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When most cideries are busy with harvest, Washington cideries are pulling double duty with harvest and preparation for Washington Cider Week. Talk about multitasking, those Washingtonians, I tell ya…!
This year’s Washington Cider Week is sure to outdo the last with a bunch of great activities and an endless amount of cider to enjoy. The grandmaster of events during Washington Cider Week will be the sure to be the epic Cider Summit of Seattle held at Union Park, hosting over 50 cideries and 150 ciders for cider seekers to try!
As a preview for this cider week, we were welcomed to the Ballast Room of Capitol Cider. The Ballast Room is a speakeasy-prohibition room for 21’ers and over located in the downstairs of Capitol Cider that just oozes swanky and cool. One can’t help but feel spoiled during these events because you are in a room with the nicest people and the best adult beverages around! Alpenfire Cider, Bad Granny Hard Cider, Finnriver Farm and Cidery, Seattle Cider Company, Locust Cider, Snowdrift Cider Company, Liberty Ciderworks, Schilling Hard Cider, Dragon’s Head Cider, Pear UP and Tieton Cider Works were all there pouring with love some of their featured ciders that will be at the featured at during Cider Week.
I was fortunate enough to chat with cidermaker Sam Keirsey and Vicki Daigneault, owner of Bad Granny, while tasting their Black Currant cider. They informed me that they will also be having their Rainer Cherry ready for the Cider Week which is sure to be divine! I was also able meet Philippe Bishop of Alpenfire. He brought all of the goods and two of my favorites, Ember and Glow Rose`. Each were incredible in their own ways. Tim Larsen, owner and cidermaker at Snowdrift Cider Co., and Rob McCurdy of Tieton Cider Works. Tim had his Cidermaker’s Reserve, Perry, and his magnificent Red. Rob brought his arsenal of ciders including his Apricot which is the mighty king of all apricot ciders.
PearUP’s Kevin Van Reenen was there who just welcomed a new baby days before this event. He had a few options including his hopped cider which is my new favorite from his all perry selection! I was able to catch up with Caitlin Braam of Seattle Cider who had just celebrated her birthday and was looking forward to Seattle Cider’s fourth anniversary party coming August 26th at The Woods. I had a chance to meet Rick Hastings from Liberty Cider and enjoy a few tastes of what he brought. Rick’s ciders are great and I think we will be needing a trip to Spokane to see what else he has going on! Our preview ended and I was left great anticipation for Cider Week! It also ended with tacos because after all, it was a Tuesday.
Thus far there are over 30 scheduled cider events around Washington for Cider Week and you can check the full calendar of events here: www.washingtonciderweek.org
These are a few events that we plan on attending:
Thursday, September 7th:
If football is your thing The Hop and Hound will be hosting Seattle Cider for a Cider Summit/NFL kickoff party featuring a Summit ticket giveaway and cider goodies!(Even if the Patriots are playing……)
Thursday, September 8th:
Schilling Cider House’s 3rd birthday party! Expect special releases ciders, fun and even cake!
Friday, September 8th:
^5 Cider’s Release Party will be held at Schilling Cider House being the FIRST establishment in Washington to have ^5 Cider on tap and Cidermaker Shannon will be there too!! “HIGH 5”…..bad joke?
Friday, September 8th – Saturday, September 9th:
Seattle Cider Summit
http://www.cidersummitnw.com/seattleeventinfo.html
Where: South Lake Union Discovery Center Lawn – 101 Westlake Ave. N (near Whole
When: Friday, September 8th 3pm – 8pm & Saturday, September 9th Noon – 5pm (last pour: 4:45)
Sunday, September 10th:
Yoga & Cider will be held in The Woods which is Seattle Cider’s SoDo tasting room. Because after a weekend of cider who doesn’t want some healthy cardio, calorie burning yoga?….oh and there will of course be cider!
Wednesday, September 16th:
Total Wine & More in Bellevue will be host to Cidermaker Marcus Robert of Tieton Cider Works who will take you through the history of cider, cider production, and taste ciders from around the world.
Ending this week-long cider journey will be two events held at Schilling Cider House. One Tree Hard Cider will be there Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th with their ciders on tap. Sunday the 17th and Monday the 18th Reverend Nat will be there ending the madness that is a cider week!
You know you want to so bring a date, bring some friends, bring your dog (yes, there will be dog lounge at the Summit), or just bring yourself and go enjoy an event during Washington Cider Week because this cider-extravaganza is sure to be memorable!
