What is scrumpy?

Scrumpy is a British term for a strong, often cloudy farmhouse cider made from apples. Cambridge Dictionary calls scrumpy a type of strong cider. It is not a protected legal category: strength, haze and farm character vary by maker, and UK duty law still sets separate rules for what counts as cider.

Updated 2026-10-05

Key facts

Definition. Cambridge: scrumpy is "an alcoholic drink made from apples" and "a type of strong cider". [1]
Character. Often farmhouse, sometimes unfiltered.
Not a legal grade. UK duty rules define cider separately from the nickname scrumpy.

Where does the word scrumpy come from?

Cambridge lists scrumpy as strong cider made from apples; the nickname is tied to West Country farmhouse cider rather than a separate legal grade. [1] On the shelf it signals rustic, often stronger cider more than a statute. Real-cider campaign rules are different — what real cider is.

How does scrumpy relate to English farmhouse cider?

Many scrumpy bottles fit tannic English farmhouse traditions. Style compare: English vs American cider. Geography: where cider is made in England. Buying: where to buy scrumpy.

Is scrumpy the same as real cider?

CAMRA real cider has its own juice and chaptalisation tests. [2] A cloudy strong cider can fail those tests if made from concentrate. UK legal cider for duty: what cider is in the UK.

Guide: types of cider. Glossary: hard cider.

Related answers: where to buy scrumpy

Find it on Cider Radar

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Cider and perry are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly; in the UK it is against the law to sell alcohol to anyone under 18.

Questions

Is scrumpy always cloudy?

Often, especially when unfiltered farmhouse cider keeps haze, but cloudiness alone does not define scrumpy — filtered strong cider can still wear the name. [1]

Sources

scrumpy (definition) — Cambridge Dictionary
What are real cider & perry? — CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale)