Big Bear Cider Mill

Cidery in Braintree, Essex, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Established in 2017

Closed in 2024

Contact
The Barn, Tumblers Green, Stisted, Braintree, CM77 8AZ, England
Description
The Big Bear Cider Mill is in Essex. We grow and hand craft our apples into cider at Rayleigh Orchard, Tumblers Green, Braintree, Essex, UK.

The Big Bear Cider is made from 100% apple juice, naturally vegan and naturally gluten free.

The Big Bears’ mission is to turn our passion for apples into quality cider available all year round.

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7.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Panda at home, thanks to Graham Grumbo, 31/01/2026.
Clear golden copper with a just off white cap that veers to the edge.
Nose is crisp apple, straw, vinous, herb.
Taste comprises apple pulp, tannins, light residual sugars, orchard wood.
Medium bodied, fine carbonation, drying close.
Solid cider.
Tried on 31 Jan 2026 at 15:51

7.8/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 7 Overall 8
8/1/2026. Can bought from the cidery’s stall at Ipswich Farmers Market. Good pour. Nice sparkling carbonation. Aroma is rich apple, baked apple, caramel, brown sugar, funky notes. Medium sweetness with some nice dryness and light tartness. Medium body. Very nicely done. Shame the cider maker has since retired.
Tried from Can on 08 Jan 2026 at 19:02

7.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 7 Overall 7
Tried on 01 Jan 2026 at 10:25

5.9/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
can aronge clear fizzy tannin floral mineral medium biscotto bread gooseberry oxidation
Tried from Can on 14 Oct 2022 at 23:46

5.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 4 Overall 6
24/8/2022. Can bought from the cidery’s stall at Ipswich Farmers Market. Pours clear effervescent bright golden with a short lasting frothy white head. Aroma is herbal, musty apple, slightly funky, cinnamon pastry, sweet dough, nutmeg too maybe. Quite heavy bready sweetness with a light tart edge. Moderate body, oily, fizzy. Almost has a sweet mulled element to it. Have got another can which I might try warm at Christmas…
Tried from Can on 24 Aug 2022 at 16:36

7/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 4 Overall 7
14/5/2022. 3 litre bag bought direct from the cider maker at Ipswich Farmers Market, shared at the Warsaw GP cider tasting. Pours clear bright amber with a small bubbly white head. Aroma is pungent apple, white grape, slightly funky and mucky with a woody edge. Light sweetness and tartness, very dry. Moderate body, low carbonation. Super dry finish. Enjoyable.
Tried on 13 Jun 2022 at 13:56

7.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
330ml can from National Brewery Centre, Burton on Trent. Clear gold appearance. Nice rich caramelised brown sugar aroma, lovely rich golden apple taste, soft scuzzy tannins. Very good.
Tried from Can on 17 Mar 2022 at 22:50

7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
330ml can courtesy of Grumbo, cheers Graham! Bright golden colour, white foam head that quickly dissipates to a thin rim and aroma of apple, funk hints. Taste is apple, fruity, some funk, tangy, and mellow tannin. Medium bodied, light carbonation, medium-dry finish. Quite drinkable.
Tried from Can on 12 Jan 2022 at 20:43

6.6/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Sample courtesy of Grumbo, thanks Graham! Amber golden colour, afew bubbles on top and aroma of fleshy apple, some core & skin, with a slight mucky hint. Taste is tangy apple, tart, drying, fleshy, with skin & core, and some acidity. Medium bodied, low carbonation, very dry finish. Quite drinkable.
Tried on 20 Nov 2021 at 17:56

5.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 5 Flavor 5 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
330ml can courtesy of Grumbo, cheers Graham! Sparkling, golden colour, short-lived fizzy white foam head and aroma of apple, with pastry-like funk, and fruity, herby. Taste is apple, fruity, juicy, acetic funky, and with an oxidised cardboardy note. Medium bodied, spritzy carbonation, dry finish. Not for me
Tried from Can on 05 Aug 2021 at 19:20