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Blacksmith Forging and Tasting Experience
Hereford, HerefordshireREF: OFFGAT
- An introductory session to blacksmithing
- Make your own bottle opener (or similar)
- Visit a local cider mill in the afternoon
- Great day out for couples and groups
What's Included
- 3-hour session learning traditional blacksmithing techniques
- Take away a beautiful crafted piece of ironwork, created by you!
- Use heat and a hammer to forge a bottle opener from raw iron
- Break for lunch (not included)
- Tour and tasting session at nearby Westons Cider
- You will form part of a small group of up to 8 participants
Westons Cider
- Traditional producers of award-winning cider and perry draught
- Discover the craft of cider-making from blossom to bottle
- An expert guide will show you where they harvest, weigh and wash the apples
- Visit the mill where they press ferment and mature before blending and packing
- Opportunity to sample the cider and perry draught
What Can I Expect
Melting metal and fermenting apples come together for a forging and tasting experience! This very special day out combines an introduction to blacksmithing in the morning, with a tour of a local cider mill in the afternoon. What's not to love?
The emphasis on these experiences is fun. It's a real pleasure to be able to discover what the work of a blacksmith involves - and thoroughly entertaining to visit artisan producers of delicious cider. Both the blacksmiths and the brewers are utterly passionate about their craft. They treat tradition with the utmost of respect and love it when visitors take an interest in what they do.
And that's where you come in. You'll be invited into the family-run forge, where the blacksmiths will explain traditional methods and techniques used to work that hot metal. You'll be very much hands-on for the forging and you'll spend a good three-hours learning time-honoured blacksmithing skills. And what could be more appropriate to make than a bottle opener that you can use for the tasting part of your experience?
The afternoon will see you bid a fond farewell to the forge to head off to your tasting tour. You will be visiting a cider maker. Weston's Cider has been made at the farm in the superbly-named village of Much Marcle since 1880. The traditional methods of making pear and apple cider has been handed down generation upon generation - and it tastes delicious.
Having made your very own handy bottle opener, tasted and learned a lot about cider, we think you'll head home after your forging and tasting day proudly clutching your hand-forged piece. And probably with some craft brew takeouts too!
When Is It Available
- Weekdays and selected Saturdays throughout the year
- Forging session generally start at 09:00 finishing at 12:00
- All dates are subject to availability
- Due to popularity please book well in advance to avoid disappointment, weekends especially get booked quickly
- Cider tours start at either 14:00 or 14:30
- Westons Cider: Daily tours
Location
- Hereford, Herefordshire
Suitable For
- Minimum age 18
Spectators
- Not suitable for spectators
Anything Else
- Participants can either bring a packed lunch or pre-order a lunch for an additional charge payable when booking your date