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A cider 'barge' in Bristol. God I'm looking forward to going tomorrow. Although I'm not looking forward to hearing and seeing bristolians. I'll have to drink more to drown them out.

There should be a cider bar in swindon.

If there was, there would be carnage.

I'm not really a cider person, but I do remember having a really nice cider in the Coronation Tap in Clifton years ago.  Thought sticking the slice of lemon on top was a daft idea until I tried it.

Is that the place that sells the 18% cider.

I'm not sure if it is, but theres somewhere in bristol that sells stupidly strong cider, in half pints. If you drink 8 pints in 2 hours (or something like that) they allow you to drink it from a pint glass.

I know someone who tried it, and he shat himself. Literally poo'd his pants

See if they've still got Old Bristolian on - it's about 7% and really rather good.


They keep the riff-raff out by being a bit pricey and not having Blackthorn on. Bristolian's might drink a lot of cider but they know fuck all about it.

The Glue Pot has a decent cider selection i.e. usually 4 or 5 ciders on gravity plus yer Stowford Press type stuff etc on draught.

Yes that's the coronation tap. It's called Exhibition.

The Apple is quite cool, it's nice to sit on the benchs outside. Tbh I prefer cheap fizzy cider like Blackthorn and the cheap Scrumy stuff to "proper" still, cloudy cider. Blackthorn isn't so good since they changed it recently tho.

I haven't touched Blackthorn since they sponsored the Slave Traders. Its piss anyway.

On a slightly different topic Tescos have an amazing variety of bottled beer/ale now,lots of cider too...had a couple of Mcewans gold last night,very nice at a round 7%,if you like ale its like a kid in a candy shop there at the moment.

They are selling Doom Bar in there, lovely drink!

Had some last week...though i still find it hard not to take the traditional 6X home,even in bottles its bleedin lovely.

Agreed!

Tesco's selection is quite good these days - including a few other locals - RCH Pitchfork is great and Butcombe's Brunel IPA and even Bath Ales Gem. Oh and from abit futher away Bernard the bottle conditioned Czech black lager is great too.

If your acually thirsty go for the Ruddles...its easy to drink.

i love cider,but not blackthorn.it's fucking rank is that.

Yes yes. I drink in the Doom Bar in Cornwall, a couple of times a year. Its all over the place now, always a suprise to see it in places like london

Talking to an Arkells pub landlord last week, rates Doom Bar as one of the best drinks there is and would love to be able to serve it.  Trouble is there would no beer brewed at Kingsdown if they started selling it in their pubs!

I LOVE doombar

They sell Doom Bar at the Red Lion in Cricklade (or they did last time I was there anyway)

And at the Turnpike in Minety.

If you are after bottles of ale or proper beer then head to Magnum along Wood Street, they have a fantastic selection.

For example just before Christmas I popped in and walked out with a crate of Christmas Pudding Ale.

Bloody lovely it was.

But yes anyway it is important that we as consumers give these independant shops our custom and support in these trying times.

Think of it as supporting, say, a League 1 side instead of Manchester United :)

Christmas Pudding Ale is something I've always been intrigued by, but have yet to sample. Hopefully I'll spot it somewhere in this year's festive period!

Most brewers bring out their winter beers in about a month's time, so you'll get a much better selection then.  There are few better ways to finish off an afternoon of Christmas shopping than by heading to a warm, friendly pub for a pint of Winter Warmer.

Doom Bar is so common now that it's starting to seem like a bit of a cop out, a bit like old speckled hen or something. It's a brilliantly delicious fall back, but I tend to go for a new option if there's one I don't remember trying.

I always have to try the new beers - not that I'm some weird camra ticker but if I didn't I would never have tried Chcolocate Orange Delight (Downton) or (Marble) Ginger or Potholer (Cheddar) without going for something new. Fall backs are great but that is the wonderful thing about beer - there are always new things to try.

The bristolian is an aquired taste but very leathal. Nice little barge, with great ploughmans!