The Big Bear Cider is made from 100% apple juice, naturally vegan and naturally gluten free. We planted our first trees in 2009 and our orchards and cider production has grown from there.
We planted our trees, we pick our apples, we press our apples, and we ferment our Cider.
In 2015 The Big Bear Cider Mill was formed; our mission was to turn a passion for apples into quality hand crafted cider, in Essex.
Cider from Essex is not as unusual as you might think. Back in the 60’s and 70’s Essex orchards were ripped up to make way for gravel pits. This gravel was known as Essex gold.
We purchased one of these disused gravel pits and regenerated it back into a thriving Orchard. We’ve planted over 20 different varieties. Here at The Big Bear, we love nature and don’t use pesticide, we encourage birds, insects and wildlife to naturally propagate and protect our trees and apples.
In autumn we harvest the apples, the juice is then fermented using yeasts carefully chosen for their ability to bring out the delicate aromas and flavours of Big Bear’s apple varieties. A long, cool fermentation then allows the full cider characteristics to develop.
We make our Big Bear Cider is made from 100% apple juice, naturally vegan and naturally gluten free.
WHY THE BIG BEAR?
Our logo was designed with our founder Mark in mind, a massive chap whose nickname is The Big Bear and who wears dungarees on a regular basis.
We know Essex doesn’t exactly spring to mind when looking at The Bear, however, we are keen to export all around the world and wanted a logo that works for different markets and products. Not sure if Olly Murs or Alan Sugar would be as flexible or travel… We could always give the bear a spray tan.
Essex Gold is a nod to the regenerated gravel pits that our orchards are planted on, gravel is known colloquially as Essex Gold. (To be said in a Frank Butcher voice.)
