24 Hours in Austin
Last week, I went on the most packed-out trip in the shortest period of time! I spent 24 hours in Austin, Texas with my friend Kristyn. With her planning and our combined enthusiasm, we were able to hit almost all of the spots on our list. If you have a layover or have the opportunity to fly to Austin even for only 24 hours, follow some of spots from our trail and you can have amazing memories too! Austin Sign Kristyn and me Texan...
2018 New York City Cider Week
This weekend commences New York City Cider Week, a nine-day cider celebration at bars, restaurants and bottle shops in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Cider Week festivals, which launched 2011 in various locations in New York State, connects the public with cideries by offering tastings, cider dinners, festivals, and other educational events. From November 2-11, more than 50 cider events will take place around the city. Here are...
Cider Association Executive Director Makes 40 Under 40 Tastemakers List By Wine Enthusiast
The United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM) announced today that its executive director, Michelle McGrath, has been named a 2018 40 Under 40 Tastemaker in the U.S. by Wine Enthusiast magazine. The Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 list recognizes the young winemakers, brewers, beverage directors, grape growers, and other movers and shakers who are changing today’s beverage industry. “I am humbled and honored to receive this...
Cider Competition Tips
Recently, I joined 70+ judges for the 13th annual Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over 1,334 commercial and non-commercial ciders were submitted, and I had the opportunity to sample and judge 60 ciders and perries. The results for the competition were announced on Friday, May 25. I am overjoyed to announce that the two ciders I entered took home silver! “10:10” is...
Keep Track of Cider Pressing
33 Books Co., which produces pocket tasting journals for wine, beer, and cider, released its newest logbook, 33 Cider Pressings, at CiderCon. 33 Cider Pressings is one of 16 booklets published by Designer Dave Selden. Selden developed his idea for these books from his interest in homebrewing in 2009. “I had a beer blog, and I started getting invited to tasting events by professional PR [Public Relations] people. The next day I...
Becoming a Certified Cider Professional
The first course during CiderCon focused on introducing attendees to the Certified Cider Professional (CCP) program. CCP is the first-ever cider accreditation program designed by the United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM). Similarly to the Cicerone® Certification or Sommelier Certification, CCP is a program designed for individuals in the industry who are interested in becoming bona fide experts in the cider industry. The...
It’s CiderCon!
CiderCon, which has taken place in Portland and Chicago in past years, was held for the first time in Baltimore Jan 30-Feb 2. The four-day conference featured workshops, presentations, and tasting events by cider makers, orchardists, and leaders of the cider making industry. In 2011, CiderCon was formed by a small group of cider makers that gathered in Salem, Oregon to focus on tax issues that were a concern to the industry. “We are...
Cider to the Rescue Recipes
A few years ago on Thanksgiving Eve, I was prepping for my big Thanksgiving dinner and decided to get a few dishes out of the way so I wouldn’t feel stressed Thanksgiving morning. I baked pumpkin cake, threw together veggie dips, and whipped up cranberry sauce. But I managed to forget some ingredients for my cranberry sauce. The stores were closed and I had to utilize whatever I could find in my kitchen. So I grabbed an...
Gluten-Allergy? What to Drink at Beer Fests
As someone with a gluten-allergy, many people ask me what I drink at beer festivals. Although I am no able to taste everything, there are a great number of beers and ciders I can try if I know what to look for. Not all festivals have many options, but Blue Point Cask Ale Festival is one the best ones for Celiacs to attend. This year’s festival took place on Saturday, April 22 at Blue Point Brewery and it was expected to be the...
Sex and the Cider: Carrie’s Cosmo
Finally, my Cosmo-inspired cider completed fermentation and officially kegged last night! I have always been a fan of Carrie from “Sex and the City” and her fancy pink drinks. I give her credit for always ordering one without knocking it over. Since I know I’m not as graceful as Carrie and her Cosmos,I thought I would make a Cosmo-inspired cider. My version: “Sex and the Cider” 9% ABV is made of zesty...
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