Hard Cider access in Scotland?
 

I leave in THREE DAYS!!! My first trip to Scotland...while looking forward to whisky and castles, as my screen name suggests, I do love cider. Is hard cider readily available in pubs?

Edinbourgh, Islay, Mull and places in between - do you have any wonderful pub recommendations?

THANKS!

I've never been in a British pub that didn't have cider on draft or at least bottled.

and i've been in a lot of pubs and like cider

sometimes they have several esoteric types

Hi,
As far as I know, pretty much all cider on sale in pubs is alcoholic (I think the alcohol content is around 4%), and almost all pubs I've been to serve it on tap (it's my drink of choice). Pubs don't usually serve ciders made from other fruit, though, so no need to ask for apple cider as I believe one might do in the US - just ask for a pint (or a half) of cider.
There will usually be one variety available on tap, and other bottled varieties may also be available.
Magners cider is the latest variety to become popular - note that it, unlike other cider brands, is usually served with ice. Other common brands are Strongbow and Blackthorn.

There will be a draught cider in most pubs - usually Strongbow.

Most will also sell either magners or bulmers in bottles.

If you come across a JD Wetherspoon pub they will have proper scrumpy on tap and also swedish ciders and peries in bottles.


BTW "hard" cider is redundant - we only have alcoholic cider here.

Dunno about Scotland, but be careful about alcohol contents. Some are as strong as 6.5-7% so much stronger than beer. Though most brands are around 4.5-5.5%.

I was going to ask what hard cider is, but I guess the answer is in your prior repondents.

But you will get "looks" if you try to drink cider on Islay.

Email me for the Islay trip thing I have.

Pubs in Edinburgh worth visiting include:-
The Tron
Sandy Bell's.
The Ensign Ewart
The Café Royal,
The Barony,
Mathers,
The Diggers (posh name the Athletic Arms),
The Roseburn,
Bert’s, and
The Abbotsford

but there are many more

On Islay, try An Tigh-Seinnse, in Portnahaven, the public bar of the Port Charlotte Hotel, the Lochside in Bowmore, and the Port Askaig Hotel.

On Mull, there's really only teh Mishnish in Tobermory and the keel Row in Fionnphort.

See if you can lay your hands on some Scrumpy.

You are at the wrong end of the island, it being Cornish, but the stuff will strip paint.

I used to frequent a pub where it was only served in the Public Bar, as opposed to the Lounge; apparently if spilt it took the dye out of the carpet in the Lounge.

Merry on Down!

Do you like sweet or dry cider? There is a wide range available. For sweet, I liked the Red C I found in Yorkshire - don't know if it's available in Scotland, but I would imagine it won't be too hard to find a sweet if you ask - or a dry.

Waring I think there are good many in Somerset who would argue with Scrumpy being Cornish, not to mention the cider makers of Herefordshire!

Any place to get Scrumpy in the Highlands?

As I said - look out for a wetherspoons pub (these re pretty grim afairs normally). They stock Old Rosie which is a scrumpy - otherise you're at completely the wrong end of Britain for cider.

For scrumpy-ish cider (in fact, don't drink the beer) you can brave it and head into the Saracen Head (or "Sarry Heid") in the Gallowgate in Glasgow. One of Glasgow's legendary pubs - don't go in if you support Rangers - where cider is the preferred intoxicant. Incredibly friendly folk, but physically it's a wee bit off-putting for the unititiated - although it's been in the Gallowgate for most of 300 years, the present building isn't that old, although some of the inhabitants might be, and the ghosts (of dead customers) certainly are. Open irregularly; don't go if Celtic are playing - it may be shut, or worse, open. ;)

Thanks!

Found this, might be of help to others as well:

http://www.ukcider.co.uk/wiki/index....de_to_Scotland

Since you're going to Edinburgh, you might also want to try Innis & Gunn's oak-aged beer if you want a break between ciders. A smooth, rich beer aged in bourbon casks. Not for guzzling.
http://www.innisandgunn.com/index.htm