The popular Hillside Cider and Sausage Festival returns to the Grasshopper Micropub in Hillside this weekend. Once again there are over 30 different real ciders from around the country.


The selection of real ciders includes champion ciders like Harry’s Scrummage, Dorset Twilight and Gwatkin’s Stoke Red and some interesting fruit ciders: Rhubarb, Mango, Strawberry, Pineapple, Black Cherry and Passion Fruit. There is even some Salted Caramel cider.


For the connoisseur there are some fine dry ciders like Rich’s Legbender and Dorset Nector Dabinette.


All ciders on offer are ‘Real’ ciders with a fruit juice content of at least 85%. This compares favorably with commercially produced ciders which may only have around 35% fruit juice with the rest being made up with water and additives. Linda Harris of CAMRA said “You really can taste the difference.”


The Cider Festival starts at 4pm on Friday.


The Grasshopper has been voted the Cider Pub of the Year by CAMRA (the campaign for real ale) and Doug Macadam the CAMRA Branch chairman will be presenting the award at 8pm on Friday evening.