It doesn’t take much to entice us outside and, with the merest hint of sunshine, you’ll find us whipping out the BBQ and settling in for some al fresco dining. Of course, cider is the perfect accompaniment, but which of our incredible authentic ciders pairs best with your favourite BBQ dish? We thought you might like some inspiration.
Pork Pairing
Be it sausages, chops or pulled pork, Devon Mist is our recommendation for the best pork pairing. Devon Mist is our medium, hazy session cider, unfiltered for extra flavour and texture. Made from Yarlington Mill, Tremlett’s Bitter and Woodbine apples, it’s gently sparkling and has a fruitfulness and an apple-body that is balanced with the perfect acidity to go head-to-head with the richness and fattiness of the meat. It is a lighter cider which complements rather than competes with the pork flavours. Devon Mist won Gold at this year’s Taste of the West Awards and is a traditional cider perfect for today. As well as bottles, it is available in cans and bags in boxes, making it ideal for outdoor gatherings of all sizes.
Beef it Up
If it’s homemade beef burgers or hearty steaks on the menu, then we suggest a fuller cider such as The General, which enhances meaty barbequed flavours with its Seville orange, plum and baked apple notes. It is a very special cider pressed from Yarlington Mill, Tremlett’s Bitter and Dabinett apples and then aged in our huge oak vat to create a big, bold and super rich cider with a long, warming finish. At 8.4% ABV it’s a little more than half the strength of wine, but a lot more than your average pint, so get the bbqing done before you settle in to enjoy a few bottles of this award-winning (officially the best cider in the world) libation.
Something Fishy
You are never far from the coast here in Devon and seafood is one of the stars of our incredible local bounty. You might be surprised to know that shellfish, like prawns and lobster, taste delicious when grilled on the barbie. When it comes to a seafood cider pairing, we would recommend our drier ciders, like Devon Dry. A glass of Devon Dry offers you lean, crisp, mouthwatering refreshment, created from naturally fermented Brown’s, Fiona and Michelin apples and aged to perfection. It will enhance rather than overpower the delicate seafood flavours.
Seeing Red
Of course, if you are looking for an all-rounder then you can’t beat Devon Red as an all-day, all-food accompaniment. It is refreshing, balanced and packed with whole-juice flavour and a welcome hint of sweetness. It’s a real apple cider, for everyone and, if you are hosting a large gathering, you will definitely have Devon Red fans in the pack. A Devon Red Mini Keg will allow them to keep their glasses topped up in style but there’s also the choice of bottles, cans and bag in boxes, to suit your needs.
One for the Road
For those who want all the exceptional flavour of our award-winning Devon Red but without the alcohol, our new Red Zero means that even the drivers can enjoy all-day drinking at your BBQ. Red Zero has been a huge hit since we launched it last year with rave reviews from customers (5 stars across the board) and in the press (The Guardian named it Best Non Alcoholic Cider) and on TV (Alan Titchmarsh loved it). Stock up on some and marvel at how many of your guests can’t believe it’s not alcoholic!
Recipe Inspiration
Don’t forget, cider is also a great ingredient for BBQ recipes, rubs and sauces and we have a couple of suggestions for that too. Try our BBQ Pulled Pork Belly or our Creamy Mussels with Devon Red Cider. Whether you are washing your food down with a cold glass of our fabulous cider or adding it to a delicious dish, we have plenty to choose from. Just take a look at our online shop for more inspiration. The most important thing is to make sure that you don’t run out.
