. If we’ve missed an event taking place near you that celebrates cider and perry this May, then let us know about it using the form on the events page and we’ll add it to the listings!
More resources
Find more about the publication of ‘Perry: A Drinker’s Guide, or head over to our ‘Promoting real cider and perry page’ to see how CAMRA campaigns for real cider and perry throughout the rest of the year too.
If you’re a CAMRA member and you’d like to celebrate Cider and Perry Month then you can find a Campaigns Pack with everything you need to get started over in our Members Area.