A big thank you to my readers for helping Cider Says reach a new milestone, its second anniversary! I’ve really enjoyed sharing my cider journey with all of you. Its been fun, and I look forward to more years of blogging. In the past year I’ve made over 200 posts, and had 35,000 visitors. The majority are from the U.S., but folks from several dozen other countries have visited as well (Canada and the UK are the next two most common). This summer I’ll be attending several cider tasting events (including the epic Cider Summit Seattle!), so look forward to some awesome posts here.
cider blog
Cider Says 1st Anniversary
Thank you to my readers for helping Cider Says reach its first anniversary! I never imagined how popular it would become. Its been a fun ride and I look forward to more cider-related debauchery. This summer I’ll be attending several cider tasting events (including the epic Cider Summit Seattle!), so look forward to some awesome trip reports and tasting notes.
Vacation Week
Just a FYI, I’ll be on vacation for a week (Alaska cruise!), so there won’t be any posts for a bit.
Here are some popular previous posts of mine to tide you over:
4 Posts on the Port Townsend Cider Route (Alpenfire, Finnriver, and Eaglemount)
Tasting Notes from Seattle Cider Summit 2015
Here are some of my favorite cider blogs:
See you next week!
Hard Cider News Edition 6
These are some recent hard cider news/articles/links/posts I found interesting and have shared on Facebook lately. To get the latest scoop, like Cider Says on Facebook!
News
The CIDER Act passed! There are now new tax laws for cider, increasing the max ABV to be taxed as cider (instead of the much higher wine rate) from 7% to 8.5%, including pear juice and apple & pear concentrate in addition to apple juice, and increasing the allowable carbonation level (above which the much higher champagne rate applies). Its definitely a start, but still leaves a lot out. (some articles from CSP Net, Press Republican, Marketplace, & KTVZ)
New Taproom in Luna Center [New Mexico Hard Cider Taproom] Offers Hub for Cider Lovers (Santa Fe New Mexican)
Vegetarian Cider House Wassail Fizzes in the Glass and Dazzles on the Plate (Village Voice)
Surprise Family with Something New for Thanksgiving: Craft Cider (Seattle Times)
Big Cider Brands Aren’t Seeing the Boom They Used To (CNBC)
Cider Industry Body Calls for Alcohol to be Included in New Country of Origin Labeling System [in Australia] (ABC Australia)
HOOPS ON HOPS: The ABCs of Hard Apple Cider (Deluth News Tribune)
Seaport Sightseeing Route Leads to Hard-Cider Heaven (USA Today), article on Olympic Peninsula cider route near Port Townsend WA with Finnriver, Alpenfire, & Eaglemount cideries
Pabst Brewing Partners with Vermont Hard Cider (Vermont Biz), so now Pabst has complete control over distribution of Vermont Hard Cider’s cider brands, which most notably include Woodchuck
Rochester’s First Hard Cider-Only Bar Opening (Democrat & Chronicle)
Blogs
Eric West’s Cider Guide from Nov 20, Nov 27, Dec 4, Dec 11, and Dec 18, where #9 or #10 of each includes some of my reviews
5 Hard Ciders Seeking a Place at Your Holiday Table (The Street): Woodchuck Hot Cha Cha Cha, WILDCIDE, Square Mile Spur & Vine, Spire Mountain Dark & Dry, and Virtue Lapinette Cidre Brut
Woodchuck Winter Chill Snickerdoodles! (Woodchuck), recipe
DIY CiderTime (Farnum Hill / Poverty Lane Orchards), article on home cidermaking complete with infographics
American Hard Cider Hits the Sweet Spot (Gourmet Retailer)
Magazines
Cider Makes a Comeback in New York (High Brow Magazine), featuring Descendant (NY), Farnum Hill (NH), Aaron Burr (NY), West County Cider (MA), and Reverend Nat’s (OR)
Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Cider-Centric Presents (CiderCraft)
Hard Cider News Edition 5
These are some recent hard cider news/articles/links/posts I found interesting and have shared on Facebook lately. To get the latest scoop, like Cider Says on Facebook!
News
Cider Industry Body Calls for Alcohol to be Included in New Country of Origin Labellng System, ABC Australia
Wine Meets Cider in Local Mixologist’s New Blend (cider made with yeast byproduct of rosé wine), Washington’s Top News
Saving an Apple Orchard May Graft an Industry’s Growth, Capitol Press
Hard Cider Catches Eye of Home Brewers, Star Tribune
10 Hard Ciders You’ve Never Heard of, But Need to Try (I’ve heard of 9/10), Culture Cheat Sheet
Say Hello To The Apple That Never Browns, Buzz Feed
10 Local Hard Ciders for Your Thanksgiving Table, Oregon Live
Five Super-Fresh Cider Cocktails, Punch Drink
The Story of Cider: How It Got Cool, and Why People Should Stop Freaking Out About An Apple Shortage, Vine Pair
Northwest Travel: Cider Country, Bend Bulletin
Blogs
Believing In Cider At The Hard Core Cider Tour, One Punk Army
Weekly Cider News (Oct 30), Eric West’s Cider Guide, where #9 includes some of my reviews
Weekly Cider News (Nov 6), Eric West’s Cider Guide, where #9 includes some of my reviews
Weekly Cider News (Nov 13), Eric West’s Cider Guide, where #9 includes some of my reviews
Six Tips for Making Thanksgiving a Cider-Centric Holiday, Cider Journal
The Feral Cider Society – Looking for the Future of American Cider on the Side of the Road, Tasting Table
Blackfin Hard Cider Launches Fresh Estate-Grown Cider in Cans, New School Beer
Magazines
Top 8 Events at Cider Week Virginia, CiderCraft Magazine
Spotlight: Sonoma Cider, Paste Magazine
The Drink that Built a Nation – Bubbling a Revolution in Washington State, WSU Magazine
Liberty Ciderworks – What are Trained Architects Doing Making Hard Cider?, WSU Magazine
The Hunt for a $1 Billion Apple, The Week
In Preview: (Franklin County) CiderDays, CiderCraft Magazine