New cider from regional cider maker Small Acres Cyder
Regional cider maker Small Acres Cyder, based at Orange in New South Wales, have released a new apple cider called The Cat’s Pyjamas.
The new cider, released to the public on 20 October 2013, was recently awarded “Champion Australian Cider” at the 2013 Australian Cider Awards, which were held in Orange.
“The Cat’s Pyjamas is our latest bottle-fermented sparkling cider an only just released to the public,” said James Kendell, cider maker and Owner of Small Acres Cyder. “The Cat’s Pyjama’s in a 1920s jazz saying, meaning the bee’s knees, or something that is the best that it can be. We couldn’t have hoped for a better result for a cider with this name,” he said.
The Cat’s Pyjamas is made from estate-grown cider variety apples, and is first fermented on solids, and followed by malolactic fermentation, lees stirring and 24 months maturation.
Small Acres Cyder was awarded four medals in the Australian Cider Awards in total – gold of The Cat’s Pyjamas, and three silver medals for its Sparkling Perry 2012 and Sparkling Cider 2011, both bottle-fermented varieties, as well as its Somerset Still 2013, a crisp dry cider.
“Cider has seen unprecedented growth over the last few years and we are now starting to see the industry mature,” Mr Kendell said. “It is really rewarding to see the improvement in quality of Australian ciders and this was reflected by the significant increase in the number of medals awarded to Australian cider producers this year,” he said.
Growth in cider popularity and industry
One of the show judges, Gary Awdey, who is also a US cider expert, said he was impressed with the quality of Australian ciders on display at the Awards.
“I was most impressed with the quality of the ciders entered and saw some strong correlations to where the US cider scene was only a few years ago,” Mr Awdey said. “There is every reason to expect that the gap will narrow quickly. The best Australian ciders compare favourably with the best American ciders,” he said.
Australian Food News reported in August 2013 that the popularity of cider had increased dramatically in recent years, from just over 1 in 50 people drinking the beverage in 2008, to almost 1 in 10 in 2013. Cider was most popular among young Australians between the ages of 18 and 24 years.
