Seattle – June 5, 2015 – Industry experts and media, including the editor of Tasting Room Magazine, convened at Seattle’s Capitol Cider yesterday to judge 145 ciders from 38 cideries throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, Montana and British Columbia, at the second annual Pacific Northwest Cider Awards (PNWCA).
Divided into 14 distinct categories, gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for a total of 42 winning ciders, as well as a “Best in Show” medal, chosen from a second tasting made up of the gold medal recipients from each category.
“We’re thrilled with the support we’ve seen from cidermakers and cider lovers at this second annual awards program and festival,” said Sherrye Wyatt, executive director of the Northwest Cider Association. “The industry is growing so fast, so it’s exciting to see both established and new cideries doing great things. It’s also a really fun way to keep tabs on what regional cidermakers are up to. For example, this year we had 18 fruit cider and 19 hopped ciders entered, both of which are becoming big styles here in the Pacific Northwest.”
Winners of the second annual Pacific Northwest Cider Awards appear by category as follows:
BEST IN SHOW:
Wandering Aengus Ciderworks Bloom
Modern Dry
Gold: 2 Towns Ciderhouse BrightCider
Silver: Cascadia Ciderworkers United Dry
Bronze: Grizzly Ciderworks The Ridge
Modern Sweet
Gold: Cockrell Hard Cider Original
Gold: Anthem Cider
Bronze: Spire Mountain Cider Red Apple
Traditional Dry
Gold: Left Field Cider Co Little Dry
Silver: Twisted Hills Craft Cider Kingston’s Fate
Bronze: Seattle Cider Company Washington Heirloom 2014
Bronze: Sea Cider Ciderhouse Kings & Spies
Traditional Sweet
Gold: Wandering Aengus Ciderworks Bloom
Silver: Twisted Hills Craft Cider Calville’s Winter
Bronze: 2 Towns Ciderhouse 2013 Riverwood
Modern Perry
Gold: Left Field Cider Co Pear Dry
Silver: Nashi Orchards Chojuro Asian Pear Perry
Bronze: Spire Mountain Ciders Sparkling Pear
Traditional Perry
Gold: Tieton Cider Works Sparkling Perry
Old World
Gold: Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider Lorrie’s Gold
Silver: Sea Cider Ciderhouse Bittersweet
Silver: Liberty Ciderworks English Style
Ginger
Gold: Apple Outlaw Ginger Bite
Silver: Sixknot Cider Gingerella
Bronze: 2 Towns Ciderhouse Ginja Ninja
Wood Aged
Gold: Finnriver Farm & Ciderhouse Fire Barrel
Gold: Sea Cider Ciderhouse Prohibition
Bronze: Tieton Cider Works Cidermaker’s Reserve
Fruit
Gold: Blue Mountain Cider Company Peach Hard Apple Cider
Silver: Honey Moon Raspberry CiderHead
Bronze: Sea Cider Ciderhouse Bramble Bubbly
Spice/Herb
Gold: Honey Moon Rhubarb CiderHead
Silver: Seattle Cider Company Three Pepper
Bronze: 2 Towns Ciderhouse Cherried Away
Hopped
Gold: Square Mile Cider Co. Spur and Vine Hopped
Silver: Finnriver Farm & Ciderhouse Dry Hopped
Silver: Swift Cider Dank Hop
Single Varietal
Gold: Nashi Orchards Mountain Rose
Gold: Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse Pippins
Bronze: Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider Revelation Newtown Pippin
Specialty
Gold: Spire Mountain Ciders Dark and Dry Apple
Silver: Red Tank CHOPS!
Bronze: Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse Wild English
The following day (Saturday, June 6)m the Pacific Northwest Cider Awards Festival took place at Seattle Cider Company’s tasting room, The Woods (4700 Ohio Ave S), from 1-10pm. The celebration featured 30 ciders on tap, giving Seattle-area cider lovers the chance to enjoy specialty and limited edition ciders from producers throughout Washington, Oregon, Montana and British Columbia. The full list of ciders appears online at www.pnwca.com/festival.
As part of the festival, each ticket purchased was accompanied by a People’s Choice Award voting ballot. The cider on tap with the most votes at the end of the festival will receive the People’s Choice Award, to be announced Monday, June 8. Follow PNWCA on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news and events.
The Pacific Northwest Cider Awards are hosted by the Northwest Cider Association, and sponsored by Seattle Cider Company, Capitol Cider and FruitSmart.
About Northwest Cider Association
Founded in 2010, the Northwest Cider Association (NWCA) brings cideries and cider lovers together to learn, experience and enjoy the Northwest cider culture. Representing more than 70 commercial cidermakers from throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia, the group is dedicated to supporting, promoting and growing this thriving industry. NWCA hosts cider-themed events, including Cider Rite of Spring, Summer Cider Day, and Cider Weeks in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. For more information about the Northwest Cider Association, visit www.nwcider.com