Henney's Autumn Gold - a light, bright medium sweet draught cider

Mike has long been thinking of creating a sparkling draught cider to complement the existing range of bottled ciders. Although it may seem like a small and natural leap - from bottle to keg, from drinks aisle to pub - it's actually an entirely different market with a whole heap of challenges.
 
This is not entirely unknown territory for Mike - last year saw the launch of Henney's Traditional, the bag in box cider distributed throughout the Midlands by Purity Brewing Company, but this time he wanted to create something with wider appeal - a bright sparkling keg cider.

One of the first considerations is strength. Henney's bottled ciders are typically around 6% abv - and there aren't many pub landlords happy to be dishing out pints at such a strength. So the first thing Mike had to do was blend a slightly lighter cider more suited to pub drinking.

Next there's the tricky issue of distribution. Obviously he has all the logistics in place for producing bottled cider, but the delivery of keg cider into pubs requires an entirely different set of suppliers and equipment. Cider has to be moved - from farm to a bottler geared up to fill kegs, then on to pubs. Branded bar fonts are required, plus supportive material - beer mats and bar runners. And you wouldn't believe how many spare kegs are needed to ensure the cider keeps flowing - some are being filled, some are in pubs, some are empty and on their way back to the bottlers... For every keg sitting in a pub cellar there are two or three more floating around. And stainless steel kegs are not cheap.

Given the challenge of sales and delivery into pubs, a trusted distributor with a good customer base and logistics already in place is what is really needed. And as luck would have it, there is just such a company nearby.... Enter into the story Wye Valley Brewery, Herefordshire's leading cask-ale brewer based just two miles away from Henney's - and following a series of meetings 'just up the road' Mike is delighted to have set up an exclusive arrangement with them to supply his new cider.

And finally there is the matter of a product name, but funnily enough this was already in place. A couple of years ago now Mike noticed that 'Autumn Gold' the old Taunton Cider product, was no longer registered - so he acquired the name. So Henney's Autumn Gold has been registered for some time now - and was just waiting for the right cider to be created...

... and that cider is now ready. Introducing Henney's Autumn Gold  a light, bright medium sweet cider, 4.5% abv, crisp and refreshing with a light sparkle.

With everything now in place, the first pint of Henney's Autumn Gold is ready to be drawn, and Mike is delighted to announce its launch this weekend,  in conjunction with Wye Valley Brewery and Hereford's much loved pub, The Barrel's.

And so, to be the first to try Henney's Autumn Gold head over to the Barrel's today. They are hosting their now infamous Barrel's Beer Festival all over this bank holiday weekend - and will even be handing out free samples of Henney's Autumn Gold, while stocks last.

And with Wye Valley Brewery pubs already starting to order their kegs of Autumn Gold, expect to see it cropping up in more pubs across the area in the weeks and months ahead.

Cheers!

Overall Champion - International Cider & Perry Competition 2015

At Henney's it's always more about producing a decent cider than worrying about marketing and PR, but this week we simply have to blow our trumpet a little...

Yes, there's a bit of celebrating going on as Henney's Cider Company has just been awarded 'Overall Champion' at the 2015 International Cider & Perry Competition.

Mike Henney "delighted"

 

A prominent event in the cider making world, this year's competition saw 224 entries from 51 cider makers. Entries came in from around the world for the competition held at The Cider Museum Hereford last week, with judging by Nick Bradstock, David Sheppy, Patrick Shave and Julian Temperley

Mike's entry won first prize in the coveted 'Class 1 - Dry Cider' class, and then went on to beat the winners of the other 10 cider and perry classes, to take the highest accolade of the competition, 'Overall Champion'.

The winning cider forms the base cider for the entire Henney's range, so Mike is delighted to have seen it recognised in this way: "I'm delighted to have been awarded this prestigious accolade, especially given the quality of the competition".

Please visit The Cider Museum website for more details, there's a full list of results on the Competition page (and and another grinning photograph of Mike Henney in Latest News...)

Henney's Traditional draught cider

We are delighted to introduce our new product, Henney's Traditional draught cider, and to announce a distribution arrangement with Purity Brewing Company, one of the UK's fastest growing craft breweries.

'Traditional' is an unfiltered full-bodied still cider, at 6% abv.

Purity supply outlets across the Midlands and will be distributing Henney's Traditional alongside their excellent range of craft brewed beers.

Introducing: Henney's Exhibition Cider

Inspired by the traditional cider making competitions that take place in Herefordshire every year, Mike has created a new addition to the Henney's range of ciders: Exhibition.

 

Exhibition is a dry cider of the highest "exhibition" standard, and at 7.2% vol it is a strong and characterful addition to the Henney's cider family. 

Late in the spring, when cider from the previous autumn has matured, cider makers exhibit their cider for judging in friendly competitions, and the new Exhibition cider represents Mike's entry into the coveted 'dry cider' class.

It is, in short, his selection of the best cider from the season.

Entries at our local Big Apple cider competition

As with all the Henney's ciders, Exhibition is made only from the juice of Herefordshire grown cider apples, and it's rich complex aroma and taste is typical of traditional ciders from the region.

Just launched, Exhibition is not yet widely available, but for anyone who simply can't wait, it is already available through our wonderful local wine shop, The Hop Pocket Wine Company. They sell all the Henney's range for £1.99 a bottle, 3 for £5 or packs of 8 for £12. Call them on 01531 640592 to order - they send anywhere in UK for a delivery charge of £7.99.

We would love to know what you think.... Cheers!

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Update - now also available through a handful of Tesco branches. Please leave a comment or email us if you'd like to find out which one is closest to you.