Announcing the launch of the Northwest Cider Club!

The Northwest Cider Association, a non-profit trade organization representing nearly 100 cideries in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho and British Columbia is launching a first of its kind, the Northwest Cider Club nwciderclub.com.

Club members will enjoy quarterly shipments of perfectly picked, carefully curated ciders made in the Pacific Northwest.  With abundant fields of apples, fruits, hops, and botanical herbs, the Northwest has become the heart of the craft cider movement. 

Craft cider can be hard to find, but the Northwest Cider Club makes it easy. Now cider curious and dedicated fans alike can get hard-to-find, handcrafted selections delivered to their door.

The Northwest Cider Club also offers behind the scenes views of getting to know the Northwest’s vibrant community of innovative and award-winning cidermakers; respected around the world for their eclectic ability to combine art, science, and the region’s high-quality fruit and ingredients to create unique and distinct craft ciders. 

As people experience fatigue with distancing and sameness, the delicious and dynamic world of cider provides a chance to safely explore new landscapes of flavor profiles. Lovers of wine, craft beer, artisan spirits and fine foods are delighting in the accessibility and nuances of cider. “There is joy and adventure in craft cider. Now more than ever is the time to explore and share new flavors, while supporting Northwest cidermakers and farmers,” said Emily Ritchie, Executive Director of NWCA.

The limited-release, debut club box is themed Discover Oregon, including 6 unique, hand picked cider offerings, available for order at www.nwciderclub.com only until November 22, 2020.  The Discover Oregon box will arrive mid-December just in time for the holidays. A club membership is a unique holiday gift for friends, family and in lieu of the office holiday party.

Discover Oregon cider collection includes a diverse range of cider styles and formats hailing from makers large and small, from different backgrounds and from across the map. The Northwest Cider Club’s inaugural box includes 2 Towns Ciderhouse’s 10th Anniversary special release, Peak Light Cider’s estate Field Run Semi Dry, La Familia Cider’s Guava, Salt Creek Cider House’s heirloom blend called Rebel, Double Mountain Brewery and Cidery’s blend called Heirloom, and Reveille’s homage to Harry Potter’s Sirius Black called Serious Black which is fermented with black tea and apricots. For more information on this box’s specific bottles and how to join the club visit nwciderclub.com.

 

The celebration package makes exploring Northwest cider easy. “All you’ll need to go along with the box is a good cheese, a fresh loaf of bread, and your “quaran-team” to share these beautiful libations with. We’re stoked to collaborate with the Northwest Cider Association to work together to celebrate craft cider!” said Aaron Sarnoff-Wood, co-owner of 2 Towns Ciderhouse.

Greenwood Cider Whiskey Barrel Heirloom Bottle Release with Press Then Press for Washington Cider Week

Whiskey Barrel Heirloom Bottle Release with Press Then Press
Online-only Exclusive Release From Now Through Washington Cider Week

Greenwood Cider and Seattle-based online retailer Press Then Press have partnered for their
first ever online-only exclusive release, Whiskey Barrel Heirloom. 500ml bottles of Whiskey
Barrel Heirloom will be available at pressthenpress.com from now through Washington Cider
Week (9/10 – 9/20). With a virtual Seattle Cider Summit and limited Cider Week events, the two
companies seek to bring something new to isolated at-home celebrations taking place in
Washington and across the country this year.

North Seattle’s Greenwood Cider has offered barrel-aged and heirloom releases, but never one
and the same. Whiskey Barrel Heirloom is a blend of heirloom and cider apples, bittersweet and
bittersharps, aged for six months in Westland whiskey barrels. More than 13 varieties were
used, including Foxwhelp, Muscat de Dieppe, and Reine des Pommes. This is their third barrel-
aged release and first Heirloom Series release of 2020.

Seattle-based Press Then Press is an online retailer of rare, independent and craft ciders. Born
from an evening of drinking fine ciders around a firepit, they became determined to get craft
ciders in the hands of more people so they too can experience the best the Pacific Northwest
has to offer. They now ship to 49 states (Utah excluded).

From the usually boisterous Seattle Cider Summit to the extensive events that occur during
Washington Cider Week, this year is bound to feel a little different. Greenwood Cider and Press
Then Press hope to fill the void of this less-than-ideal year, break out of the mold and offer
something new for cider fans across the country.

Yonder Cider to Launch August 22 in Washington State and Beyond

Wenatchee-based cidery launches Seattle tasting room, online sales and new craft ciders

SEATTLE (August 17, 2020) – Yonder Cider is excited to announce the launch of its new line of
craft ciders, blending modern apples with traditional apples to create ciders as balanced, bright
and complex as the land they come from. Picked and pressed in Wenatchee, Washington – the
heart of Apple Country – Yonder’s unique approach creates ciders that are more full-flavored
and complex than traditional modern ciders, while still remaining affordable and wrapped in
packaging that’s perfect for any occasion. Available in 16-ounce cans ($11.99 four-pack) and
draft, Yonder marks the August 22 launch of its ciders with distribution throughout Washington,
online shipping, a Seattle retail shop and more.

“I’ve always been captivated by the beauty of the Wenatchee Valley and the apples it produces,
along with their unlimited potential for amazing cider,” said Caitlin Braam, founder of Yonder
Cider. “It’s why there was question where we would be producing ours. The depth of flavors and
character coming from the region’s apples are what help set our ciders apart, and we’re excited
to share what Wenatchee has to offer with the rest of Washington and beyond.”
Crafted using a blend of bittersweet cider apples and juicy culinary apples, Yonder creates ciders
that are hardly simple and you can always count on being interesting. With a foundation of
flavorful Fuji and Honeycrisp apples, a variety of cider apples – containing added tannins, acid
and body – are blended in to create a beautifully bright and complex cider. Products available
for launch include:

Dry (6.5% ABV) – Bright, light and refreshing. This easy drinking cider is a blend of traditional
and modern cider apple varieties with bright notes of citrus. Hints of orange and lime dance
with flavors of tropical fruit, making this a very refreshing but hard to define cider. Apples: Fuji,
Honeycrisp, Roxbury Russet, Ashmead’s Kernel, Porter’s Perfection, Wickson Crab
Semi Sweet (6.5% ABV) – Juicy, crisp and beautifully balanced. Bold tones of peaches and
strawberries compete with the nuance of spice, bringing the best out of our red fleshed and
traditional cider apples. This stunning and complex blend will keep you coming back to pinpoint
just what makes it so delicious. Apples: Fuji, Honeycrisp, Golden Russet, Dabinett, Various Red
Fleshed Apples

Palisades (6.5% ABV) – The perfect mix of tangy and tart. A blend of juicy culinary and old-world
apple complexity meets bright and mouthwatering Pacific Northwest blackberries, all of which is
supported by an herbal hint of sage. Inspired by a favorite cocktail at Seattle’s Oliver’s Twist.
Apples: Fuji, Honeycrisp, Roxbury Russet, Dabinett, Various Red Fleshed Apples

 

Yonder Cider will also feature a selection of single varietal ciders available only on draft,
including Roxbury Russet, Red Fleshed and more.

Available from Bellingham to Olympia through NW Beverages and Sound Beverages beginning
August 22, Yonder Cider will also be available throughout the greater Wenatchee/Leavenworth
area via self-distribution with plans for expansion to the rest of the state in the coming months.
From those not in Washington state, Yonder Cider is also now available online for shipping to 40
states.

For those in Seattle, Saturday, August 22 will also mark the official opening of ‘Yonder Bar,’ the
to-go only retail shop for Yonder Cider. Located in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood on 1 st Ave
NW between 78 th Street and 79 th Street (one of Seattle’s now pedestrian-only Stay Healthy
streets), Yonder Bar will offer four-packs and growlers to-go, along with merchandise, special
releases and more. A portion of the proceeds from Yonder Bar will be donated to the Phinney
Neighborhood Association.

“When we dreamed up Yonder, we also dreamed up the perfect tasting room – then COVID hit,”
added Braam. “We quickly pivoted, turned our garage into a little to-go spot, and now we
couldn’t be more excited about Yonder Bar. We love adding something fun to the
neighborhood, while bringing a little piece of Wenatchee to the heart of Seattle.”
Founded by Caitlin Braam (President), Tim Larsen (Head Cidermaker) and Maddy Porter
(Creative Director), Yonder Cider was born out of a true love for cider, both modern and
traditional. With more than a decade of experience in each of their respective fields, the team at
Yonder has spent the last nine months crafting the Yonder brand. Putting branding right
alongside cidermaking in importance, Yonder Cider offers ciders as beautiful as the packaging it
comes in, and through creative marketing, hopes to introduce an entirely new audience to the
world of cider.

For more information and updates, follow Yonder Cider on Instagram and Facebook, or visit the
website at yondercider.com. To buy online, visit yondercider.com/buy-cider.
Media interviews, samples and photos available upon request. Please contact Caitlin Braam at
caitlin@yondercider.com. Establishments interested in carrying Yonder Cider products are
encouraged to send inquires to hello@yondercider.com.

About Yonder Cider
“I’ll be over yonder.” Yonder Cider was started to bring full-flavored, delicious cider to every
occasion. Whether it’s a hammock, a hike, or your favorite hole-in-the-wall, Yonder is a place
where you’re welcome and every possibility is just within reach. Picked and pressed in
Wenatchee, Washington – the heart of Apple Country – we create cider that's as balanced,
bright and complex as the land itself. Crafted using a blend of bittersweet cider apples and juicy
dessert apples, our ciders are hardly simple, and never straightforward – but you can always
count on them being interesting. Launching August 2020, Yonder Cider will be available in 16-
ounce cans and on draft throughout Seattle at your local grocery store, bottle shop or bar, and
online at yondercider.com. For more information, follow Yonder Cider on Instagram and
Facebook (@yondercider).

 

AMID THE STRUGGLE, CREATIVITY RISES AT SNOWDRIFT CIDER

The COVID-19 pandemic crashed upon the world with destruction in its wake, impacting nearly everyone. Yet where destruction brings pain and toil, life continues its march with new strength, resilience, and creativity. 

“Our business dropped by over 90% overnight,” states Tim Larsen, cidermaker at Snowdrift Cider Co., regarding the limitations placed on businesses in Washington State. “We kept our employees working as long as we possibly could, but did have to furlough our entire staff … it was a heart-wrenching decision to make.” 

But pain has a way of focusing attention, and Tim and the owners, like so many, have poured time and energy into taking a hard look at what they have to work with, uncovering new strategies to move forward—and finding opportunities to help those also struggling. 

…Like the restaurant industry, which was devastated, had to furlough thousands of employees, and quickly scramble to offer delivery and takeout services. 

Resilience, Resistance, Strength 

For some, the pivot has turned into a positive. Zeeks Pizza is a partner restaurant in the Hero Meals program, which delivers fresh meals to front-line workers, donated by supportive community members. That’s not the only plus. Tommy Brooks, Director of Business Development at Zeeks Pizza, reports another shift: thanks to his team’s creativity, their draft beer & cider sales have increased during this time, with growlers sold to-go, to many who previously would enjoy their evenings in bars. 

This move has been good for their business—and it also trickles down to the company’s suppliers, such as Larsen’s cider company. In a time when demand has dried up elsewhere, an opportunity has opened up for them to make a community-minded move and release cider that otherwise would not have sold during this time. So Snowdrift Cider Co. is opening up their 2019 reserves—at cost—to give restaurants an authentic, affordable cider that delivers a special experience from their cider orchard. 

“The goal is to have something exciting out, to draw people out to support restaurants (even if it’s takeout), so they can get more employees working again,” says Larsen. As they stand in support of restaurants, they’ve named this cider Solidarity. “We don’t have a whole lot to offer at this point, but we do have cider – and we’re sharing that!” 

# # # 

For more information, or to schedule an interview with Snowdrift Cider Co., please contact Tim Larsen at (509) 885-2734, tim@snowdriftcider.com. 

 

Bad Granny Cider Does Good with Three Dynamic Spring Releases

Bad Granny Cider, a family-owned and-operated Washington cidery, recently released three new products into its award-winning line of locally made cider: Nice Pear, Ginger Lime and Mother Load. Based in the fruit belt of Chelan, Washington, and personified by a mischievous and playful matriarch, Bad Granny produces serious ciders that showcase local fruit, traditional techniques and novel innovation. 

The Nice Pear (5.5% ABV) is a perry, the delicate pear-based cousin to cider, exclusively using Washington-grown D’Anjou pears. The semi-dry sip reveals notes of freshly sliced pear, ripe persimmon and a hint of watermelon. 

Perry is a category that consumers are not too familiar with and Granny is always looking to offer something that is rare, and innovative.

The Ginger Lime (6.8% ABV) cider was only available to restaurants but, after a smash success on-premise, Bad Granny did good by canning the cider in 12-ounce six-packs for retail. In this cider, ginger and lime are blended with Honeycrisp apples for a perfect, semi-dry balance of citrus zest, sassy spice and succulent apple.  

The Mother Load takes three of Bad Granny’s best-selling ciders — Honey Crisp, Black Currant and Ginger Lime — and combines them in singular, six-pack box. Granny’s Mother Load gives and gives and gives, as mothers do; the multipack not only offers three different flavors of cider in one package, but also a portion of the proceeds gives back to the Alzheimer’s Fund.

All three releases will be available at major retailers, bottle shops and restaurants across, Washington, Idaho and Oregon. 

NW Cider Symposium Postponed

After many hours of conversation, and in consultation with local public health officials, the Northwest Cider Association has made the difficult decision to postpone the NW Cider Symposium due to the spread of COVID-19 virus in Washington state. This was a difficult decision, as we all were excited to learn, grow and connect with our Northwest cider community.

The Northwest Cider Association holds our community’s health and wellness as our highest priority. For this reason, the Board of Directors is following the guidance of the local public health officials and postponing the symposium until a later date, likely in early 2021.

We realize that the economic impact of postponing the event will affect our participants, as it will impact the NWCA. With individual vendors, small businesses, and service workers in mind, the Northwest Cider Association urges registrants to retain your registration for the postponed symposium. Not only will you support your community and ensure that we can defray costs for our small business colleagues, we commit to honoring your 2020 symposium ticket price through 2021.

We are currently investigating options for remote learning sessions, particularly in the area of online and direct-to-consumer sales. Please be on the lookout for further information on these sessions and more information about rescheduling this conference!

Swift Cider Opens New Taproom!

Portland, Oregon – Swift Cider opened their first ever taproom this February at 100 NE Farragut Street #101, Portland, Oregon. 

After years as one of Portland’s leading distributed cider producers, Swift’s jump into retail marks a major milestone: “Opening the taproom means drinkers can taste the dozens of seasonal and small-batch barrel-aged ciders that we release in limited quantities each year,” says founder and head cider maker Aidan Currie.  

From their twelve taps, Swift pours a rotating lineup of their own ciders alongside craft beer, wine, guest cider taps, hard seltzer, kombucha, water kefir and CBD soda. “Our local neighborhood, Piedmont, was founded by prohibitionists, so there has historically been a limited number of bars here. We created a community space where you can appreciate great cider and all types of fermented beverages,” says Currie. 

The 500 square foot taproom seats 39 in a warm industrial space notable for its timbers-trussed ceiling, stainless tanks, oak barrels, warm lighting, local art, and greenery. A discreet projector screens local sports while a shuffleboard table and stack of board games invites patrons to play. Plans are in the works to add patio seating by summertime. To complement the drinks, Swift stocks a regular menu of snackable, allergen-friendly bites and plans to run pop-up food nights to showcase their favorite cider pairings. 

Swift Cider launched in 2015 and has grown into a regionally distributed cider brand in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. They have a mission to make exceptional cider with fresh, whole ingredients and inspire playful, creative communities like their namesake the Chapman Swifts. Their ciders have earned significant acclaim at the world’s largest cider competitions with 21 medals, including the Best Medium Cidery of the Year at the Portland International Cider Cup. Their normal taproom hours run Thursday and Friday from 4pm to 9pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 9pm.

 

Solstice Saffron Botanical Cider returns to Finnriver

Chimacum WA— January 10th 2020, Solstice Saffron Botanical Cider returns to Finnriver Cidery!
Finnriver is pleased to announce our new sourcing relationship with Portland-area saffron grower, Tanya
Golden. Each year at the winter solstice, Finnriver begins the fermentation of our late winter botanical
craft cider— Solstice Saffron. This bright seasonal release features organically grown apples infused with
toasted fennel and organic anise pods and — new this year— saffron grown in Oregon. This lightly
carbonated cider, one of five in Finnriver’s seasonal botanical series, is released in late winter and is
generally available through March.
Saffron, first cultivated in ancient Greece, originates from a flower called crocus sativus—commonly
known as the “saffron crocus,” and is considered one of the world’s most rare and costly spices.
Growing saffron requires exquisitely careful hand-harvesting methods and a great commitment of
attention and intention. Finnriver seeks to find regional sources for their seasonal cider ingredients and
when their previous local saffron grower lost his crop due to deer impact, they were delighted to learn about Tanya’s new endeavor. Located just outside of Portland in North Plains, OR, Golden Saffron Co. was founded in
2018 by visionary Tanya Golden. Tanya has over 20 years’ experience working as an herbalist and 3rd generation
sustainable agriculture farmer, while taking pride in and staying connected to her indigenous ancestry. From
laying the foundations of the greenhouses and crop bedsto hand picking each stem with love, Tanya brings a
conscious joy and passion to her work and community offerings. You can learn more at her website: goldensaffronco.com. “We deeply appreciate the direct connections that growers have to their land and to their crops, and to the stories that have carried them into agriculture. The Botanical Cider series has brought us into relationships with a range of wonderful folks throughout the region who provide organically and thoughtfully
grown or wild-harvested ingredients for these seasonally released fermentations,” said Crystie Kisler, co-founder of Finnriver Farm & Cidery.Solstice Saffron is available for purchase in Finnriver distribution territories around the country, onsite at our Cider Garden Taproom on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, as well as online at Finnriver.com.
The Finnriver crew farms and ferments on 80 acres of organic fields and orchard in the Chimacum
Valley, along a salmon stream on the north Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Their mission is to
reconnect people to the land that sustains us and to grow community. They seek to create deep-rooted
and fruitful connections at their farm-based taproom and rural gathering space. Finnriver’s farm and
orchard is Certified Organic and Salmon Safe and the company is a Certified B Corporation, seeking to
make business a force for good. Learn more at finnriver.com

Job Announcement

The Northwest Cider Association is hiring! This is a new, 2 year .75FTE position focusing on increasing sales of Northwest cider in California and Montana! This contract position is responsible for planning and executing grant-funded projects designed to expand NWCA’s reach in new markets. It is a remote position with preference to folks living here in the PNW.

The right candidate for this job has marketing experience and knowledge of the US cider and alcohol industry. This person will work under limited supervision, with accountability to the NWCA’s Executive Director. This is a Contracted position for 23 months. Preference for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in marketing or the equivalent of 10+ years of marketing and project management experience. Full job description below.

Purpose Statement: This 2 year contract position is responsible for planning and executing grant-funded projects designed to expand NWCA’s reach in new markets, specifically California and Montana. The ideal candidate is excited about locally made craft cider, appreciates a start-up culture, can roll with ambiguity as the project unfolds, has effective negotiation skills, inspires a shared vision, and has technical expertise regarding distribution and trade in alcohol sales. We are looking for a self-starter with a “can-do” attitude, who can stay cool under pressure.

This job reports to Executive Director of the Northwest Cider Association.

 

To apply, please send an email to admin@nwcider.com with a resume and cover letter by midnight October 12, 2019. Please title the email “Drink NW Cider.”

 

Key Functions

  • Research and collate information from the industry regarding successful strategies for increasing sales of Northwest ciders in California and in Montana.
  • Collaborate with a variety of stakeholders (i.e. cidermakers, distributors, buyers, non-profits, marketing agencies, event coordinators) to develop and execute strategies to increase the sales of NW cider in Montana and California. Manage stakeholder relationships throughout the duration of the project.
  • Participate in meetings and workshops for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to design and execute effective strategies.
  • Coordinate all grant management and compliance activities, including: coordination of data collection and analysis for evaluation purposes, management of the project budgets, and preparation of quarterly and annual grant narrative and financial reports.
  • Develop implementation plans and strategies in partnership with NWCA Executive Director and Board of Directors.
  • Assess the alignment between listed grant priorities and system needs/industry abilities; make recommendations to tighten any gaps.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of NWCA’s goals to increase the sales of Northwest cider.

 

 

Job Requirements and Skills

  • Ability to plan and manage projects, from planning to execution to evaluation.
  • Ability to review and interpret multiple sources of information and data points, to define opportunities and challenges, and recommend a response.
  • Persuasive speaker.
  • Experienced marketer with proven ability to increase sales
  • Computer savvy (operate standard office equipment and using pertinent software applications).
  • Preparation and maintenance of accurate documentation and records

 

The right candidate for this job has experience with community organizing and knowledge of the US cider and alcohol industry. This person will work under limited supervision following training and onboarding, with accountability to the NWCA’s Executive Director. This is a Contracted position for 23 months. NWCA does not provide office space, computer, car, etc. Preference for candidates living in the PNW, with a bachelor’s degree in marketing or the equivalent of 10+ years of marketing and project management experience.

 

Description of general tasks of project:

  1. Work with marketing firm, graphic designer, and PNW cidermakers to develop brand strategy and content. Create content to explain cider as an agriculture-based alcoholic product, highlighting what differentiates high quality craft cider in the PNW (made from local apples) from national brands made from juice concentrate, as a way to share the story of our value-added hard cider.
  2. Conduct research to identify the best markets in which to launch, the structure of those markets, how to enter, and who to target both for customers and accounts. Identify influencers and gatekeepers in these markets (buyers and media) and welcome distributors.
  3. In conjunction with NWCA Executive Director, recruit, hire, and manage an event coordinator to host dual trade and consumer tasting events—2 in Montana and 2 in California—for key influencers and cider consumers. Educate key influencers in the trade (bartenders, restaurateurs, chefs, wholesalers, distributors, media, etc.) about the quality craft cider being made in the PNW. These are the people who control purchasing decisions and influence consumer decisions.
  4. Drive sales of PNW quality cider among consumers and trade.

 

 

ABOUT THE NORTHWEST CIDER ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY:

The Northwest Cider Association’s (NWCA) members represent an estimated annual $1 billion dollar economic impact to the PNW. Sales of PNW regional craft cider continue to grow in the double digits year over year. This is an exciting time to launch a new industry and lift cider from niche to mainstream, supporting farmers and artisan businesses.

With this new initiative, NWCA, a regional non-profit,  will grow the market for Pacific Northwest craft cider by building a cohesive PNW cider brand and then hosting targeted consumer and industry-focused tastings in California and Montana. Based in Portland, Oregon, NWCA supports cidermakers in growing consumer demand for local, premium hard cider. California does not currently sell much hard cider, nor is California producing much cider. California and Montana combined represent a huge market potential for growth for a high-quality cider.

NWCA’s mission is to connect cider drinkers and cidermakers. Currently, cidermakers are doing a tremendous job of building their markets here in the Pacific Northwest. Cider is growing at a spectacular rate, although it remains only 6% of overall beer sales in Oregon/Washington and 1-3% in Montana and California. Coordination across the industry is needed to build momentum and help realize growth in two high potential markets: California and Montana. Cidermakers in the Northwest are looking to build market share in neighboring states and need a cohesive strategy to make it possible.

 

Contracted position without benefits. Expected hours approximately 30 average hours/week for 23 months. Compensation commensurate with experience, ranging from $40,000-$50,000/year.

 

To apply, please send an email to admin@nwcider.com with a resume and cover letter by midnight October 12, 2019. Please title the email “Drink NW Cider.”

7th Annual Portland International Cider Cup Announces 2019 Winners

Portland, OR – The competition was fierce, the decisions are in, and the winners are delicious! Eight lucky Pacific Northwest cideries took home fourteen gold medals at the Northwest Cider Association‘s 7th Annual Portland International Cider Cup (PICC) awards tonight. 2 Towns Ciderhouse won the competition’s highest honor and the Cup—the Best of Show Award.

At a joyous party at Ecotrust in NW Portland, over 100 cidermakers and industry supporters came together to celebrate the best ciders crafted in the Pacific Northwest, a region that is home to a quarter of the country’s cidermakers and boasts residents who drink more cider (per capita) than anywhere else in the United States.

“We’re honored and excited to win the Best In Show award,” said 2 Towns Ciderhouse’s chief cidermaker, Dave Takush. “The Portland International Cider Cup is a prestigious award in one of the strongest cider regions in the country. It means so much to us that our vision of craft cider has resonated with our community. We owe a big thanks to our team for their hard work, our growers for producing the highest quality fruit and to our industry peers for laboring every day to elevate the quality and excellence of Pacific Northwest cider.”

The competition itself was tight. Hosted at Square Mile Cider on April 7, this year’s PICC saw so many submissions that it grew exponentially, entering almost 190 competition ciders from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Ciders were evaluated by 60 experienced industry judges.

Within the twenty four categories sampled, judges found ciders in only fourteen categories worthy of gold medals:

  • 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Oregon: Best of Show for 8th Anniversary (Heritage Dry), and  gold medal for Strawberry Haze (Fruit-Other),
  • Bauman’s Cider, Oregon: Loganberry (Fruit-Cane), Peach Raspberry (Fruit-Stone), Stephen’s Sweet (Modern Sweet), and Old Mule (Spiced),
  • Independent Cider, Washington: Sno Gem Dry (Modern Perry)
  • Liberty Ciderworks, Washington:  Lafayette (French), Kingston Black SV (Single Varietal Bittersweet/Bittersharp)
  • Runcible Cider, Oregon: Hop Ya’ll (Hopped)
  • Snowdrift Cider Co., Washington: Red (Specialty), Cornice (Wood/Oaked)
  • Swift Cider, Oregon: Original Hard Apple (Modern Dry Cider)
  • Tieton, Washington: Lavender Honey Cider (Botanical)

These fourteen ciders went on to compete in the Best of Show round, in which the head judges from each round found the 2 Towns 8th Anniversary to be the best of the best.

Independent Cider (Dryden, WA) won the the Best New Cidery award, which carried with it a $500 prize. Awards were given to Snowdrift Cider Co. (Wenatchee, WA) and Liberty Ciderworks (Spokane WA) who tied for Small Cidery of the year and Runner Up for the Cup, Bauman’s Cider (Portland, OR) won Medium Cidery of the Year and 2 Towns Ciderhouse (Corvallis, OR) again won Large Cidery of the year. The full list of medalists and past cup winners can be viewed here.

“The goal of this competition is to up the game for cidermaking in the Northwest as a whole,” says Emily Ritchie, executive director of the Northwest Cider Association. “Cidermakers get the chance to taste their fellow makers’ best work and be evaluated by well-trained, knowledgeable judges – and they love it! We have more competitors than ever before. When you see a PICC gold medal on the grocery shelves, you know it’s the best.”

Congratulations to all of the winners!