The 20th anniversary of the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP) did more than recognize outstanding cider. It offered a snapshot of where the industry is heading. With more than 1,400 commercial and noncommercial entries from around the world, GLINTCAP has become one of cider’s most influential competitions. While medals recognize individual excellence, … Read more
The American Cider Association’s announcement that CiderCon 2027 will be co-located with the Craft Brewers Conference generated widespread discussion throughout the cider community. In this episode, ACA Board President Christine Walter joins Cider Chat to discuss the decision, explain how it came about, and respond to many of the questions raised by cider makers, orchardists, … Read more
Last week, eCiderNews reported on the American Cider Association’s decision to co-locate CiderCon 2027 with the Craft Brewers Conference in San Antonio. The announcement sparked one of the most active discussions the cider industry has seen in recent years. To explore those questions, Cider Chat host Ria Windcaller sat down with ACA Board President Christine … Read more
The conversation surrounding CiderCon 2027 continues. Following eCiderNews coverage of the American Cider Association’s announcement that CiderCon 2027 will be co-located with the Craft Brewers Conference in San Antonio, Texas, ACA leadership has agreed to participate in an interview to discuss the decision and answer questions emerging from the cider community. eCiderNews is scheduled to … Read more
The American Cider Association (ACA) has announced a major change for CiderCon 2027, moving the annual conference from its expected return to Chicago and co-locating the event with the Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America® in San Antonio, Texas, April 5–7, 2027. Both events will take place at the Henry B. González Convention Center in … Read more
Canada’s mead producers have gained a national voice without having to build a national organization from scratch. This week, Cider Canada announced the creation of Mead Canada / Hydromel Canada, a new standing committee designed to represent Canada’s growing community of mead producers while operating within the existing Cider Canada framework. The move gives meadmakers … Read more
Why Breweries Are Making Cider Ria, Cider Chat MC, sat down with the owners of Element Brewing Company Dan Kramer and Ben Anhalt and asked the question that is quietly reshaping an industry: Why are breweries making cider now? The answer came fast: survival, curiosity, and opportunity. “Most breweries probably see cider as a way … Read more
An editorial on leadership, scarcity, and why cider no longer needs to borrow authority from beer or wine. In Let Cider Lead, host Ria Windcaller steps back from interviews to offer a clear-eyed reflection on the state of the cider industry, drawing on more than three decades in cider and nearly eleven years documenting the … Read more
In this episode of Cider Chat MC, Ria Windcaller speaks with Ron Extract of Garden Path Fermentation about a lawsuit currently pending that challenges a surprising restriction in U.S. alcohol labeling. Ron explains that when his cidery submitted a label for TTB approval for the first time (because the cider was just over 7% ABV), … Read more
What is Pommeau? Pommeau is a: fortified blend of fresh apple must (unfermented) and apple brandy (typically Calvados in Normandy or Lambig in Brittany). The unfermented apple juice and brandy are combined before fermentation, which halts the process entirely and preserves natural sweetness. By law in France, Pommeau must be aged a minimum of 18 … Read more
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