A BIG American beer company that makes traditional cider as a sideline scooped the main accolade at the prestigious international cider-making competition organised by Hereford Cider Museum.

The Boston Beer Company swept the board in the cider classes and topped their success by being declared overall champion in a record entry of 178 from some of Britain's best cider makers.

The Americans have made regular trips to Herefordshire to learn the art of farmhouse-style cider-making and they use English-style cider apples grown in New Hampshire.

After competing in the international competition for the last three years they have progressed to soundly beat the English at their own game.

But although their cider may be acknowledged as among the best in the world, there is little hope of sales taking off in America as they are minute compared to beer.

David Sipes, a manager with the Boston company, said: "Before prohibition of the Twenties and Thirties traditional cider was a strong product but after the so-called dark ages of prohibition it lost its way and its popularity has never recovered. Sales are a pittance and I'm sure it would be a really long-term programme to get them to take off."

The Boston company also makes a commercial brand of cider called Hardcore, a sweet variety, that would not have been a contender in the competition.

The company has another tie with Herefordshire - a lot of the hops it uses are purchased from local growers.

USA entry, Flag Hill Farm, was also among the awards, collecting one in the bottle fermented cider class and for presentation.

The judges were David Sheppy of Taunton, Allan Tringham, a retired master cider maker of Hereford, and Liz Griffin, Editor of the Hereford Times.

Mr Tringham, who worked for the Herefordshire cider firm of Bulmers for 46 years, said the Boston company was a clear winner. "There was absolutely no doubt about the result."

The awards were as follows: Dry cider: 1 Boston Beer Co; 2 Ross-on-Wye Cider Co (Mike Johnston, Broome Farm, Peterstow); 3 Bulmers (Dennis Edwards).

Medium: 1 Boston Beer Co; 2 V Bennett, Somerset. Sweet: 1 Boston Beer Co; 2 Bulmers; 3 Dennis Gwatkin, Abbeydore.

Perry: 1 R D Horne, Cradley; 2 Knights, Storridge; 3 Dennis Gwatkin.

Single variety: 1 Kevin Minchew, Tewkesbury; 2 Dennis Gwatkin; 3 Ross-on-Wye Cider Co.

Bottle fermented cider: 1 Burrow Hill, Somerset; 2 Eric Freeman, Hereford; 3 Flag Hill Farm, USA.

Best presented bottle: 1, Knights Cider with Malvern Gold; 2 Flag Hill, USA; 3 Cheyney Lodge Cider, Bishops Frome.