2nd Annual Orcas Island Cider and Mead Festival Saturday May 12, 2012

2nd Annual Orcas Island Cider and Mead Festival Saturday, May 12
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Eastsound Village Green in Eastsound Washington, Orcas Island

Northwest hard cider and mead producers including Finnriver, Wescott Bay, Edgemount, Sky River, Alpenfire, and Tieton Cider Works will be gathering together under the tasting tent at the Eastsound Village Green on Orcas Island celebrating the second annual Cider and Mead Festival at Farmer’s Market opening day.

Orcas home brews will be judged by the professionals and crowned “Orcas Best of the Fest.” No off-island home brews will be allowed to compete for this coveted award this year.

The tent will be perched near the Village stage where Orcas Island musicians will be entertaining the throng during the event. Anyone over 21 will be able to enter the tasting tent for as little as $5 admission fee benefiting the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program. Co-organizers, Ray’s General Store and Pharmacy and the Northwest Cider Association help produce the event.

Various Island restaurants including Allium and Inn at Ship Bay will feature special food pairings with ciders and meads. The Lower Tavern will be featuring a producer or two on their wine list, and The Kitchen will be cooking up a lunch on the Friday before using ciders in several of its dishes.

Mark your calendar and bring friends to the Village Green on Orcas Island May 12 and enjoy the opening day of our great Farmer’s Market along with festive live music and the Orcas Island Cider and Mead Festival!

Olympic Peninsula Wineries’ NW Wine & Cheese Tour

Sip cider, say cheese and kid around with Finnriver Farm & Cidery at the NW Wine & Cheese Tour on Saturday April 14 and Sunday April 15, from 11-5.

Finnriver Farm & Cidery Orchard Blessing - Spring 2012We’re celebrating spring with sweet wine, sparkling cider, award-winning cheese, artisan bread and frolicking goats!  Our friends and fine cheese-makers Rachel Van Laanen & Scott Brinton, from nearby Marrowstone Island’s Mystery Bay Farm, will be on site to sample their array of fresh spring goat cheeses, including their acclaimed Thyme & White Pepper and Chevre & Honey.  Enjoy a savory bite of locally baked Pane d’Amore cheese-sticks and a dollop of gourmet cider jelly.  Wear your farm boots to take a walk around the fields and along our Poetree Trail, and visit with some of Mystery Bay’s spring goat kids, along with our piglets, chicks and spring buds.

Go to the OPWA wesbite to purchase tickets and enter free ticket drawing:  olympicpeninsulawineries.org/wine-cheese/

Washington Artisan Cheese Festival is pouring and pairing local ciders.

The Washington Artisan Cheese Festival will pouring and pairing two of our own… Tieton Cider Works and Alpenfire Cider. Beer and wine folks like to brag about how well wine pairs with cheese, those of us who drink and work around cider know that the bond cider and cheese share can’t be matched. Don’t believe us? You should head on over to the WA Artisan Cheese Festival on Saturday April 7th and decide for yourself.

 

 

Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival is a celebration of the vibrant artisanal cheese industry in Washington State. The Festival will feature a wide variety of delectable artisan cheeses made in Washington along with other locally made fine foods and beverages to accompany or pair with. We invite you to meet the cheesemakers, learn about their products and philosophy, and sample some of the finest handcrafted artisan cheeses made in Washington.

Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival

Saturday, April 7th, 2012
12-6pm

Seattle Design Center
5701 6th Avenue South
Seattle, WA  98108 Map

21 and over only Buy ticketsBuy tickets here

About the Cascade Harvest Coalition

Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival is a benefit for the Cascade Harvest Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to re-localizing the food system in Washington by connecting consumers more directly with producers. You can find out more about the Coalition and its programs at www.cascadeharvest.org.

NWCA Cidermaker Dinner coming to PDX 04/04!

Our popular Cidermaker’s Dinner is coming to Portland for the first time! The evening offers PDX residents a remarkable opportunity to taste many of our beverages, while learning about the cider process from orchard to glass. The first hour of the event will feature a casual passing of appetizers to be enjoyed with two ciders from member cideries.   Many cidermakers will be on hand to answer your questions and share information about their orchards and forthcoming ciders.

The dinner takes place at the renowned Clarklewis restaurant, known for their commitment to local, organic ingredients. Chef Dolan Lane will prepare a four-course meal, with each course paired with two different Northwest craft ciders and featuring cider as a component of the dish.

Read more about it on our Cidermaker’s Dinner PDX event page.

2nd Annual Cidermaker’s Dinner in Seattle – February 25th 2012

Craft cider, made with traditional methods and heirloom apple varieties, is a deliciously historic beverage that’s making a remarkable comeback in the Pacific Northwest. Created just over a year ago, the Northwest Cider Association currently boasts 17 member cideries spread across the region. The 2nd annual Cider Maker’s Dinner offers a remarkable opportunity to taste many of their beverages, while learning about the cider process from orchard to glass.

For more information or to buy tickets head on over to our 2nd Annual Cidermaker’s Dinner event page.

Peter Mitchell – Cider and Perry Sensory Evaluation – 07/05

Sponsored by the NW CIder Association in conjunction with Mitchell F&D Limited.
Tuesday July 5th – Morning Session 8:45 AM to 12:45 PM | Afternoon Session 1:45 to 5:45 PM.
Seattle, WA

For anyone who enjoys drinking cider or for anyone who works in an industry that sells cider this class is a must for you.  Learn about the history, product definitions, the types and styles, and food pairings for cider and perry.   The class will include a sampling of products where you will be asked to assess product quality and identify the flavors and aromas.

When you leave you will have gained the knowledge to taste and discuss the many aspects of cider and perry.

When:  July 5, 2011  2 Sessions 8:45 AM to 12:45 PM & 1:45 PM to 5:45 PM
Where:   Wine World Warehouse – 400 NE 45th St. Seattle, WA

For more information and a breakdown of each session visit our special event listing page.
Or you can head over to Brown Paper Tickets and reserve your space.

CIDER SUMMIT NW EXPANDS TO PORTLAND

Diverse Gathering of Artisanal Ciders Comes to Emerging South Waterfront Neighborhood

SBS Imports and the Seattle Beer Collective are pleased to announce the expansion of their successful Cider Summit NW Festival to Portland, OR.  The inaugural Portland event will be on Saturday, June 11, 2011 from 11am-7pm at Elizabeth Caruthers Park in the emerging South Waterfront neighborhood along the Willamette River.  The event is presented by Barbur World Foods (barburworldfoods.com) & Bushwhacker Cider (bushwhackercider.com).

Last September, SBS & Seattle Beer Collective created Cider Summit NW in Seattle with a tasting of over 50 elegantly crafted ciders from producers in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, California, England, and France.  “We received an enthusiastic response from both the producers and attendees,” noted SBC’s Ian Roberts.  “We are very excited to expand to Portland and reach an even wider audience of cider enthusiasts.”

The owners and cidermakers will be on hand to inform and guide guests through the samplings which will be available in 3-ounce and 6-ounce portions.  Each featured cider is made from 100% pressed apples (or pears) and is made without concentrates or other additives.  In addition to the superb range of ciders, the event will feature food from SE Portland’s Ya Halah restaurant, ongoing demonstrations of apple pressing courtesy of Bushwhacker and Ryan’s Juice, and non-alcoholic beverages from Maletis Beverage.  The Portland Aerial Tram will be offering 2-for-1 rides to event attendees and Cider Summit NW encourages use of the Portland Streetcar to the event

 “We believe we’ve created a unique event,” added event co-founder Alan Shapiro of SBS Imports.  “This new park is a great setting, and we expect a terrific range of ciders.  The vast majority will be available to taste at $2.00. It should be a great opportunity for attendees to sample many of the best ciders available in the United States if not the world.”

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 (cash only) at the door and are available online via Brown Paper tickets and at many of the area’s leading bottle shops. Admission includes a tasting glass and 10 drink tickets.  From 11a-12n arriving guests will receive 2 additional “happy hour” tickets. Additional drink tickets will be available for sale onsite at $2 per ticket. The event is 21 and over only.  Dogs will be allowed on event grounds.  For more information including a list of participating ciders please visit www.cidersummitnw.com.

Cider Summit NW benefits Northwest Cider Association (www.nwcider.org) and The Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research (www.imbcr.org).  The Northwest Cider Association promotes awareness of artisan produced ciders among the general public and fosters cooperation within the industry for all producers. IMBCR is one of the world’s leading independent research organizations developing effective therapies to increase the quality of life and longevity of myeloma patients.  Cider Summit NW is presented by Barbur World Foods & Bushwhacker Cider with supporting sponsors KNRK 94/7 alternative Portland, Maletis Beverage, Ryan’s Juice, Portland Aerial Tram, Portland Streetcar, and South Waterfront Community Relations office.

For more information contact:
Alan Shapiro – SBS Imports
206.527.4191     
alanmshapiro@sbs-imports.com

Another Cheesy Cider Festival – Monday May 23rd 2011, 6-9 PM

Peterson Cheese, SBS Imports and Quinn’s present the ONLY cider festival of this year’s Seattle Beer Week. As most know, handcrafted ciders are on the up and up- but as some may NOT know, hard cider and cheese is one of the best food pairings on the planet.

Five different cider houses (Aspall, JK Scrumpys, Tieton, Wandering Aengus, Westcott Bay) will be representing ten different styles of handcrafted ciders with as many artisanal cheeses on hand with which to pair. Meet some of these brilliant new cider masters and allow experienced cheese mongers to guide you on an exploration of some of the best cheeses available in the city.

$20 (plus tax) presale or $25 at the door. Limited availability.

Please contact Quinn’s for reservations. 206.325.7711