You made very nice cider - very pleasant to drink just like drinking a refreshing apple juice but with a surprising kick. When I was working on the hops at Lyde I mentioned it over bait to a fellow worker, just trying to fit in.
"Flemings cider? You drink that?" I got the impression I might have said the wrong thing
"Oh you don't want to drink that, boy!" I felt insulted, that he assumed I couldn't take it. I considered myself to be a bit of a traditional drinker in those days.
"Oh yeah it's a bit strong isn't it!" I laughed, being manly.
"Strong? You remember Tom who had that farm over there?" Now I realised I was out of my depth. Who was Tom?
"Well Tom liked the old Flemings. Swore by it! Drank a gallon a day he did!"
"No, I don't know Tom"
"Well you won't. Not any more" I must have looked puzzled. He was enjoying his story.
"He was just driving the tractor along the side of the hill, in the rocky field. And he hit this rock and the tractor just tipped over! Threw him out! Hit his head on a rock and split it open!"
"Split it open? What...his head?"
"Course his head! And do you know what?" Dramatic pause
"What?" I didn't like where this was going.
"It was empty! No brains inside!" He sat back in satisfaction and carried on eating his bait.
I didn't know what to say.
"And that was the Flemings" he said, munching his sandwich
When we first moved to Shropshire 35 years ago, my mother -in- law took us to. Tommy's in Richards Castle. We spent a very enjoyable and tipsy afternoon sampling his excellent brews.
Maybe you could get some grafting wood sent over and either graft, bud or headwork another tree in order to get yourself a Sam's Crab? Are you in a spot where apples thrive?
Thank you so very much - I did find someone who sold the trees in Suffolk - unfortunately due to Brexit I could not take a specimen with me to Ireland - I also had to leave behind my Spartan too :0(
Quick question - when I lived in Cobnash I was told the whole of the garden nursery used to be a cider apple orchard. I found several old apple trees, but never really discovered their names (long story). I genuinely believed that one of the trees was a Sam's Crab apple - it was quite small, but the sweetest juiciest reddish apple I have ever tried - it even knocked Spartan into second place on my top ten. Do you know if this was an old cider apple? Apparently it is reputed to be a Hereford original. Many thanks for reading :0)
You made very nice cider - very pleasant to drink just like drinking a refreshing apple juice but with a surprising kick. When I was working on the hops at Lyde I mentioned it over bait to a fellow worker, just trying to fit in.
"Flemings cider? You drink that?" I got the impression I might have said the wrong thing
"Yes! It's...you know...real cider it's really nice!"
"Oh you don't want to drink that, boy!" I felt insulted, that he assumed I couldn't take it. I considered myself to be a bit of a traditional drinker in those days.
"Oh yeah it's a bit strong isn't it!" I laughed, being manly.
"Strong? You remember Tom who had that farm over there?" Now I realised I was out of my depth. Who was Tom?
"Well Tom liked the old Flemings. Swore by it! Drank a gallon a day he did!"
"No, I don't know Tom"
"Well you won't. Not any more" I must have looked puzzled. He was enjoying his story.
"He was just driving the tractor along the side of the hill, in the rocky field. And he hit this rock and the tractor just tipped over! Threw him out! Hit his head on a rock and split it open!"
"Split it open? What...his head?"
"Course his head! And do you know what?" Dramatic pause
"What?" I didn't like where this was going.
"It was empty! No brains inside!" He sat back in satisfaction and carried on eating his bait.
I didn't know what to say.
"And that was the Flemings" he said, munching his sandwich
When we first moved to Shropshire 35 years ago, my mother -in- law took us to. Tommy's in Richards Castle. We spent a very enjoyable and tipsy afternoon sampling his excellent brews.
Also familiar with West Country cider
Maybe you could get some grafting wood sent over and either graft, bud or headwork another tree in order to get yourself a Sam's Crab? Are you in a spot where apples thrive?
Dr Baylis... go on! I want to know the rest!
Next thrilling episode...
Thank you so very much - I did find someone who sold the trees in Suffolk - unfortunately due to Brexit I could not take a specimen with me to Ireland - I also had to leave behind my Spartan too :0(
Quick question - when I lived in Cobnash I was told the whole of the garden nursery used to be a cider apple orchard. I found several old apple trees, but never really discovered their names (long story). I genuinely believed that one of the trees was a Sam's Crab apple - it was quite small, but the sweetest juiciest reddish apple I have ever tried - it even knocked Spartan into second place on my top ten. Do you know if this was an old cider apple? Apparently it is reputed to be a Hereford original. Many thanks for reading :0)
I have heard of the apple 'Sam's Crab' but not used it. I would guess it is one of the 'sharp' class of cider apples, judging by the name.