Frequently Asked Questions
What is Scrumpy?
Where can i buy it?
How long will it last once opened?
What is still cider?
Is the cider dry,medium or sweet?
Why is there sometimes a slight sediment at the bottom the bottle?
Is the sediment harmful?
How strong is the cider?
Can i store the cider for a special occasion?
Do you make any other types of cider?
Do you use concentrate?
Q What is Scrumpy?
A There are many definitions for Scrumpy.To me the idea of Scrumpy is to make cider not from vintage cider making apples but from whatever apples can be 'Scrumped', ie begged, borrowed or picked from the ground when it is obvious nobody else wants them.
Scrumpy does not have to be cloudy or hazy but it does need to be farmhouse style, which is strong in alcohol and made from apple juice not from concentrate.
Q Where can i buy it?
A Spalding Scrumpy is currently availabe at Sergi's Delicatessen, Spalding.
www.sergisdeli.co.uk
Spalding Scrumpy and Yellowbelly are also available at The Springfield Tavern, Springfileds Shopping Centre, Spalding.
Q How long will it last once opened?
A As a general rule it is best consumed on the day of opening because no preservatives are used.
Q What is still cider?
A Still cider is cider that has not been carbonated therefore is not gassy but flat/traditional.
Q Is the cider dry,medium or sweet?
A All the cider is classed as dry, some batches may be a little dryer than others but still dry. They can be sweetened if required by adding lemonade or even sugar.
Q Why is there a slight sediment at the bottom of the bottle?
A This sometimes happens as more yeast particles settle to the bottom either through time or temperature fluctuations.Because the cider is not filtered these tiny particles may still be present.Don't forget this is a living product.
Q Is the sediment harmful?
A No it is not harmful, they are mostly just dead yeast cells. You can shake the bottle and drink cloudy or pour off the sediment.
Q How strong is the cider?
A The fermentable sugar content of the apples determines the alcoholic strength of the cider.Different apple varieties and the weather are the main factors but others need to be considered. No sugar is added in the making of Spalding Scrumpy therefore batches may vary in strength, from 5% up to 7.5%.
Q Can i store the cider for a special occasion?
A Yes, you can store the cider for up to a year un-opened. Because no preservatives are added any longer may cause the cider to spoil. Try and avoid temperature fluctuations. A cool dark place is ideal.
Q Do you make any other types of cider?
A Yes, alongside Spalding Scrumpy i also produce a cider<Yellowbelly> made with between 75 and 100% juice,The third style i make is a much stronger cider, Headwrecker, that has an ABV. of around 8%. This has had sugar, nothing else, added to achieve this higher level of alcohol.I also produce a cider with a minimum of 50%fresh pressed juice,the cider is called Scavenger and some find this not as heavy to drink as the 100% juice ciders.
Suicider is made for 'friends' and family only, its too strong to sell!
Q Do you use concentrate?
A No concentrate is used in the making of my ciders. They are all 100% fresh pressed juice apart from the Yellowbelly which has a minimum of 75% juice and Scavenger and Suicider which has a minimum of 50% juice.It is thought that some well known commercial cider makers use up to 25% fresh juice, up to 25% concentrate and the rest is carbonated water.