A CIDER and perry expert will be on hand to help festivalgoers get acquainted with perry at Hereford's Beer on the Wye festival this weekend.

Praised by the Romans and once prized like a fine wine, perry, which is cider made with pears rather than apples, has been made for centuries. 

Herefordshire has a long perry history, and with plenty of different varieties of perry waiting for visitors to try at the festival's cider bar, it seems only appropriate that a guide to it should be launched at the festival.

Beer on the Wye is delighted to be joined by up-and-coming drinks writer Adam Wells for the launch of his new book, Perry: A Drinker’s Guide.

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Mr Wells, who is taking on a nationwide book tour, has written the world’s first dedicated and comprehensive guide to perry. Beautifully illustrated throughout with colour photos, the book takes the reader on a journey that covers perry’s troubled history; the many varieties of pear; how it’s made and a guide to styles, regions and producers.

He said he had aimed to provide a roadmap to the drinker of "this secretive, astonishing drink".

World-famous drinks writer, Oz Clarke, seems to approve

“This book is a cracker – opinionated, witty, critical, yet passionate, intensely researched and wonderfully readable. The past, present and future of perry – it’s all there," he said.

Mr Wells will be on a stall in the main marquee, where festivalgoers will be able to buy personally signed copies of the book and take part in informal perry tasting sessions.

Beer on the Wye returns to the banks of the river Wye in Hereford in a marquee next to the Hereford Rowing Club over the weekend of July 12 to 14.