Production Process

Production Process

Find out how we produce the unique flavour of Bulmers Cider

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Magners the Same as Bulmers in Ireland?

Magners is identical to Bulmers in terms of product taste and characteristics and its branding, packaging and promotional strategy is based on the marketing approach, which has been so successful for the Bulmers brand in Ireland.

2. Why is Bulmers Only Called Bulmers in the Republic of Ireland?

Bulmers Ltd. do not own the trade mark for Bulmers outside of the Republic of Ireland.

The Magners name is derived from the name of local Clonmel man, William Magner, who in 1935 started cider production and founded the company which is today Bulmers of Clonmel.

The Magners brand name was developed by Bulmers Ltd. in 1999 when the company decided to apply its outstandingly successful home market development strategy to a number of export markets. The Magners brand, which intentionally mirrors all the product and design characteristics of the Bulmers brand, was successfully test marketed in Spain, Germany and Northern Ireland and is now exported to 15 countries worldwide.

3. Why do We Use Original Oak Vats in Dowd's Lane?

The Bulmers Vat House in Dowd's Lane was commissioned in 1936, with the majority of Vats built in oak, handcrafted by coopers. The apple pressing is done using the traditional 'cheese' and is one of the core skills of a cider-maker. At Bulmers, the very same presses used to make Bulmers 50 years ago are still used today. This accounts for the consistency in quality of Ireland's most popular cider. Bulmers Original Cider is fermented in the Vat House between 18 degrees and 24 degrees Celsius for a period of eight weeks. The fermentation process in the oak vats provides the distinctive and unique Bulmers taste.

Dowd's Lane provides the character of Ireland's favourite cider - Bulmers Original Cider, and is therefore a closely guarded secret.

4. What Makes Irish Cider Different From Other Ciders?

Bulmers Original Cider is fermented in the Vat House at Dowd's Lane, between 18 degrees and 24 degrees Celsius, maturing for a few months with samples drawn off and laboratory tested for purity and alcohol content. They are then put through several filtering processes. Other ciders are pasteurised as opposed to using a filtering process, and do not ferment in oak matured vats, which adds significantly to the blend.

5. Does Bulmers Use Irish Apples?

Bulmers Original Irish Cider is Ireland's biggest purchaser of Irish apples. The entire harvest from Bulmers' 250 acres of orchards, together with the total harvest of cull of apples in the Republic of Ireland plus a substantial portion of Northern Ireland's crop, is required for the Bulmers cider products.

17 varieties of apple are grown in the Bulmers' Orchards in Clonmel and are used to make the famous Bulmers brand. The 17 varieties of apple mature at different times of the season, thus allowing the orchard managers to pace the harvest and produce sufficient varieties to make up a traditional blend like Bulmers, throughout the year.

6. What is the Calorie Content of Bulmers?

Calorie Content of Bulmers

KCALVOLUME
41100ML
135330 ML
233PINT (568 ML)

Calorie Content of Bulmers Light

KCALVOLUME
28100ML
92 330 ML
160 PINT

Bulmers Light Contains 7% less calories than the leading light beer on the Irish market.

7. What is the Full Product Portfolio at Bulmers Ltd.?

  • Bulmers Original Cider
  • Bulmers Pear Cider
  • Bulmers Mid-Strength
  • Bulmers Light
  • Linden Village Cider
  • Strongbow Cider
  • Samsons Cider
  • Ritz Crisp Dry Perry

8. Does Bulmers Pear have any side effects?"

Bulmers Pear contains a significant level of high quality, pear juice. Like prunes, plums and grapes, pears contain naturally occurring substances which, depending on the quantity consumed and the sensitivity of the individual involved, may not agree with every individual.

Bulmers stresses that these ingredients are NATURALLY OCCURING in the Pear Juice and not anything that Bulmers have added to the product.

Like any alcoholic drink, we recommend moderate consumption of Bulmers Pear and every consumer should enjoy it sensibly.

Guide To Cider

Guide To Cider

Read all about the age old tradition of producing Ireland's premier cider.

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