AMID THE STRUGGLE, CREATIVITY RISES AT SNOWDRIFT CIDER

May 8, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic crashed upon the world with destruction in its wake, impacting nearly everyone. Yet where destruction brings pain and toil, life continues its march with new strength, resilience, and creativity. 

“Our business dropped by over 90% overnight,” states Tim Larsen, cidermaker at Snowdrift Cider Co., regarding the limitations placed on businesses in Washington State. “We kept our employees working as long as we possibly could, but did have to furlough our entire staff … it was a heart-wrenching decision to make.” 

But pain has a way of focusing attention, and Tim and the owners, like so many, have poured time and energy into taking a hard look at what they have to work with, uncovering new strategies to move forward—and finding opportunities to help those also struggling. 

…Like the restaurant industry, which was devastated, had to furlough thousands of employees, and quickly scramble to offer delivery and takeout services. 

Resilience, Resistance, Strength 

For some, the pivot has turned into a positive. Zeeks Pizza is a partner restaurant in the Hero Meals program, which delivers fresh meals to front-line workers, donated by supportive community members. That’s not the only plus. Tommy Brooks, Director of Business Development at Zeeks Pizza, reports another shift: thanks to his team’s creativity, their draft beer & cider sales have increased during this time, with growlers sold to-go, to many who previously would enjoy their evenings in bars. 

This move has been good for their business—and it also trickles down to the company’s suppliers, such as Larsen’s cider company. In a time when demand has dried up elsewhere, an opportunity has opened up for them to make a community-minded move and release cider that otherwise would not have sold during this time. So Snowdrift Cider Co. is opening up their 2019 reserves—at cost—to give restaurants an authentic, affordable cider that delivers a special experience from their cider orchard. 

“The goal is to have something exciting out, to draw people out to support restaurants (even if it’s takeout), so they can get more employees working again,” says Larsen. As they stand in support of restaurants, they’ve named this cider Solidarity. “We don’t have a whole lot to offer at this point, but we do have cider – and we’re sharing that!” 

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For more information, or to schedule an interview with Snowdrift Cider Co., please contact Tim Larsen at (509) 885-2734, tim@snowdriftcider.com. 

 

Bad Granny Cider Does Good with Three Dynamic Spring Releases

March 30, 2020

Bad Granny Cider, a family-owned and-operated Washington cidery, recently released three new products into its award-winning line of locally made cider: Nice Pear, Ginger Lime and Mother Load. Based in the fruit belt of Chelan, Washington, and personified by a mischievous and playful matriarch, Bad Granny produces serious ciders that showcase local fruit, traditional techniques and novel innovation. 

The Nice Pear (5.5% ABV) is a perry, the delicate pear-based cousin to cider, exclusively using Washington-grown D’Anjou pears. The semi-dry sip reveals notes of freshly sliced pear, ripe persimmon and a hint of watermelon. 

Perry is a category that consumers are not too familiar with and Granny is always looking to offer something that is rare, and innovative.

The Ginger Lime (6.8% ABV) cider was only available to restaurants but, after a smash success on-premise, Bad Granny did good by canning the cider in 12-ounce six-packs for retail. In this cider, ginger and lime are blended with Honeycrisp apples for a perfect, semi-dry balance of citrus zest, sassy spice and succulent apple.  

The Mother Load takes three of Bad Granny’s best-selling ciders — Honey Crisp, Black Currant and Ginger Lime — and combines them in singular, six-pack box. Granny’s Mother Load gives and gives and gives, as mothers do; the multipack not only offers three different flavors of cider in one package, but also a portion of the proceeds gives back to the Alzheimer’s Fund.

All three releases will be available at major retailers, bottle shops and restaurants across, Washington, Idaho and Oregon. 

NW Cider Symposium Postponed

March 6, 2020

After many hours of conversation, and in consultation with local public health officials, the Northwest Cider Association has made the difficult decision to postpone the NW Cider Symposium due to the spread of COVID-19 virus in Washington state. This was a difficult decision, as we all were excited to learn, grow and connect with our Northwest cider community.

The Northwest Cider Association holds our community’s health and wellness as our highest priority. For this reason, the Board of Directors is following the guidance of the local public health officials and postponing the symposium until a later date, likely in early 2021.

We realize that the economic impact of postponing the event will affect our participants, as it will impact the NWCA. With individual vendors, small businesses, and service workers in mind, the Northwest Cider Association urges registrants to retain your registration for the postponed symposium. Not only will you support your community and ensure that we can defray costs for our small business colleagues, we commit to honoring your 2020 symposium ticket price through 2021.

We are currently investigating options for remote learning sessions, particularly in the area of online and direct-to-consumer sales. Please be on the lookout for further information on these sessions and more information about rescheduling this conference!

Swift Cider Opens New Taproom!

February 27, 2020

Portland, Oregon – Swift Cider opened their first ever taproom this February at 100 NE Farragut Street #101, Portland, Oregon. 

After years as one of Portland’s leading distributed cider producers, Swift’s jump into retail marks a major milestone: “Opening the taproom means drinkers can taste the dozens of seasonal and small-batch barrel-aged ciders that we release in limited quantities each year,” says founder and head cider maker Aidan Currie.  

From their twelve taps, Swift pours a rotating lineup of their own ciders alongside craft beer, wine, guest cider taps, hard seltzer, kombucha, water kefir and CBD soda. “Our local neighborhood, Piedmont, was founded by prohibitionists, so there has historically been a limited number of bars here. We created a community space where you can appreciate great cider and all types of fermented beverages,” says Currie. 

The 500 square foot taproom seats 39 in a warm industrial space notable for its timbers-trussed ceiling, stainless tanks, oak barrels, warm lighting, local art, and greenery. A discreet projector screens local sports while a shuffleboard table and stack of board games invites patrons to play. Plans are in the works to add patio seating by summertime. To complement the drinks, Swift stocks a regular menu of snackable, allergen-friendly bites and plans to run pop-up food nights to showcase their favorite cider pairings. 

Swift Cider launched in 2015 and has grown into a regionally distributed cider brand in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. They have a mission to make exceptional cider with fresh, whole ingredients and inspire playful, creative communities like their namesake the Chapman Swifts. Their ciders have earned significant acclaim at the world’s largest cider competitions with 21 medals, including the Best Medium Cidery of the Year at the Portland International Cider Cup. Their normal taproom hours run Thursday and Friday from 4pm to 9pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 9pm.

 

Solstice Saffron Botanical Cider returns to Finnriver

January 16, 2020

Chimacum WA— January 10th 2020, Solstice Saffron Botanical Cider returns to Finnriver Cidery!
Finnriver is pleased to announce our new sourcing relationship with Portland-area saffron grower, Tanya
Golden. Each year at the winter solstice, Finnriver begins the fermentation of our late winter botanical
craft cider— Solstice Saffron. This bright seasonal release features organically grown apples infused with
toasted fennel and organic anise pods and — new this year— saffron grown in Oregon. This lightly
carbonated cider, one of five in Finnriver’s seasonal botanical series, is released in late winter and is
generally available through March.
Saffron, first cultivated in ancient Greece, originates from a flower called crocus sativus—commonly
known as the “saffron crocus,” and is considered one of the world’s most rare and costly spices.
Growing saffron requires exquisitely careful hand-harvesting methods and a great commitment of
attention and intention. Finnriver seeks to find regional sources for their seasonal cider ingredients and
when their previous local saffron grower lost his crop due to deer impact, they were delighted to learn about Tanya’s new endeavor. Located just outside of Portland in North Plains, OR, Golden Saffron Co. was founded in
2018 by visionary Tanya Golden. Tanya has over 20 years’ experience working as an herbalist and 3rd generation
sustainable agriculture farmer, while taking pride in and staying connected to her indigenous ancestry. From
laying the foundations of the greenhouses and crop bedsto hand picking each stem with love, Tanya brings a
conscious joy and passion to her work and community offerings. You can learn more at her website: goldensaffronco.com. “We deeply appreciate the direct connections that growers have to their land and to their crops, and to the stories that have carried them into agriculture. The Botanical Cider series has brought us into relationships with a range of wonderful folks throughout the region who provide organically and thoughtfully
grown or wild-harvested ingredients for these seasonally released fermentations,” said Crystie Kisler, co-founder of Finnriver Farm & Cidery.Solstice Saffron is available for purchase in Finnriver distribution territories around the country, onsite at our Cider Garden Taproom on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, as well as online at Finnriver.com.
The Finnriver crew farms and ferments on 80 acres of organic fields and orchard in the Chimacum
Valley, along a salmon stream on the north Olympic Peninsula of Washington. Their mission is to
reconnect people to the land that sustains us and to grow community. They seek to create deep-rooted
and fruitful connections at their farm-based taproom and rural gathering space. Finnriver’s farm and
orchard is Certified Organic and Salmon Safe and the company is a Certified B Corporation, seeking to
make business a force for good. Learn more at finnriver.com

Job Announcement

September 26, 2019

The Northwest Cider Association is hiring! This is a new, 2 year .75FTE position focusing on increasing sales of Northwest cider in California and Montana! This contract position is responsible for planning and executing grant-funded projects designed to expand NWCA’s reach in new markets. It is a remote position with preference to folks living here in the PNW.

The right candidate for this job has marketing experience and knowledge of the US cider and alcohol industry. This person will work under limited supervision, with accountability to the NWCA’s Executive Director. This is a Contracted position for 23 months. Preference for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in marketing or the equivalent of 10+ years of marketing and project management experience. Full job description below.

Purpose Statement: This 2 year contract position is responsible for planning and executing grant-funded projects designed to expand NWCA’s reach in new markets, specifically California and Montana. The ideal candidate is excited about locally made craft cider, appreciates a start-up culture, can roll with ambiguity as the project unfolds, has effective negotiation skills, inspires a shared vision, and has technical expertise regarding distribution and trade in alcohol sales. We are looking for a self-starter with a “can-do” attitude, who can stay cool under pressure.

This job reports to Executive Director of the Northwest Cider Association.

 

To apply, please send an email to admin@nwcider.com with a resume and cover letter by midnight October 12, 2019. Please title the email “Drink NW Cider.”

 

Key Functions

  • Research and collate information from the industry regarding successful strategies for increasing sales of Northwest ciders in California and in Montana.
  • Collaborate with a variety of stakeholders (i.e. cidermakers, distributors, buyers, non-profits, marketing agencies, event coordinators) to develop and execute strategies to increase the sales of NW cider in Montana and California. Manage stakeholder relationships throughout the duration of the project.
  • Participate in meetings and workshops for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to design and execute effective strategies.
  • Coordinate all grant management and compliance activities, including: coordination of data collection and analysis for evaluation purposes, management of the project budgets, and preparation of quarterly and annual grant narrative and financial reports.
  • Develop implementation plans and strategies in partnership with NWCA Executive Director and Board of Directors.
  • Assess the alignment between listed grant priorities and system needs/industry abilities; make recommendations to tighten any gaps.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of NWCA’s goals to increase the sales of Northwest cider.

 

 

Job Requirements and Skills

  • Ability to plan and manage projects, from planning to execution to evaluation.
  • Ability to review and interpret multiple sources of information and data points, to define opportunities and challenges, and recommend a response.
  • Persuasive speaker.
  • Experienced marketer with proven ability to increase sales
  • Computer savvy (operate standard office equipment and using pertinent software applications).
  • Preparation and maintenance of accurate documentation and records

 

The right candidate for this job has experience with community organizing and knowledge of the US cider and alcohol industry. This person will work under limited supervision following training and onboarding, with accountability to the NWCA’s Executive Director. This is a Contracted position for 23 months. NWCA does not provide office space, computer, car, etc. Preference for candidates living in the PNW, with a bachelor’s degree in marketing or the equivalent of 10+ years of marketing and project management experience.

 

Description of general tasks of project:

  1. Work with marketing firm, graphic designer, and PNW cidermakers to develop brand strategy and content. Create content to explain cider as an agriculture-based alcoholic product, highlighting what differentiates high quality craft cider in the PNW (made from local apples) from national brands made from juice concentrate, as a way to share the story of our value-added hard cider.
  2. Conduct research to identify the best markets in which to launch, the structure of those markets, how to enter, and who to target both for customers and accounts. Identify influencers and gatekeepers in these markets (buyers and media) and welcome distributors.
  3. In conjunction with NWCA Executive Director, recruit, hire, and manage an event coordinator to host dual trade and consumer tasting events—2 in Montana and 2 in California—for key influencers and cider consumers. Educate key influencers in the trade (bartenders, restaurateurs, chefs, wholesalers, distributors, media, etc.) about the quality craft cider being made in the PNW. These are the people who control purchasing decisions and influence consumer decisions.
  4. Drive sales of PNW quality cider among consumers and trade.

 

 

ABOUT THE NORTHWEST CIDER ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY:

The Northwest Cider Association’s (NWCA) members represent an estimated annual $1 billion dollar economic impact to the PNW. Sales of PNW regional craft cider continue to grow in the double digits year over year. This is an exciting time to launch a new industry and lift cider from niche to mainstream, supporting farmers and artisan businesses.

With this new initiative, NWCA, a regional non-profit,  will grow the market for Pacific Northwest craft cider by building a cohesive PNW cider brand and then hosting targeted consumer and industry-focused tastings in California and Montana. Based in Portland, Oregon, NWCA supports cidermakers in growing consumer demand for local, premium hard cider. California does not currently sell much hard cider, nor is California producing much cider. California and Montana combined represent a huge market potential for growth for a high-quality cider.

NWCA’s mission is to connect cider drinkers and cidermakers. Currently, cidermakers are doing a tremendous job of building their markets here in the Pacific Northwest. Cider is growing at a spectacular rate, although it remains only 6% of overall beer sales in Oregon/Washington and 1-3% in Montana and California. Coordination across the industry is needed to build momentum and help realize growth in two high potential markets: California and Montana. Cidermakers in the Northwest are looking to build market share in neighboring states and need a cohesive strategy to make it possible.

 

Contracted position without benefits. Expected hours approximately 30 average hours/week for 23 months. Compensation commensurate with experience, ranging from $40,000-$50,000/year.

 

To apply, please send an email to admin@nwcider.com with a resume and cover letter by midnight October 12, 2019. Please title the email “Drink NW Cider.”

7th Annual Portland International Cider Cup Announces 2019 Winners

June 21, 2019

Portland, OR – The competition was fierce, the decisions are in, and the winners are delicious! Eight lucky Pacific Northwest cideries took home fourteen gold medals at the Northwest Cider Association‘s 7th Annual Portland International Cider Cup (PICC) awards tonight. 2 Towns Ciderhouse won the competition’s highest honor and the Cup—the Best of Show Award.

At a joyous party at Ecotrust in NW Portland, over 100 cidermakers and industry supporters came together to celebrate the best ciders crafted in the Pacific Northwest, a region that is home to a quarter of the country’s cidermakers and boasts residents who drink more cider (per capita) than anywhere else in the United States.

“We’re honored and excited to win the Best In Show award,” said 2 Towns Ciderhouse’s chief cidermaker, Dave Takush. “The Portland International Cider Cup is a prestigious award in one of the strongest cider regions in the country. It means so much to us that our vision of craft cider has resonated with our community. We owe a big thanks to our team for their hard work, our growers for producing the highest quality fruit and to our industry peers for laboring every day to elevate the quality and excellence of Pacific Northwest cider.”

The competition itself was tight. Hosted at Square Mile Cider on April 7, this year’s PICC saw so many submissions that it grew exponentially, entering almost 190 competition ciders from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Ciders were evaluated by 60 experienced industry judges.

Within the twenty four categories sampled, judges found ciders in only fourteen categories worthy of gold medals:

  • 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Oregon: Best of Show for 8th Anniversary (Heritage Dry), and  gold medal for Strawberry Haze (Fruit-Other),
  • Bauman’s Cider, Oregon: Loganberry (Fruit-Cane), Peach Raspberry (Fruit-Stone), Stephen’s Sweet (Modern Sweet), and Old Mule (Spiced),
  • Independent Cider, Washington: Sno Gem Dry (Modern Perry)
  • Liberty Ciderworks, Washington:  Lafayette (French), Kingston Black SV (Single Varietal Bittersweet/Bittersharp)
  • Runcible Cider, Oregon: Hop Ya’ll (Hopped)
  • Snowdrift Cider Co., Washington: Red (Specialty), Cornice (Wood/Oaked)
  • Swift Cider, Oregon: Original Hard Apple (Modern Dry Cider)
  • Tieton, Washington: Lavender Honey Cider (Botanical)

These fourteen ciders went on to compete in the Best of Show round, in which the head judges from each round found the 2 Towns 8th Anniversary to be the best of the best.

Independent Cider (Dryden, WA) won the the Best New Cidery award, which carried with it a $500 prize. Awards were given to Snowdrift Cider Co. (Wenatchee, WA) and Liberty Ciderworks (Spokane WA) who tied for Small Cidery of the year and Runner Up for the Cup, Bauman’s Cider (Portland, OR) won Medium Cidery of the Year and 2 Towns Ciderhouse (Corvallis, OR) again won Large Cidery of the year. The full list of medalists and past cup winners can be viewed here.

“The goal of this competition is to up the game for cidermaking in the Northwest as a whole,” says Emily Ritchie, executive director of the Northwest Cider Association. “Cidermakers get the chance to taste their fellow makers’ best work and be evaluated by well-trained, knowledgeable judges – and they love it! We have more competitors than ever before. When you see a PICC gold medal on the grocery shelves, you know it’s the best.”

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Regional Cider Trade Association Invests in Increasing Demand and Quality in an Accelerating Industry

January 15, 2019

NWCA releases annual report amidst 30% annual cider industry growth

The Northwest Cider Association (NWCA), proudly announces the release of their first annual report. This 2018 summary of the work and accomplishments details how almost 100 cidermaker members working together can accelerate the establishment of a new regional industry.

 

“The report really tells the story of our region and shows what we’re accomplishing together,” says NWCA’s Executive Director Emily Ritchie. “By collectively investing minimal resources, we have been able to increase the awareness, reach, and quality of Northwest ciders as evidenced by a 30% growth in sales.”

 

Increasing Demand:

In 2018, NWCA raised the bar on trade education in order to create more demand for the great ciders being made in the northwest. They held 5 trade tastings for 160 media and influencers such as distributors, restaurateurs, and writers to taste local cider and meet the makers. Media attention and events in 4 regional cider weeks reached 340,000 consumers last year.

Increasing Quality:

NWCA continued their emphasis on northwest cider as a premium product and one that has a reputation for quality. They increased the amount of professionally trained cider judges to give feedback during their strict cider competition called the Portland International Cider Cup. Additionally, they continued emphasis on education for regional makers, particularly on keeving cider, an old-world technique to naturally ferment a cider to a semi-sweet result without having to back-sweeten.

The report details statistics such as the 31 million pounds of fruit grown for cider, the $238,000 donated to good causes, and the number of members who have their own orchard. “I think that the contents of this report demonstrate a simple truth: this is a great time to be a part of the NW Cider Industry,” says NWCA Board President Eric Jorgensen, co-owner of Finnriver Farm and Cidery in Washington.

 

The full report can be found here.

###

About the NWCA:

NWCA’s mission is to raise the PNW cider industry from a niche market into mainstream. Collectively they work to increase demand for cider while constantly increasing the quality of cider made within the region. NWCA’s members can be found in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.

A Weeklong Celebration of Montana Cider September 28 – October 7 2018!

September 18, 2018

A Week-long Celebration of Montana Cider

Back for its third year, Montana Cider Week will celebrate the craft of hard cider with events across Montana from September 29th through October 7th. Take part in over 30 events across Montana. The week will include cider tastings, parties, cider dinners, orchard tours, tap takeovers, a Cider Professional Certification class at Western Cider, and more. This follows last year’s Montana Cider Week where over 4,000 Montanans participated in celebrating the state’s growing craft cider industry.

This year, the week kicks off with the Bigfork Cider Festival on Saturday the 29th. Throughout the week, participants will have the opportunity to taste award-winning ciders from Montana makers including Western Cider, Montana CiderWorks, Lockhorn Hard Cider, BetterRoot Cider, and Backroad Cider at participating tasting rooms, bars, and restaurants across the state.

The final weekend will include Liquid Apple Night in the Bitterroot Valley where Montana cideries will pour in support of the Ravalli County Museum, as well as the chance to visit some of the orchards where the apples are grown.

For more information about Montana Cider Week and event details, visit @MTCiderWeek on Facebook.

Contact:

Jon Clarenbach

jon@westerncider.com

Matthew LaRubbio

matt@westerncider.com

Portland Cider Co. to Participate in Washington Cider Week Events

August 29, 2018

The Northwest Cider Assn.’s eighth annual Washington Cider Week, an 11-day craft cider celebration, will take place Sept. 6 through Sept. 16 at locations throughout the state. Although not located in Washington, Portland Cider Co. distributes all of its bottled ciders and many of its draft products throughout the state and will participate in a number of highlight events, including:

Snakebite Showdown at Hellbent Brewing Co., Sept. 9 through Sept. 16
Snakebites are a popular English refreshment that blends equal parts beer and cider. Portland Cider Co. will join Elemental Cider, Locust Cider, and Seattle Cider, each featuring a cider on tap that will be paired with a Hellbent Brewing beer. Portland Cider will be competing with Hop’n’Oatrageous, a blend of Portland Cider’s Hop’rageous­­ – a balanced dry cider infused with fragrant Citra hops and bitter orange peel – blended with Hellbent’s Hop & Oats beer.

Cocktail Night at Schilling Cider House, Sept. 12 (6pm to 9pm)
Portland Cider will be pouring its Sangria Cider, Mojito Cider, and a Greyhound Cider, while offering stickers, coasters and conversation. Sangria Cider is a year-round fruit cider that blends the delicious juices of orange, strawberry, pear, passion fruit, elderberry, and lime; it’s fruit punch, for grown-ups! Mojito Cider is a limited release fruit cider featuring hand-muddled Oregon mint and juice from whole limes. Greyhound Cider is also a limited release herbal cider, featuring fresh grapefruit juice infused with gin botanicals from Trail Distilling in Oregon City.

Schilling Cider House Pentathlon, Sept. 15 (12pm to 4 pm)
Five cideries, including Portland Cider Co., challenge the public to complete in leisure skill events for fame and glory.

9th annual Cider Summit Seattle, Sept. 7 and Sept. 8
The ninth annual Cider Summit Seattle will take place at South Lake Union Discovery Center Lawn, 101 Westlake Ave. N. The event will feature over 150 ciders, including Portland Cider Co.’s Hop’rageous, Sangria, and Pumpkin Spice ciders. The cidery will also be taking part in the Oregon Fruit Products and Enartis Fruit & Oak Cider Challenge, featuring pilot batch fruit and oaked ciders from participating cideries with a consumer vote to determine the champion. Portland Cider will be serving a marionberry and rhubarb cider with oaked gin botanicals and black currants.

Learn more at WashingtonCiderWeek.org. For more information, visit PortlandCider.com and follow @PortlandCider on social media.

About Portland Cider Company
Portland Cider Company was started in October 2012 by an Oregonian and a family of British expats with the mission of bringing cider, handcrafted in the English tradition, to the Northwest. It has two taproom locations: Portland Cider House at 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214; and Portland Cider Co. Taproom & Cidery at 8925 SE Jannsen Rd, Bldg. F, Clackamas, OR 97015. Drink it, it’s good!