Orchard Thieves Rosé Cider goes Gold at brewing ‘Oscars’
DB’s Orchard Thieves Rosé Cider has been named the Gold medal winner in the new Cider Innovation Rosé category at the International Brewing and Cider Awards 2021.
The awards, which are part of the world’s most historic international beer and cider competition, have become known as the ‘Oscars’ of the brewing and cider world and took place last week at the National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent, in the UK.
A Gold, Silver and Bronze medal is awarded in each category. This year, new categories were announced to reflect key trends that have emerged in the beer and cider markets since the last event in 2019. In the beer competition, a new Zero Alcohol category was added and in the cider competition the Rosé category was added to reflect the growing trend for ‘pink’ ciders.
Orchard Thieves Rosé cider was one of 126 medal winners from around the world and the only one from New Zealand. It is made in DB Breweries’ Nelson-based Redwood Cidery.
David Sax, Chief Cidermaker at Redwood Cidery, is thrilled with the global recognition. “It is a new release for Orchard Thieves, that is drier in style. It is fresh, fruit-driven and beautifully pink thanks to the blending of both white and red fleshed apples.
“This cider uses the unusual red fleshed apple varieties ‘Geneva’ and ‘Red Love’. These red fleshed apples are used for their fantastic colour and their tartness (which is rhubarb-like) so perfectly balance the cider. This combination gives the cider a rosé wine character that matches the stunning blush colour. This cider will definitely appeal to wine drinkers and plays to the growing consumer trend for pink beverages.”
Nine beer Trophy winners were announced, including Tokyo-based Spring Valley Brewery’s Juicy Hop for Speciality Beer, while Ise Kadoya Beer, also from Japan, won the Strong Beer award for its Nou ga Trokeru Ultra Heaven 3xIPA.
Malta-based Simonds Farsons Cisk won the Non & Low Alcohol category for its Cisk 0.0, whilst other Trophy winners included Yorkshire’s Elvington Brewery (Keg Lager) and Jersey’s Liberation Brewing Company (Cask Conditioned Ale).
In the cider awards, Sheppy’s Vintage Cloudy Cider from Taunton-based Sheppy’s Cider, won The International Classic Cider Trophy, and Sidewood Estate from South Australia picked up The International Flavoured Cider Trophy for its Strawberry Apple Cider.
Ramborn Cider from Luxembourg won The International Innovative Cider Award for its Ramborn Ice Perry.
W: Find full results of the International Brewing and Cider Awards 2021 here
