Sharing decades of ‘incider’ knowledge
For many, travelling the world, sipping the best cider money can buy sounds like a dream. For ciderologist Gabe Cook it’s not only a reality but a fulltime job.
It’s a perfect role for the UKbased cider advocate and connoisseur who has lived and breathed the fruity beverage for almost his entire life.
‘‘I grew up around old orchards and traditional cider makers and I enjoyed drinking it when I was younger so I decided to start working on a cider farm. I fell in love with it.’’
He quickly realised, however, that he was far better suited to talking about cider than making it.
From there, his passion for the product has snowballed, leading to several exciting opportunities including his career highlight – giving a bottle of cider to Queen Elizabeth II.
‘‘She was rapt obviously to be handed a bottle of cider. She’s very small, feisty but she’s pretty cool,’’ Cook says.
For the second time in his career, he’s found himself in New Zealand, as a judge at this year’s Beer & Cider Awards.
‘‘I have been really taken by the professionalism of the awards and their championing and celebration of cider, which is a growing category here in New Zealand.
‘‘Cider can have as much boldness, elegance and finesse as a wine and can have all that character and attitude of a craft beer also,’’ Cook says.
It’s the fourth year the awards have been held, with 595 beers and ciders entered from 93 breweries across New Zealand and the world.
The judging takes two full days with a 16-strong panel of brewers and beer and cider experts swirling, sniffing and sipping their way through the vast array of brews – no easy task.
‘‘There are some brilliant ciders being produced here in New Zealand. I don’t think I would have said [that] 10 years ago, maybe even five or six years ago,’’ Cook says.
‘‘The quality and the standard of cider here is great in exactly the same way as New Zealand’s indigenous wine and beer industries are doing so well because they’re not constrained by the old traditions.’’
It’s Cook’s hope that, through his advocacy of cider, it will start being celebrated as much as beer and wine are around the world.
‘‘Because of the global renaissance of cider in Australia, New Zealand and the US, there are some really interesting opportunities for me to champion and introduce some newer styles to these markets.’’
The results of this year’s Beer & Cider awards will be released in May.