We’re excited to be at the New Zealand Fashion Festival in Auckland – 27 February to 4 March but as you know we are more gumboots than glam so need some help!  We are therefore inviting YOU to create t-shirt slogans befitting to our character.

The favourite ones will be printed on tops and worn at the evening events by our team, while sharing Australasia’s most awarded cider with the fashion crowd.

Just email your ideas to win@oldmoutcider.com  So far we’ve come up with ‘Old Mout, it’s Beaut’ – so really do need some help! To say thanks we’ll put together some packs of cider and free tickets to NZ  Fashion Festival events for the favourites.

NZ Fashion Festival and Old Mout Cider. We think it’s pretty good!

• dash of lemon juice  
• 1.25L Old Mout Cranberry & Cider
• 250ml lemon or lime cordial
• 500ml lime juice
• Ice

Fill glasses with ice ( approx 3/4 ). In a separate jug mix cider, cordial and lime juice. Pour in glasses and add a squeeze of lemon juice.

Sour bite!

If you are in the North Island:

Up North: Cape Reinga is a bit of a long drive… but once you get there, views of the two oceans are well worth it. 

Auckland : climb up the hill and enjoy stunning views of the city and Mission Bay from Sebastian Point (Michael J Savage memorial). If you’d like to go for a walk before the picnic – visit Omana Regional Park or Tawharanui beach – there are plenty of easy walks in the area.

Taupo: pick your perfect spot anywhere along the Lake Taupo waterfront, or take a short drive to Huka Falls.

New Plymouth/Mt Taranaki: take a stroll in the Pukekura Park - this place has plenty of events scheduled during the year, including concerts and festivals. If you are an adventurous type, pick a walk on the bottom of Mt Taranaki and enjoy well-deserved meal at the end.

Wellington:  located by the infamous Oriental Bay, Freyberg Park has  rope climbing equipment for older children.. as well as picnic tables.

For the South Island Folk:

Nelson : The home of Old Mout Cider is far from short of beautiful spots: try Tahunanui or Kaiterteri.  For a walk and a picnic – Aniseed Valley, with an easy stroll to Whispering Falls.

Christchurch: we’ve just discovered a Comprehensive Picnic Spots List! Cantabrians take it seriously! If you fancy a drive – climb up Mt John and stay for a night show at the observatory after dark.

Otago: Say hi to the penguin colony at Pilots Beach (aka Hobart Town Beach) or for the adventure lovers.. oil your bike and re-discover the Otago Rail Trail, there is plenty to see on your way.

Don’t forget to pack a bottle of Old Mout Cider – but please be good and comply with the liquor laws.

What can you expect?

With live performances, beer and food matching, cooking demonstrations and seminars, the GKBF is a perfect way to round up the summer.

All six Old Mout Cider varieties will be available on sale by the glass to enjoy on the spot, as well as deals on PET bottles as the take home stash.

The Great Kiwi Beer Festival is on 25th February at Hagley Park, Christchurch.

Serves 4 

• Olive oil
• 3 cloves of garlic- finely chopped
• 12 mussels (scrubbed and cleaned)
• 12 clams – scrubbed and rinsed
• pinch of saffron
• 200 ml fish stock
• 330 ml Old Mout Cider Classic Apple
• 1 chorizo sausage
• 12 raw (green) prawns
• 2 x calamari squid tubes
• 250g Fava beans – drained and rinsed
• 1 tspn smoked paprika
• finely chopped parsley
• salt and pepper

How to make it:

Add a splash of olive oil to suitable sized wide-bottomed pan. Add the garlic, mussels and clams. Cover and cook until the mussels and clams have opened. When the shellfish have opened remove them from the pan and set aside.

To the same pan, add the safron, fish stock, Old Mout Cider and white wine. Quick simmer until the liquid has reduced by a third to a half. Adjust seasoning.

To the pan add the chorizo sausage, heat slightly. Add prawns, calamari, fava beans and smoked paprika. Return the mussels and clams to the pan to reheat.

Add finely chopped parsley, check seasoning and serve.

Mussels with Chiabatta

Serves 4 

• 1 kg of mussels – cleaned
• 6 rashers smoked streaky bacon
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled and sliced
• 150ml of Old Mout Cider Classic Apple ( or Apple Scrumpy)
• Fresh flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked and roughly chopped
• Fresh tarragon, leaves picked and roughly chopped
• Olive oil
• Red onion

Toast to accompany

• Ciabatta, sliced 2cm thick
• 1 clove of garlic, halved
• Extra virgin olive oil

How to make it:

Put a large pan on a high heat with a generous dollop of olive oil. Once hot, add the sliced bacon then stir and cook for a couple of minutes, until it is delicious looking and crispy. Scoop the bacon out of the pan, leaving the flavoured oil behind. Add the mussels to the hot pan with garlic, cider and red onion. Cover with a lid and leave to steam for 5 minutes or until the mussels have opened. Shake the pan occasionally and give it a stir.

Meanwhile, rub the Ciabatta with the cut side of a garlic clove pierced a little, and drizzle them lightly with extra virgin olive oil.

Transfer the mussels to a large platter, leaving the juices behind in the pan. Throw the closed mussels away – it’s natural selection at its finest.

Stir the crème fraîche into the pan then let it bubble away for a couple of minutes. Add the herbs and a little of the bacon then have a taste and season with pepper. Give the pan a jiggle then pour the sauce over your mussels. Scatter over the remaining herbs and bacon, arrange the toast on another platter, pour the ciders and let everyone tuck in.

Yum.

Saturday 11 February

Saturday 18 February

• Auckland – Pak n Save Botany Downs 2-5 pm
• Auckland – New World Eastridge 1-4 pm
• Auckland – Pak n Save Mt Albert 10-12pm
• Auckland – New World Eastridge 2-5pm
• Dunedin – New World Centre City 3-6pm
• Melbourne – Dan Murphy’s Ascot Vale 12-3pm
• Wellington – Countdown Johnsonville 3-6pm

Thursday 23 February

• Auckland – New World Papakura 3-6pm

Friday 24 February

• Auckland – New World Stonefields 3-6pm
• Melbourne – Dan Murphy’s Preston 4-7pm
• Wellington – Countdown Porirua 4-7pm

Saturday 25 February

• Auckland – New World Stonefields 3-6pm
• Auckland – Countdown Botany Downs 3-6pm
• Melbourne – Dan Murphy’s Prahran 4-7pm
• Wellington – Countdown Porirua 3-6pm

Join us at the Cider Bar, this Sunday, 5th of February, from 2 to 5pm and Meet Pear Scrumpy!

There’ll be free cider for everyone, lots of prizes and our very own Orchard Hookey playoff for those brave enough to try!

Let’s start with Nelson – the sunshine capital of NZ and home of Old Mout Cider.

For food lovers: Brightwater Wine & Food Festival – watch out for the Old Mout Cider stand and don’t forget to come and say hi. As an alternative…go along to Sarau Festival.   

If you prefer to sit down and relax…the Summer Film Festival is on now showing a selection of the best films from 2011, foreign films and a few 40′s & 50′s classics.

For those residing or visiting Auckland, City of Sails…there’s also a bunch of stuff to do too.

For foodies: Auckland Seafood Festival is an event not to be missed. Delicious food, cold Old Mout Cider & wine, music and fun in the sun.. just bliss!

For you music lovers: check out St Jerome’s Laneway Festival on Monday afternoon at its new location – Silo Park. For jazz fans, Auckland’s trio “2 Five 9″ will be performing at Auckland Domain’s Rotunda as part of Music in Parks sessions.

For a bit of fun there’s always the Auckland Busker’s Festival which kicked off yesterday. And Carnival on Queen’s Wharf is also promising fun for everyone! Games, shows and more.

Finally, of course, you have to check out the biggest regatta in the Southern Hemisphere – Anniversary Weekend Regatta. Setting sail on Monday, it’ll be well worth watching.

And you can always go old school – grab a picnic blanket, your Old Mout Cider PET, and some nosh…and get amongst it. Cheers and enjoy your long weekend!