Brothers Cider

Brothers Cider is a brand of cider originating in the South West of England, but now available at music festivals and stores across the country and online.

History

Brothers Cider is the created and owned by four brothers, Matthew, Jonathan, Francis and Daniel Showering, hence the name.

Brothers Cider is fermented and bottled on the former site of the Anglo Bavarian Brewery, which was also the first place in the UK to brew Bavarian lager style beer, this business folded in the early twentieth century, when all things with a German link became unpopular in the UK during the 1st World War.

The Showering brothers come from a long line of cidermakers that go back 14 generations [http://www.brotherscider.co.uk/history-of-cider-and-brothers.cider] . Their forefathers business (Showerings) was perhaps best known for Babycham: it eventually became part of Taunton-Coates-Gaymer, aka Matthew Clark Taunton and now part of the Constellation Group

In 1995 Glastonbury Festival gave way to the "Brothers Bar" where it has now become a permanent and popular feature in the Jazz World Field.

In 2006 Glastonbury Festival had a fallow year and the Brothers bottled a batch of their Pear Cider online to meet demand from festival fans who wanted to buy it outside Glastonbury. Demand snowballed and bars and supermarkets started to stock it.

In 2007, during Glastonbury Festival, Brothers Bar stopped selling the plastic bottles. There have been many rumours surrounding the decision to withdraw the bottles at such an early stage in the festival, however it is believed that the decision was made by the licence holder for the event, not Brothers Cider.

All ciders are sold by in 500ml non returnable glass bottles in bars and shops or in recyclable paper cups and plastic bottles at festivals.

Festivals

Brothers has expanded from their one site at the Glastonbury Festival to attend a number of live music events. So far the following events have been announced either on the Brothers Cider website or the websites of the live events.

*"'Bestival
*"'Big Chill
*"'Download
*"'Glastonbury Extravaganza
*"'Glastonbury Festival
*"'Guilfest

Flavours

Brothers Cider is available in four variations including:
*Festival Strength Pear Cider - 7.0% abv "Perry", The favourite for festival-goers.
*Pear Cider - 4.7% abv "Perry", Light and naturally sparking with a clean and refreshing taste
*Original Apple Cider - 4.7% abv Fresh Apple cider made in a traditional West Country method.
*Strawberry and Pear Cider - 4.0% abv Strawberry infused pear cider. Bright in colour, sweet in smell with a good balance of sweetness and acidity.
*Lemon and Pear Cider - 4.0% abv Launched as a result of demand generated at 2007 festivals

External links

* [http://www.brotherscider.co.uk Brothers Cider Homepage]
* [http://www.brotherscider.co.uk/stockists/ Brother Cider Stockist search]
* [http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=14569420556 Brothers Cider Facebook Page]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article3986821.ece Times Online: The best ciders]