Cider Voices from Grand Rapids Cider Week and the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition
On the evening of May 14th Joby Willson, Mark Gryska, Charlie Olchowski and William Grote and myself headed out in a big old van to Grand Rapids, thanks to Mike Beck who invited us and hosted us throughout the week. Beck who he is lovingly called by all manages GLINTCAP and hires a team of people to run the program. View the YouTube Video below to see snapshots of this week long journey.
Once we arrived in Grand Rapids the guys stayed on one side of the river at their flat and I got to hang out with Michelle McGrath, Executive Director of the United States Association of Cider Makers, Michelle Pagona a.k.a. The Brew Babe and Darlene Hayes, author of Cider Cocktails; Another Bite of the Apple.
That evening we headed to Uncle Johns Hard Cider for dinner. Nicole Ward of Forgotten Ciders (listen to Nicole and Rafe Wards chat #74), Brian and Ambrosia from Chicago’s cider bar The Northman, Helen Thomas “Weston” of Weston Cider, UK and Bob Chaplin both came over from the UK to judge. Helen is the Chairwoman for the National Cider Maker Association in the UK and Weston Ciders. Bob runs the Royal Bath and West Cider Competition. It was an amazing evening riding about the orchards and tasting ciders in their inviting tasting room. Mike and Dee are quite the hosts and I highly recommend you visit their cidery in Saint John’s, Michigan.
Wednesday May 16th began with a Cider Tour of West Michigan Makers
- Stop 1: Cider n Donuts @ Peoples Cider
- Stop 2: Cider n Shopping @ Robinette’s Orchards & Cider Mill
- Stop 3: Cider n Lunch @ Vandermill/GR
- Stop 4: Cider n Blossoms @ Ridge Cider
- Stop 5: Cider Sipping @ PUX Cider
That evening it was Judges Training led by Charles McGonegal Listen to two chat with Charles: 83 -on his Wisconsin cidery AEppelTreow Winery and #84 on the Element of Cider | Sensory Analysis
Thursday and Friday was dedicated to Judging of the Ciders
Saturday was the Gillett Bridge Cider Fest in Grand Rapids
Mentions in this chat
- Bottle Share June 8th 5-9pm Spoke and Spy Ciderworks, Middletown, Connecticut.
- James Creek Cider House – Moore County, South Caroline
- Huon Vally Mid-Winter Fest July 13-July 15, 2018 – Prize for spinning a story via the Story Tellers Cup
- 031: Sam Reid, Willie Smiths Cider | Tasmania and President of Cider Australia
- 59: Hugh McKellar – Australian Cider Writer at Real Cider Reviews and on episode 059
- 088 Tasmainia Patrick Meagher – Simple Ciders
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Ask for the following ciders – By supporting these cidermakers, you in turn help Cider Chat
- Kurant Cider – Pennsylvania : listen to Joe Getz on episode 14
- Big Apple Hard Cider – NYC : listen to Danielle von Scheiner on episode 35
- Oliver’s Cider and Perry – Herefordshire/UK ; listen to Tom Oliver on episode 29
- Santa Cruz Cider Company – California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60
- The Cider Project aka EthicCider– California
- Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56
- Cider Summit : listen to Alan Shapiro founder of this cider fest on episode 75.
- Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg.
- Big Fish Cider Co. Virginia
- Tanuki Cider Co. Santa Cruz California episode 103
- Ross on Wye Cider and Perry, UK
- Process and Analytical NMR Services – John Edwards provides analytics of cider – stay tuned for his Chemical Fingerprints workshop coming up on Cider Chat
- Ironbark Ciderworks, Claremont, California
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