Raise a Glass to Celebrate Oregon Cider Week
The first weekend kicked-off with the Cider Summit, followed by the International Cider Cup, both in Portland. Cider fans can explore events throughout the week ranging from cider-themed dinners to tap takeovers, creative cocktail trails, cider flights and more. Among the many daily highlights in Portland are cider tastings and flights, and a cidermaker's dinner at Hotel deLuxe; cider ice creams at Fifty Licks; tastings at The Beermongers and Bushwackers; and unique cider desserts, cider dinner, and a jazz and cider evening at St. Honoré Boulangerie. A special cider tasting is planned during the week at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) as part of the popular “OMSI After Dark” series. Oregon is one of six states in the U.S. celebrating a Cider Week this year, joining California, Michigan, New York, Washington and Virginia. This year’s sponsors are the Northwest Cider Association (NWCA) and Northwest Travel Magazine. Visit NWCider.com for more information. Skip Pina Coladas This Summer and Get Pineapple Cider
Family-owned, California Cider Company – ACE Cider – announced the release of its newest flavor, ACE Pineapple Hard Cider earlier this year with limited availability. Since the beginning of April, ACE Pineapple gathered recognition through its premier exclusive release in Yard House restaurants across the United States. The overwhelming fan base for the flavor made the company decide to take the cider to all markets this summer. The company has sold it in 42 states and seen it do equally well. “The idea for ACE Pineapple came to me on one of my recent visits to Hawaii,” said Jeffrey House, Founder of the California Cider Company. “I just thought an apple/pineapple would be very refreshing and have the correct acid balance to be very quaffable.” ACE Pineapple is both refreshing and light. It has the aroma of fresh pineapple juice and boasts a crisp finish. While perfect for the hot summer months, this cider is a delicious thirst-quencher anytime of the year. The cider goes well with rum to make “Hawaii 5-0s” and pairs well with barbeque meat dishes – try bacon-wrapped fillet steak with an ACE Pineapple marinade/glaze! As with other ACE ciders, the cider is filtered four times and not pasteurized. However, the pineapple juice is added to the apple cider base. It is available in 6-packs and 22-ounce bottles nationwide. Similarly, Ciderboys released their latest “fruitful pairing” – Ciderboys Pineapple Hula – to splash a wave of refreshment on our summer fun. The new summer seasonal hard cider mixes a smooth, sweet citrus taste of fresh Hawaiian pineapple with the crisp, tart sweetness of apple cider. “Pineapple Hula’s combination of fresh pineapple juice from Hawaii and apple cider will dance on your tounge when you take your first sip,” said Gabe Hopkins, Ciderboys Head Cidermaker. “The wave of flavor is a robust blend of sweetness and tartness that makes for a really refreshing summer beverage.” Ciderboys Pineapple Hula is now available at retail wherever Ciderboys products are sold in six-packs of 12-ounce non-returnable bottles and on draft. The cider is also available in select states in Ciderboys’ hard cider variety 12-pack, which also features Ciderboys First Press, Strawberry Magic and Peach County. For additional information on ACE Pineapple, please visit ACECider.com. For additional information on Ciderboys Pineapple Hula, please visit Ciderboys.com. Vermont’s Eden Releases New Naturally Sparkling Hard CiderEden Ice Cider announced the expanded release of Eden Sparkling Dry Cider to markets outside of Vermont. Released in a limited quantity in Eden’s home state last year, it was named Best Vermont Cider 2013. As of summer 2014, it is now also available in New York, Boston, Maine, New Hampshire and shortly in Chicago. Eden Sparkling Dry Cider is made with locally grown apples, including traditional heirloom and cider varieties. 50% of the blend is Kingston Black, a classic British cider variety. The cider is fermented and aged in French oak puncheons for a year, then bottled with a secondary fermentation that is created with additional juice rather than sugar. After another six months each bottle is hand-disgorged in a careful process that removes the yeast but retains the vibrant natural effervescence of the in-bottle fermentation. The finished cider has 8.5% alcohol as a result of using true cider variety apples that have higher beginning sugar levels than typical dessert apples. Eden Sparkling Dry is a full-flavored, tannic, clean and very dry with a champagne-like mouth feel and bright acidity. It is a wonderful accompaniment to food, including barbeque, cheeses, and grilled fish. It makes a sublime pairing with oysters, and is featured on the menu at Balthazar in New York City. For more information about Eden, including distributors and availability, visit the “For The Trade” page at EdenIceCider.com. Winners of First Annual Pacific Northwest Cider Awards AnnouncedEarlier this month, 16 judges from across the Pacific Northwest gathered at Seattle’s Capitol Cider for the first annual Pacific Northwest Cider Awards (PNWCA). The inaugural competition drew an exciting 95 ciders from 26 cideries throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, Montana and parts of Canada. Divided into 10 distinct categories, gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for almost every category, as well as a “Best in Show” medal, chosen from a second tasting made up of the gold medal winner from each category. “This is a competition focusing solely on Pacific Northwest ciders and the first of its kind in Seattle,” said Kendall Jones, PNWCA committee member and competition moderator. “The growth and change this industry is seeing is amazing, as were many of the ciders we tasted today. The PNWCA and its corresponding festival are not only helping to raise awareness for this exciting industry, but also give growing cideries the feedback and praise they deserve.” Winners of the first annual PNWCA include: MODERN DRY MODERN SWEET NEW WORLD DRY NEW WORLD SWEET OLD WORLD WILD FERMENT WOOD AGED CIDER FRUIT/SPICE/HERB INFUSED HOPPED SPECIALTY BEST IN SHOW For more information, visit PNWCA.com or follow PNWCA on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news and events. Blue Mountain Cider Company Releases Specialty “Oregonian” Estate Hard CiderMilton-Freewater and Blue Mountain Cider Company are proud to present a new specialty hard cider, “Oregonian.” As native New Mexico Hard Cider Releases Six New Flavors to Beat Summer Heat
The Dry-Crisp Apple is a dry apple cider with a little bit of fizz and a clean finish. The clean finish allows it to be paired nicely with a succulent piece of grilled pork or chicken. If you are not a meat lover, do not worry as the Dry-Crisp also pairs beautifully with most sharp cheeses. The Semi-Sweet Apple provides a touch more sweetness than the dry as its light carbonation provides big refreshment. Given the sweeter nature of this particular cider, it makes for a fantastic partner for a bounty of fruits and vegetables, which makes a summer salad the best choice. If you have a real sweet tooth, the Apple Pie Cider is serving up that fresh from the oven feel with a collective blend of spices to leave you wanting a second helping. If you really feel like indulging try the Apple Pie Cider paired with a piece of glazed ham and potatoes, its ok, we know you want to. Aside from the three apple staples from New Mexico Hard Cider, they also have two infused apple flavors including a light, refreshing, and mildly tangy Apricot, as well as a Tart Cherry that offers up the perfect balance of tart and sweetness. The Apricot can be enjoyed with most fruits, grains, and rice while the Tart Cherry goes hand in hand with dark chocolate. Last but not least, is their Pear Cider – a semi-sweet beverage complimented beautifully with ripe apples. The Pear Cider also pairs well with sharp cheeses, nuts, and pork. All of New Mexico Hard Ciders’ flavors are available for sampling and purchase at the award-winning Estrella Del Norte Vineyard located in Sante Fe, NM. Patrons can try six tastes for $6 or take some home to share at $2.99 per bottle. Each cider contains an ABV of 7%. The Estrella Del Norte Vineyard tasting room will be open this summer Monday – Saturday from 10am to 6pm and on Sundays from 12pm to 6pm. For more information about New Mexico Hard Cider please visit NMCider.com. For more information about Estrella Del Norte Vineyards please visit EstrellaDelNorteVineyard.com. Photo courtesy of New Mexico Hard Cider. Contributed by: Patrick Esposito
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Oregon is developing a thirst for cider, the fastest growing segment in the beverage industry. Cider will take center stage during Oregon Cider Week, a celebration of all things cider, June 20-29. This week, posters, buttons and coasters showcasing Oregon Cider Week are turning up throughout the state. 
As the season warm us with a hot sun, cool down with a pineapple cider! Two national cider companies, California Cider Company and Ciderboys, have both released a pineapple cider nationwide available in 6-packs.
Oregonians with deep ties to the land, the Brown family has been farming fruit in Oregon for over fifty years. This estate driven cider is made from fresh pressed apples, grown on the family orchards, located on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley. Five apple varieties were blended, Gravenstein, Grimes Golden, Golden Russet, JonaGold, and Winesap, to achieve this farm driven 6.4% ABV cider. 
New Mexico Hard Cider is excited to be releasing six new flavors just in time for the summer – Dry-Crisp Apple, Semi-Sweet Apple, Apple Pie Cider, Apricot, Tart Cherry, and Pear.
