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As part of our #noappleogies series on #womenincider, we wanted to expand our horizons and talk to some prominent women in the industry outside our own producers.
We spoke to Alison ( @AlisonGrapeSoc) from The Hop Inn Micropub, Hornchurch ( @inn_hop) about all things cider. [1/25]
![As part of our #noappleogies series on #womenincider, we wanted to expand our horizons and talk to some prominent women in the industry outside our own producers.We spoke to Alison ( @AlisonGrapeSoc) from The Hop Inn Micropub, Hornchurch ( @inn_hop) about all things cider. [1/25]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EqgrUwzXIAAj-CW.jpg "As part of our #noappleogies series on #womenincider, we wanted to expand our horizons and talk to some prominent women in the industry outside our own producers.We spoke to Alison ( @AlisonGrapeSoc) from The Hop Inn Micropub, Hornchurch ( @inn_hop) about all things cider. [1/25]")
We spoke to Alison ( @AlisonGrapeSoc) from The Hop Inn Micropub, Hornchurch ( @inn_hop) about all things cider. [1/25]
Alison - you are a trainer, coach, educator and now Co-owner of @inn_hop, and you are known for your love of cider. How did you get into the booze trade and why?
"I originally trained as a singer and actor, so didn’t drink much in order to protect the singing voice..." [2/25]
"I originally trained as a singer and actor, so didn’t drink much in order to protect the singing voice..." [2/25]
"In between acting jobs I got a job with PizzaExpress, during the expansion days in the 90’s, they made me a trainer and sent me off to do my WSET qualifications. So I came to wine and spirits through a formal, structured route." [3/25]
"I fell in love with the flavours, aromas and complex things that are going on and couldn’t wait to pass on my new passion to others. Straight after my wine training I was leading wine tastings with others up and down the country." [4/25]
"I’ve been training in restaurants since 1996 and these days run consumer sessions and events: that’s a lot of workshops and tastings! My passion for passing on the love for delicious drinks hasn’t really changed, I love to talk about it all..." [5/25]
"...sherry, real ale, vermouth, single malt, Belgian beer, great gin and I fell head over heels in love with cider and perry a few years ago." [6/25]
"I feel so excited about the flavours, the quality that’s out there (and still a bit hidden for most drinkers), the stories and the strong link to the social history of these isles." [7/25]
"It’s so good to see the love for wonderful beers that’s out there now and I really feel cider and perry is due a huge boost and rediscovery." [8/25]
Are there glass ceilings in the cider industry for women and for that matter people of ethnic origin?
"I think cider in this country is changing in front of our eyes, and it’s exciting." [9/25]
"I think cider in this country is changing in front of our eyes, and it’s exciting." [9/25]
"Traditionally, cider has been produced in areas where there wasn’t a great deal of diversity, so roles haven’t been with working women or people from differing racial backgrounds." [10/25]
"I think with more urban/community cider making and generally following on from the explosion of craft beer, the world of cider can be an increasingly diverse and exciting place." [11/25]
Cider has been scraping the barrel of the alcohol industry for some time. Is that about to change and why?
"I bloody hope so, I feel optimistic as I am among great company in championing the wonderful quality cider and perry that’s out there for the drinking." [12/25]
"I bloody hope so, I feel optimistic as I am among great company in championing the wonderful quality cider and perry that’s out there for the drinking." [12/25]
"We have conversations with guests every day about what fresh juice cider is, compared to the drinks made with concentrated juice and glucose syrups..." [13/25]
"...we are often meeting prejudice against cider from teenage ‘bad experiences’ and the poor image cider can have and working to overcome it in conversations." [14/25]
"When you have the opportunity to let people just sample great cider they are often astonished by how delicious it is...some even struggle to believe it is cider at first." [15/25]
"I regularly give guests a small nip of something like @NightingaleCidr's beautiful wine-like Kent ciders or a drop of perry and they are astonished and this can open them up to drinking the ciders we serve." [16/25]
"I’ve also converted real ale aficionados with nips of @oliverscider's and @RossCider's richly tannic ciders, especially when we can get our hands on keg conditioned cider. We create flights of 1/3 pints in diverse styles to sample to get people on a flavour journey." [17/25]
"We are also selling more of the large format bottles now, which helps with a shift in perception from comparisons with lager, to a more accurate understanding of the comparisons with wine and perceived higher quality drinks." [18/25]
The Hop Inn ( @inn_hop) is a new venture, and during the Covid crisis, how does cider contribute to the business?
"We serve cask ale drinkers, craft beer devotees, wine drinkers, gin, whisky & rum fans, and the cider and perry attracts another group of drinkers again." [19/25]
"We serve cask ale drinkers, craft beer devotees, wine drinkers, gin, whisky & rum fans, and the cider and perry attracts another group of drinkers again." [19/25]
"We have regular cider drinkers now who will come in and just ask us to curate their evening of cider and perry.
We have been operating as a bottle shop during periods that the pub has been closed, and we have been hand selling ciders." [20/25]
We have been operating as a bottle shop during periods that the pub has been closed, and we have been hand selling ciders." [20/25]
"There is such a variety, from single apple styles to more unusual styles like ice cider and large format bottles and Champagne method sparkling cider like our much loved @gospel_green." [21/25]
Are there any key initiatives that the cider and drinks industry could be doing to break down the barriers for women and people of black and ethnic minorities?
"There are a few schemes in breweries, like the one set up by @LaineBrewCo last year..." [22/25]
"There are a few schemes in breweries, like the one set up by @LaineBrewCo last year..." [22/25]
"...that are about listening to people as well as making apprenticeships available to attract people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds." [23/25]
"The @cider_women project is something that exists to create encouragement & support for women in cider who make a connection with them, and role models like Suzanna from @LittlePomona and Polly from @findcider are leading the way." [24/25]
"I think the quality cider world is still a friendly and collegiate place, largely, and I hope this will continue and encourage an increasingly wider group to get involved, ask for advice and share information." [25/25]
#noappleogies #womenincider
#noappleogies #womenincider
