Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider and the Portland International Cider Cup planning committee are pleased to announce the third annual Portland International Cider Cup (PICC) to be held on June 21, 2015. Registration is open now and closes on Thursday, June 18 at 21:00 PDT. All entries must be received at the ship-to/drop-off location by Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 7pm, PST and will not be accepted after that date/time. For details, see the Entry Information page. Entrants are encouraged to read style information early to familiarize themselves with entry categories. The categories are the same this year as last with some minor adjustments to the descriptions to enable the highest quality judging.
This non-BJCP competition is for commercial producers only (holding applicable licenses to produce cider). Only ciders are allowed entry in the competition and the categories have been developed expressly for this competition and reflect the true nature of the commercial cider market as it exists. For detailed information about the style guidelines, categories and the evaluation forms used by judges in this competition please visit the entry information page.
Additionally, this competition is for ciders produced in the Pacific Northwest, within the geographic bounds deliniated by the Northwest Cider Association. Cideries who are already members of the NWCA may enter ciders made within the bounds of the NWCA membership area and will receive a discount on their entry fee. Commercial cideries not yet members of the NWCA but eligible to join the NWCA (including those located in British Columbia, Canada) may enter the competition and enter ciders made within the bounds of the NWCA membership area but will not receive a discount on their entry fee.
All judging will be conducted using “blind” panels. Each entry will be identified by a registration number and judges will only see that number along with important information needed to properly evaluate the entry, such as category entered, level of carbonation, level of sweetness, alcohol level and any special ingredients or entrant notes. Judges will be a combination of experienced Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judges, experienced non-BJCP judges, industry professionals and other commercial cidermakers from across the entry area. Entrant cidermakers are encouraged to participate in the judging and the organizers will ensure that no cidermakers judge a category in which they have an entry. As the host, Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider will not enter any ciders in the competition.
Judging will take place at Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider the day immediately following the Portland Cider Summit, June 20 2015. Lunch will be provided for judges.
Enter now by using our new online registration system: http://picc.reverendnatshardcider.com/. You may ship or drop off your entries between Friday, May 1, 2015 at 12:00, PDT and Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 21:00, PDT at the following location:
Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider
Attention: PICC
1813 NE 2nd Ave
Portland, OR 97212
Tel: 503-567-2221
Registrar: Mark Crowder, mark@rainbarrelcider.com
To arrange in-person drop off of entries please contact Carolyn at carolyn@reverendnatshardcider.com or the above phone.
Judging will take place on Sunday, June 21, beginning at 8:00 AM at Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider (until completion at approximately 4-5 pm). Dinner and announcement of awards to follow. (TBA)