One of the coolest parts of craft cider is that it’s ever-growing — we are not a static entity, but one that is alive and evolving. For instance, the American Cider Association recently added mistelles to the dessert cider family. This category of cider isn’t well-known to us, and prompted us to ask (as any curious cider-lover might): What is mistelle? The long and short of it are that mistelle is related to pommeau: They are both types of fortified ciders (or fruit wines, more on that later), that have some things in common, but are not technically the same thing. Mistelle is a term that enc ..read more

Malaika Tyson is one half of the blogging duo Cider Soms, which was started as a way to introduce wine lovers to the world of cider. Created along with her husband Sean, the “Soms” blog seeks to uncover and explain the complexities of ciders in a fun way. During an icy January week, over 1,000 cidermakers, orchardists, and enthusiasts descended upon Portland, Oregon, for the 14th Annual CiderCon. CiderCon, which started in Salem, Oregon, with only a few hundred attendees, has blossomed into the world’s largest conference for the hard cider industry. Registration was 20% higher than the previo ..read more

Malaika Tyson is one half of the blogging duo, Cider Soms, which was started as a way to introduce wine-lovers to the world of cider. Created along with her husband Sean, the “Soms” blog seeks to uncover and explain the complexities of ciders in a fun way. Brian Bolzan is Threadbare Cider House & Meadery’s head cidermaker. We first met Brian in Chicago at CiderCon 2023 and had a chance to get to know him better after spending a few days in Pittsburgh for the Barrel & Flow Fest. I was excited to learn more about Brian and how he got his start in cider.  Malaika Tyson: How did you ..read more

CiderCon 2024 is right around the corner, and just ahead of this industry-leading conference and gathering (held this year in Portland, OR), the American Cider Association (ACA) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Cider is for Everyone Scholarship. The scholarship, which was conceived of by the ACA’s Antiracism, Equity and Inclusion Committee, is meant to “bring individuals from historically marginalized populations within the beverage industry to CiderCon to increase the accessibility of cider education and catalyze the careers and ownership-pathways of these burgeoning cider profe ..read more

Floral, honey-sweet and sporting a beguiling juicy texture, plums are such a wondrous stone fruit. In summertime, we like to snack on them by them by the pound and search farmers markets for heirloom varieties, like Jubilee and Black Ruby. In the winter, we’ll happily take our plums baked into a dense cake or sliced on a cheese board. And all year long, we love seeing plums featured in fruited ciders; their delicate flavor and lifting acidity an ideal complement to apples and other adjuncts. If you want to try plum cider, or add something new to your cider rotation, take one of these fine spe ..read more

There is no shortage of weird and wonderful ciders out there, and our love for them is well documented. As we’re scrolling through the Instagram cidersphere, perusing VinoShipper and delving into cidery’s websites, we often come across many eccentric ciders that make us smile: hazy pét-nats, plum jerkum, wild-fermented sidra, wine-cider hybrids, and so much more. However, there are still some cider surprises waiting out there — unexpected delights that even reading their description makes us feel like, “Ok, we have to try that immediately.” That’s the feeling we got when learning about Greenp ..read more

Though we believe cider belongs at every celebration, it cannot be denied that Thanksgiving is one of its best times to shine. The patchwork of flavors at this annual fall feast are the perfect backdrop for cider’s bright, refreshing character, and its lower-alcohol content (versus wine) means you can clink glasses and sip to your heart’s content! The Thanksgiving meal also presents ample opportunities to cook with cider, adding complexity and depth to your dishes. We’re excited to share four new plant-based Thanksgiving recipes with you in our 2023 Cider Culture Thanksgiving Guide; each one ..read more

The winter provides many opportunities to gather: Between the holidays, epic dinner parties and cozy indoor hygge vibes, there are creative ways to make the most of the dark, cold nights of the season. A special cider is the perfect festive libation to pair with hearty food and keep the conversation lively! If you like to add unique ciders to your cellar to pull from in celebratory moments, the Northwest Cider Club is right up your alley. This quarterly subscription curates beautiful small-batch ciders from makers across the Pacific Northwest, and delivers them right to your doorstep. It make ..read more

This cider guide was written for Cider Culture by contributor Alexsis Cassady, a Certified Pommelier based in Portland, Oregon, and the person behind the Cider Minded Instagram account and blog. Welcome to Portland! Ready to get your cider on? CiderCon 2024 is just around the corner, occurring from January 16-19, 2024. Whether this is the first time you’re stepping off the plane in PDX, or if you’ve visited before, this guide is here to help you explore the vibrant local Portland cider scene (and perhaps determine if you need a rental car!). Portland is nestled within the Willamette Vall ..read more

In our monthly column, “Cider Loves Food,” contributor Meredith Collins (blogger extraordinaire at Along Came a Cider) is looking at different cuisines and finding the perfect ciders to help take your meals to the next level. When I don’t feel like cooking, one of my go-to dinner solutions is sushi and Japanese food. This cuisine makes for some great cider pairing, because the levels of intensity are easy to match between different ingredients and different ciders. And, as always, cider’s acidity serves as a brilliant driver for food flavors. I love Japanese food, but I’m no e ..read more