Hopped Pear Cider

It was a while since I made this one but I’m finally catching up on some posts that I didn’t get time to add previously. This one is for Hopped Pear Cider – I really liked the way the slightly bitter hoppy flavour balanced out the sweetness of the pears to give a very refreshing summer drink.

If you have followed my blog previously you will know that I love making things and trying different flavours and combinations particularly where plants from my garden and other botanicals are involved. Over the years I’ve made quite a variety of home brews:

• Apple Cider – this is a good basic kit to try for your first batch.
• Spiced Apple Cider – I really like this as a winter drink served warm like a mulled wine. You just need to put your glass in the microwave for a minute.
• Elderflower Ale – I’m not much of a beer drinker but this light, fruity, slightly floral, ale is a nice refreshing summer drink. I’m now growing my own elderflowers so I can try other drinks as well.
• Old-fashioned Ginger Beer – this is an alcoholic ginger beer. It has biscuity flavour with a good ginger kick.
• Apple Ginger Beer – uses ginger beer yeast and items you might have at home.
• Strawberry and Pear – this is a very fruity cider (but not too sweet if you leave out the sweetener) and perfect for making a Strawberry Champagne Cider Punch for a special occasion.
• Pear Cider – this rapidly became my preferred summer drink. Note: cider is made from apples and the beverage made from pears is actually called perry.

Then I saw an item on Mad Millie’s website (that I can’t find now) that suggested mixing it up by adding some hops to your Pear Cider. You add some aromatic hops part way through your ferment (about day 5) in the same way as you would for an ale. Remember to cover the end of your siphon with a mesh bag when you come to bottling so that the hops don’t get sucked up as well.