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CiderDays 2.0 is bringing America’s oldest distillery, renowned cidermakers, and global cider fans to western Massachusetts this November. Since 1994 cider fans have come together to learn about all things apple and cider on every first weekend of the month of November. CiderDays 2.0 is helping to reboot, post the pandemic, this beloved gathering of cider aficionados from far and wide, by showcasing cider-centric workshops, a Cider Pop Up event, a Cider Dinner, author talks, and select workshops by renowned presenters. All events for CiderDays 2.0 will take place in downtown Greenfield, Massachusetts at Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center.
Kicking off CiderDays 2.0 on Friday evening November 4th is a Calvados and American Apple Brandy Guided Tasting. Chicago Brandy and Cider expert Ambrosia Borowski and Cider Chat podcast Producer and MC Ria Windcaller will present 7 different tastings of some of the top apple brandies in the US and France. Learn the history behind Apple Brandy in America and Normandy, the Regions where it is made, the Regulations, Distillation methods, and Maturation all in the company of fellow CiderDays Fans!
On Saturday morning attend a workshop with America’s most famous Apple Expert author John Bunker who will be speaking on “Orchard Care for Homeowners”. Learn how to help those young (or old apples trees) in the backyard start bearing fruit.
The morning continues on with Lisa Laird Dunn presenting the “History of Apple Jack”. Lisa is a 9th Generation member of Laird’s & Company, the oldest distillery in America dating back to 1698. Even George Washington loved Laird’s Apple Jack leaving notes in his diary asking Robert Laird for the recipe. Join Lisa as she tells the tale of her family’s history spanning 300+ years and enjoy a sip of 3 of their select bottles of Laird’s Apple Brandy.
On Saturday afternoon Lisa Laird Dunn will be at Ryan and Casey’s Liquor Store in Greenfield during the in-store CiderDays 2.0 tasting from 12:30 – 3 pm signing bottles of Laird’s & Company Apple Brandy and Apple Jack. Regional makers and cider reps will be on hand during this annual in-house tasting where select bottles can be purchased to go!
From 2 – 4:30 pm at The Pushkin in downtown Greenfield there will be a Cider Pop-UP. Walk about the old bank building turned performing arts center and meet your favorite cider authors like Claude Jolicoeur who will be speaking about his newest book Cider Planet. Matt Kaminsky a.k.a. Gnarly Pippin has a new book out and will be talking about foraging and grafting fruit. Ciders of Spain will provide both a tasting and a talk. Find repurposed barrels turned into furniture and bottle hangers for those select ciders.
CiderDays 2.0 also welcomes the return of the Cider Dinner on Saturday evening! This five-course gluten-free dinner will be paired with cider from six women producers all from the east coast. Diners will hear from West County Cider (MA) founder Judith Maloney, Louisa Spencer of Farnum Hill Cider (NH), Eleanor Leger of Eden Specialty Cider (VT), Anne Garwood Hampp of Ragged Hill Cider (MA), Nicole Blum of Carr’s Ciderhouse (MA) and Lisa Laird Dunn of Laird’s & Company (NJ).
Rolling up to CiderDays 2.0 is western Mass Cider Week (October 28th – November 4th). Local tap rooms, restaurants, cideries, and breweries will all be showcasing cider and cider pairings with orchard walks open at regional cideries and mills. Enjoy free talks at Four Phantoms Brewery in Greenfield on co-fermenting cider and beer and all-day events on the weekend at New Salem Cider where you can take a glass and walk about their museum-quality orchard overlooking the Quabbin Reservoir.
CiderDays 2.0 is produced by Cider Chat | Schedule of Events
