Kilmegan

Cidery in Dundrum, Down, Northern Ireland

Established in 2013

Contact
40 Kilmegan Road, Dundrum, BT33 0NP, Northern Ireland
Description
In 2009 my wife Karen and I set about trying to make a batch of cider. Using a strong bucket and a 4 inch wooden fence post, we laboured for hours to mash up enough apples to put into my fathers wine press and produce a gallon or two of juice. We then simply put the juice into a demijohn, added some champagne yeast, stuck on an airlock and let nature take its course. After a few months the juice had cleared, fermentation had stopped and hey presto our first cider was made. It didn’t taste anything like the mass produced cider I had vowed to NEVER AGAIN drink as a 16 year old on a cursed camping trip with school mates.

This beautiful amber liquid was a revelation to me. Tasting fresh and crisp and as natural a product as you could wish for. Using no added acids, sugar, water or concentrates this was, to me, REAL CIDER and so it began. “Less is more” they say and we agree.

Although our methods of producing our juice have thankfully changed (we are now using a proper apple mill and rack and cloth press). Our principles have not changed – get the proper blend of apples, extract the juice, ferment and leave to mature for six to eight months and as it are made with 100% fresh pressed juice – you will taste the difference!

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

500ml bottle from National Brewery Centre, Burton on Trent. Pours a deep clear burnished gold. Lovely oaky rich apple aroma. Taste presents a comforting barrel ageing presence, woody with whisky barrel hints, distant tannin with a nice natural fruitiness. Very enjoyable.

Tried from Bottle on 17 Mar 2022 at 21:51


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

Bottle at mum and dads, 15/09/19. Light golden yellow with a white cap and carbonation well evident. Nose is apple orchard, grass, light floral tones, grains. Taste comprises apple pulp, light funky rasp, mellow elderflower, straw, light tannins. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, light dryness in the close. Decent fayre.

Tried from Bottle on 16 Sep 2019 at 13:35


6.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Cask at the St. Ives 'Booze on the Ouse' beer festival, 2017. Pours dark gold with minimal head. Aroma of sour apples and light caramel. Moderate sweetness, light sour. Medium body, oily texture, flat carbonation.

Tried from Cask on 21 Oct 2017 at 11:29


6.5
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Cask @ St Ives Booze on the Ouse festival. No head. Color is golden. Aroma and taste are dry apples, little fruits, some acidity and has a nice dry finish.

Tried from Cask on 21 Oct 2017 at 11:24


6

Tried on 21 Aug 2017 at 09:09


6

Tried on 20 Aug 2017 at 14:16


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

On tap @ SRAF. Pale, hazy and golden. Apple skins on the nose and taste. Light wood. Lovely, and definitely bone dry.

Tried from Draft on 16 Jul 2017 at 11:53


6.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bag in box at sraf 2017. Pours hazy golden, nose is floral, apple, taste is sweet, fruity, apple.

Tried on 08 Jul 2017 at 04:16


6.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bag in box at sraf 2017. Pours golden, nose is funky, apple, oak, taste is sweet apple, floral.

Tried on 06 Jul 2017 at 14:21


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Poly pin at SRAF 2017... Light Amber... Thin white lacing... Soft sweet apple fruit nose.. Dry dry apple.. Bitter fruit... Long dry apple

Tried on 06 Jul 2017 at 08:54