Hello,
Here’s a recap of the best cider news worth sharing:
1) Entry registration for the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition is now open. The competition welcomes entries from both commercial and noncommercial entrants. The 11th Annual GLINTCAP—perhaps the world’s largest cider judging—will be held on April 22-24 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Care to join us as a judge or steward? Visit the Volunteer link and submit the questionnaire. It’s a great way to sharpen your sensory skills and meet fellow cider enthusiasts.)
2) Angry Orchard launches Orchard’s Edge, a line of ciders developed at their Innovation Cider House in the Hudson Valley. The first two styles—Knotty Pear and The Old Fashioned—are oak-aged and feature uncommon ingredients like cardamom and orange peel.
3) “[I]t’s actually more challenging to make a decent tasting dry cider than a sweet one. With a truly dry cider there is nowhere to hide.” turn them all into cider muses on the sugar content of ciders and on how those ciders are marketed in How Sweet It Is.
4) Cidersage shares some recommended cider podcast episodes in Cider Audio Roundup.
5) Cider Chat interviews Neil Macdonald of Orchard Park Farms and Orchard Pig in Somerset. Macdonald was also interviewed by Fruit Growers News in Growing demand for hard cider fuels growing demand for apples.
6) Thinking about planting your own cider apple orchard? You’ll want to place your order with Cummins Nursery, Fedco Trees, or another reputable nursery soon.
7) Experienced restaurateur and cider enthusiast Mattie Beason is bringing cider to the Southeast. Black Twig Cider House in Durham, North Carolina is scheduled to open in March. Learn more in this interview with Beason and follow Black Twig on Facebook and Twitter.
8) The 4th Annual Cider Summit Chicago returns to Navy Pier on Saturday. Read an interview with founder Alan Shapiro in the Chicago Tribune, or check out the appearances by The Northman‘s Brian Rutzen on the CBS Chicago Morning News and on The Feed Podcast with chef Rick Bayless and journalist Steve Dolinsky.
9) Also this weekend: the opening of Vermont Cider Week, the Gathering of the New York Farm Cideries in Albany, and Le Mondial des Cidres in Montréal.
10) Along Came a Cider reviews Original Sin Extra Dry. The Cider Journal reviews 2014 Quebrada Del Chucao Sidra Espumante from Araucanía, Chile. Cider Says reviews Woodchuck Day Chaser, Schilling Cider King’s Shilling, Woodchuck Private Reserve Barrel Aged Cherry, and Original Sin Extra Dry. The Milled Apple reviews Harvard Cider Company Missing Link, Downeast Cider House Maple Blend, Aspall Grand Cru Draft Cider, Le Brun Organic Cidre, Artifact Cider Project Colrain, and Standard Cider Company True Thirst. Love Thy Cider reviews Woodchuck Day Chaser. Bad Rider Reviews tries Jester & Judge American Apple. And Real Cider Reviews tries Flying Brick Draught Cider from Victoria, Australia.
Have a great weekend!
Eric