Charlie Harvey

Review — Tutts Clump Cider

Written by Charlie on

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Tutts Clump Traditional Farmhouse Cider

Tim Wale is a cidermaker from West Berks who has a mission “To establish Real Cider and Perry at the forefront of English drinks, even if it takes the rest of my life”. Well, I am certainly down with that. And even more excited that this cider is another one from near to Oxford. Just like Cider Nik's splendid Coombe Raider, Tutts Clump cider originates in West Berkshire. This time from dead near Reading.

Tutts Clump Traditional Farmhouse Cider, shot of bottle with sack in the background. Yum.

I cracked it open after a long day working and going on the N30 union march in Oxford town centre. Clearly after such exertions, I was just in the mood for some cidery lushness. Now, Tim's approach to cidermaking seems pretty straightforward and no nonsense. You can read about the full cidermaking process over on the Tutts Clump website. One thing that is especially interesting about the cider is that its made with a mix of eating, cooking and crab apples rather than the traditional cider varieties.

I poured into my ahem, traditional cidersupping glass. Well, it's a pint glass that I acquired from the local boozer, but it suffices. The Tutt's Clump is still and light yellow in colour. There was no head and almost no bubbles, though a few appeared a couple of minutes after pouring.

It isn't just geographically that Tutts Clump falls somewhere between the West country and Suffolk. The flavour has a hint of Aspalls dryness, but also a hint of the tannin of scrumpy. I guess its the crab or the cooking apples that give it a bit of bite. Its softer than many, but still manages to pack in a bit of sharpness. I can almost taste pear in there as well, but its been a long day. And I’ve been drinking cider.

Overall, I reckon that this is a cider to be proud of. I can imagine it being appropriate for weekend imbibing sessions round the fire. I have a bottle of the Tutts Clump special reserve lurking in my review stash, I’m definitely looking forward to trying that one out! And you, my cidernaut readers shall be the first to know of it when I do. Bye for now.

2011-11-30 by Charlie Harvey


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