Tricky Cider

Cidery in Taunton, Somerset, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Established in 2004

Contact
Higher Willand Farm, Churchstanton, Taunton, TA37RL, England
Description
Tricky Cider was founded in 2004 by Steve Watkins and Alistair Brice. With a lifetime of hobby cider making behind them, the pair started Tricky to preserve the art of traditional cider, refining the authentic taste over several years with a perfect blend of local cider apples. Tricky takes its name from nearby Trickey Warren; a flat open area with a reputation as a hard place to shoot rabbits!

Nowadays Tricky Cider is run by Matt Gillett, a life long lover of cider and Somerset. Matt grew up in nearby Taunton and after 10 years working as an automotive engineer in Essex, he decided to change direction and move back to his home county.

His passion for fermenting started in the mid 2000’s with 'Genghis Ales' his home brew label, and small batch cider making using fruit from neighbours’ trees. This background led to a micro-brewery installation project with friend Freddie Farnworth in the back garden of the Holman Clavel pub on the Blackdown hills, at that time owned by Tricky founder Steve Watkins. The pair purchased Tricky from Steve in 2018 and Matt is now the sole owner of the business.

Operating out of Higher Willand Farm on the Blackdowns, his aim is to produce and promote high quality traditional farmhouse cider and work to regenerate forgotten orchards. Matt is proud to be part of the tradition of Somerset cider making and the exciting revival of this fabulous natural drink.

     Show


7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Box @ Bailey Head. Misty bright gold appearance. Funky wild aroma. Good furry tannin from the off, pure natural orchard fruit with quite a characterful acidic bite. Interesting, decent.

Tried on 03 Jun 2023 at 17:53


7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

BIAB at Newcastle Beer & Cider Festival 2023. Yellow gold colour, afew bubbles on top and aroma of apple, fruity, acetic funk. Taste is sweetish, tangy, sourish, apple, fruity, fleshy, with some orchardy funk and drying tannins. Medium bodied, low carbonation, medium-dry tannic finish. Nicely drinkable

Tried on 30 Mar 2023 at 11:24


13/10/2009. STAR INN, 23 The Vineyards, BATH, Bath & North East Somerset, England

Tried on 09 Feb 2023 at 11:40


7.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

BIAB at York Beer & Cider Festival 2022. Hazy orange gold colour, some bubbles on top and aroma of apple, funk. Taste is sweetish, apple, fruity, funky hints, mellow, some balanced acidity and tannins. Medium bodied, low carbonation, medium dry finish. Quite balanced, nicely drinkable

Tried on 14 Sep 2022 at 17:13


7

Tried on 19 Aug 2022 at 11:18


6.9
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5


Cask (handpump) @ Cock Tavern, 🇬🇧 315 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1EJ Hackney, Greater London, England.

[ As Tricky Cider U.F.O. #5 ].
ABV: 5.0%. Clear medium orange colour with virtually no head. Aroma is moderate to light heavy apple, horse blanket - barnyard, manure. Flavor is moderate sweet with a average duration, manure, barnyard - farmyard, apple, dry. Body is medium, texture is watery - creamy, carbonation is flat. [20220805]
7-2-7-4-15

Tried from Cask on 17 Aug 2022 at 13:23


7
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

2/6/2022. From BIAB at the 35th Colchester Real Ale & Cider Festival. Pours hazy yellow gold with minimal head. Aroma is musty apple, mucky, farmyard, horse blanket, fruity, citrus. Light sweetness, moderate bitterness, tartness and body. Oily and watery, soft carbonation. Dry finish. Quite enjoyed this.

Tried on 13 Jun 2022 at 20:44


7.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5

At Orchard Inn Bristol . hazy amber copper colour no head. wow that is dry. Yarlington mill apples. very parching. damn that's fun. very good cider. i can't feel my gums

Tried from Can on 18 Apr 2022 at 16:25


7

Tried on 02 Apr 2022 at 17:43


7.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

20/2/2022. Bottle sample courtesy of danlo, cheers Ed! Pours hazy golden orange with a bubbly white head. Aroma is apple, slightly musty, funky, citrus. Light sweetness, moderate bitterness, light tartness. Medium body, slightly oily, average carbonation. Dry tannic finish. Nicely done.

Tried from Bottle on 28 Feb 2022 at 19:49