Cider Rite of Spring 2018

Cheers to whoever is in charge of choosing the date for the annual Cider Rite of Spring festival because for the last two years the weather has been magnificent. You know you are getting old when you notice and comment about the weather, not only in your everyday conversation but when you are writing about your latest cider excursion. But in all seriousness, spring was definitely hosting cider enthusiasts this year in the Rose City; it was almost 70 degrees and blue skies.

This year’s event was moved to a larger venue, Leftbank Annex, which was also much needed for such a growing event. The two-story space gave over thirty cidermakers and cider reps enough space to set up their booths with ease and enough space for patrons to walk fluidly without elbow bumping or spilling one of 100 different ciders they were able to try.

This cider event is one of my favorites because it is early enough in the year to provide a preview of what is in store for the upcoming months and what is going to be the trend for the remaining nine months. Last year it was Berry and Hopped ciders; this year, as we all know, it is Rose, although I think lavender and honey might come in on the heels as the blush frontrunner.

I had many options to for tasting, but my mindset was to seek out new brands and to return to a few of my favorites to see what they have going on for 2018. As we began our afternoon we noticed how many cider companies were excited to talk about CiderCon and the amazing turnout that occurred that past month in Baltimore. It was very evident that the industry is a united front and very goal oriented in making sure cider is represented accurately and given the standards that it deserves.

With so much excellent cider to try at Cider Rite, my task was difficult, but I narrowed the choices to a list of stars that stood out to me and left me wanting more.

Woodbox Cider: If dry cider is your thing, then look no further than Woodbox Cider. This Oregon cider company not only offers a family feeling with their mother and sons’ business, but their cider does the same. They shared their Double Barrel, which is a whiskey-barrel aged Ice Cider with a 15.2% abv respectively, a Heritage-Imperial Dry and an Americana-Sidra Style. Each one stood alone in its dryness and flavor on your palate. Each was a winner.

Tieton Cider Works: Remember what I was saying about Honey and Lavender?  Tieton wasn’t taking any chances and decided to combine them both. Smart. This cider is on the sweeter side but the sweetness is toned down by the lavender, giving this cider the balance it needs. For sure, there will be some back porch swing sitting and sipping with this sure-to-be hit for Tieton.

New West Cider: I have yet to be let down by anything New West has to offer, including their beer side of life (Sasquatch Brewing), and once again they did not disappoint. Cider Shandy will be the drink of spring and summer for those who can get their hands on this limited release cider. You can’t go wrong when you combine orange, lemon, and grapefruit juice with unfiltered semi-dry cider. This cider really is a treat and was the talk of the Cider Rite of Spring.

Art+Science: I thought I would sooner be able to see a unicorn than I would be able to try one of their four artfully crafted ciders. You can imagine my joy when I spotted their booth in the corner of the event next to windows. With them were Humble, Little Apples, Quince, and Symbiosis. Each one is as good as one would expect but what stood out to me was Little Apples and how well done the Quince was with its fruity, dry and sweet done right.

Bandon Rain: Their three cider options were all fantastic but the peachy was the one that people kept coming back for. With its southern inspiration, one sip takes you to your favorite peach cobbler with notes of honey and, of course, apples. The wait in this line was well worth it.

Bauman’s Cider: One of Oregon’s most sought-after cideries brought a treat we weren’t going to miss to the VIP section. The color of the Rose of Pinot was the most beautiful fuschia and was accompanied by a delightful cherry nose and dry smooth finish.  I knew I wasn’t going to leave without this gem. If you were there and able to get a bottle for yourself or someone you love, pat yourself on the back.

The Northwest Cider Association once again put on a fabulous event with these fresh, inventive, and remarkable cideries. The consistency of these types of events is what drives the industry and helps educate newcomers to cider. We look forward to next year!

Shout out as always to Hotel Rose .Mr. Lee and staff that put up with us on our trips to Portland. Also, to Cider Bite for the greatest cider selection! Finally, I want to thank Oven and Shaker for a delicious meal that we were able to enjoy with, what else, cider.