PORTLAND, OREGON – 2023 Northwest Cider Cup winners have been introduced Thursday night, at Polaris Corridor in Portland, Oregon. Concurrently, the outcomes of this aggressive showdown of cider and perry excellence streamed reside on Northwest Cider Affiliation’s Instagram feed @nwcider.
The Portland crowd, a vibrant grouping of practically 200 makers, trade professionals and cider lovers, donning dress-to-impress apparel, cheered enthusiastically at every accolade. “The cider neighborhood in our area may be very passionate and modern,” NW Cider Affiliation’s Government Director, Emily Ritchie states. The competitors’s playful Finest Dressed Award, chosen reside from amongst attendees on award evening, is an annual crowd favourite.
2023 was a document breaking yr receiving 279 entries, from 51 distinctive industrial cider and perry makers throughout Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho and British Columbia. On this banner yr, entries competed in 19 classes, for as much as 57 medals – one potential gold, silver and bronze per class. “One thing that units The Cup aside is how aggressive it’s to win.” Ritchie says. This yr, solely 19% of all entries have been awarded. “These medals actually matter,” she concludes. The 2023 Better of Present went to Alpenfire Cider from Washington for Glow-Airlie Purple Flesh Single Varietal within the Purple-Fleshed Dry Class. The Better of Present Runner-Up went to Yonder Cider additionally in Washington for his or her Barrel Aged Perry within the Excessive-Tannin Perry Class.
2023 Better of Present Runner Up – Barrel Aged Perry, Yonder Cider (WA) and 2023 Better of Present – Glow – Airlie Purple Flesh Single Varietal, Alpenfire Cider (WA)
NW Cider Cup, the area’s longest-standing, best blind judging of ciders and perries, has been organized since 2016 by the Northwest Cider Affiliation, a regional non-profit that’s practically 100 cidery members robust. The Cup, based a decade in the past by native cidermakers goals to encourage and keep top quality. That function stays a precedence in the present day. “Cidermakers wish to win, however they’re additionally actually rooting for one another,” Ritchie notes. “When NW makers take house gold and cider followers discover, the entire class advantages. It is a collaborative and supportive neighborhood.”
51 complete medals have been awarded to 24 cideries in 2023. Entries elevated by 12%, from 241 in 2022, following a 60% improve in entries from 2021 to 2022. Low Tannin Dry, Single Varietal, Purple-Fleshed Candy, and 16 different classes have been evaluated in an all-day judging session on Monday, June twelfth in Portland, Oregon.
2023 Northwest Cider Cup Winners
BEST OF SHOW
Glow – Airlie Purple Flesh Single Varietal, Alpenfire Cider (WA) – Purple-Fleshed Cider Dry Class
BEST OF SHOW RUNNER-UP
Barrel Aged Perry, Yonder Cider (WA) – Excessive-Tannin Perry Class
BEST NEW CIDERY OF THE YEAR *TIE*
Empyrical Orchard and Cidery (WA) – AND – Heartland Ciderworks (OR)
BEST SMALL CIDERY OF THE YEAR
Puget Sound Cider Firm (WA)
BEST MEDIUM CIDERY OF THE YEAR
Bauman’s Cider (OR)
BEST LARGE CIDERY OF THE YEAR
2 Cities Ciderhouse (OR)
LOW-TANNIN CIDERS DRY
GOLD, Mac Dry, 2 Cities Ciderhouse – OR
SILVER – Dry Cider, Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery – OR
BRONZE – Transplant, Highpoint Cider – ID
LOW-TANNIN CIDERS SWEET
GOLD – eleventh Anniversary, 2 Cities Ciderhouse – OR
SILVER – Authentic Cosmic Crisp, 2 Cities Ciderhouse – OR
BRONZE – Native Legend, Schilling Cider – WA
HIGH TANNIN CIDERS DRY
GOLD – Kingston Black, Puget Sound Cider Firm – WA
SILVER – Reine Des Pommes, Bauman’s Cider – OR
BRONZE – Dabinett Yarlington Mill / Twin Varietal, Alpenfire Cider – WA
HIGH-TANNIN CIDERS SWEET
GOLD – Property Mix Rootwood Cider Firm Gold WA
SILVER – Excelsior Imperial Apple Schilling Cider Silver WA
BRONZE – La Raison Reserve Empyrical Orchards and Cider Bronze WA
RED-FLESHED CIDERS DRY
GOLD – Glow – Airlie Purple Flesh Single Varietal, Alpenfire Cider – WA
SILVER – Mountain Rosé, Puget Sound Cider Firm – WA
BRONZE – Wenatchee Wave, Yonder Cider – WA
RED-FLESHED CIDERS SWEET
SILVER – Mountain Rose Single Varietal, Bauman’s Cider – OR
LOW-TANNIN PERRIES
GOLD – Perry, Seattle Cider Firm – WA
HIGH-TANNIN PERRIES
GOLD – Barrel Aged Perry, Yonder Cider – WA
BRONZE – Precept, Empyrical Orchard and Cidery – WA
WOOD/OAKED
GOLD – Mezcal Barrel Aged Cider, Bauman’s Cider – OR
SILVER – Reserve Cider, Kristof Farms – OR
SINGLE VARIETAL
GOLD – Kingston Black, Puget Sound Cider Firm – WA
SILVER – Brown Snout, Single Varietal Bauman’s Cider – OR
BRONZE – McIntosh Pet Nat, Bauman’s Cider – OR
FRUIT CO-FERMENTED
GOLD – Quince Cider, Victoria Cider Co – BC
SILVER – Blackberry Pear, Puget Sound Cider Firm – WA
BRONZE – Wild Blue Huckleberry, Puget Sound Cider Firm – WA
FRUIT POST-FERMENTATION ADDITION SWEET
GOLD – Plum Dandy, Meriwether Cider – ID
SILVER – Coulee, Yonder Cider – WA
BRONZE – Cherry Lane, Sea Cider – BC
FRUIT-POST FERMENTATION DRY
GOLD – Palisades, Yonder Cider – WA
SILVER – Yuzu Plum, 19 Acres Cider Co. – OR
BRONZE – Loganberry Cider, Bauman’s Cider – OR
BOTANICAL HOPPED
GOLD – Liquid Limber, Union Hill Cider Co. – WA
SILVER – Hop Shot, Meriwether Cider – ID
BRONZE – Imperial Citra Kissed, Cedar Draw Cider – ID
BOTANICAL HERBED
GOLD – The Baddie, 2 Cities Ciderhouse – OR
SILVER – Lavender Black Currant, Finnriver Farm & Cidery – WA
BRONZE – Lavender Honey, Shuswap Cider Firm – BC
BOTANICAL SPICED
GOLD – Pineapple Mai Tai, Swift Cider – OR
SILVER – Pumpkin Spice, Seattle Cider Firm – WA
BRONZE – Cucumber Jalapeno, Incline Cider Firm – WA
SPECIALTY FORTIFIED
GOLD – Ore No. 001, Runcible Cider Firm – OR
SILVER – Pomona, Sea Cider – BC
BRONZE – Apple Mistelle – #2 | Property Mix, Alpenfire Cider – WA
SPECIALTY LOW ALCOHOL/ALCOHOL REMOVED
GOLD – N/A Pacific Pineapple Cider, 2 Cities Ciderhouse – OR
SILVER – The Little Apple, Heartland Ciderworks – OR
BRONZE – Mild Cider, Bauman’s Cider – OR
SPECIALTY OTHER
GOLD – Bitter Empress, Cedar Draw Cider – ID
SILVER – Plum As You Are, 2 Cities Ciderhouse – OR
BRONZE – Hole Jack, 2 Cities Ciderhouse – OR
About Northwest Cider Affiliation
Based in 2010, the Northwest Cider Affiliation (NWCA) brings cideries and cider lovers collectively to be taught, expertise and benefit from the Northwest cider tradition. Representing greater than 90 industrial cidermakers from all through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia, the group is devoted to supporting, selling and rising its thriving trade. For extra data, go to NWCider.com and comply with @nwcider on social media.
