A London-based brewery is turning donated apples into craft cider, following the success of its alcoholic ginger beer.
Hawkes Urban Orchard is made in part from apples donated by urban communities, spaces and individual donors. The resulting 4.5% ABV medium-dry cider is described as “smooth and harmonious in body, complex and rich in texture, with a crisp wine-like finish,” according to its manufacturer.
The company already produces a line of original 4% ABV alcoholic ginger beer, launched in response to the “sickly synthetic” flavour of rival products.
Hawkes founder Simon Wright said: “In all the years I’ve been in the industry, I’ve noticed a tectonic shift in the way consumers think about what they’re eating and drinking. People have a desire to become part of something real, from the people producing their beer and cider all the way through to how and where the ingredients are sourced and used. I wanted to create a truly London style blend, for our first craft cider, made for the people and inherently, by the people. I really hope that we can grow our list of community and individual donors over the coming years and that people buy into what we’re doing and why.”
The company is now seeking people to surrender their apples to the craft revolution, as it launches its first product into the cider category.
Wright added: “The urban orchards where these apples have been sourced play a key role in the communities that they exist, providing not only a food source but also an outlet for education and rehabilitation. We want to work with these community groups and individuals to put to good use some of the apples that they grow, in turn, creating a network of orchards that reap the rewards when we sell our cider.”
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