Thanks to a combination of gravity and the great team here at Monteith’s Brewery in Greymouth, Cider fans have a reason to rejoice in a new refreshing drink for summer.
Monteith’s new Crushed Apple Cider is crafted from sun-ripened Nelson fruit that gravitate from the province’s many thousands of apple trees before journeying to our Monteith’s master brewers here in Greymouth who spend three months carefully nurturing the freshly crushed apple juice.
It may be a new development for us here at Monteith’s but world-wide and in New Zealand, Cider is making a comeback.
“We’ve been working through some facts and figures while the apples ferment,” says Monteith’s Tony Mercer. “You might be surprised to know the Cider market in New Zealand is growing at nearly 13 per cent.
“But it has had an image problem caused in part by low-rent PET bottles and also in part by low quality raw materials where concentrate has been used to produce cider.”
“We felt it was time to raise the bar on cider. We felt people were looking for a better quality Cider and we have been developing a 100 per cent New Zealand apple-sourced Cider to meet their demands.”
Fresh sun-ripened New Zealand apples have been crushed to retain the fruit’s natural flavours. The apple juice is then patiently fermented to deliver a revitalising premium Cider.
“Kiwis are keen on natural products that have a great taste – not products made from concentrates. And currently there is a reverse flow of New Zealanders returning from their OEs and bringing with them the tastes they have developed in the old country.
“This summer we’re picking people will enjoy it poured over ice for the ultimate refreshment hit,” Tony says. “It’s certainly a drink worth talking over.”