If you haven’t yet hopped on the cider train, now is the time. Over the past decade, the industry has grown from just a handful of orchard-based producers to one of the most remarkable success stories in craft beverage — and this month, you’ll have the opportunity to see exactly where the industry’s heading during the seventh-annual Oregon Cider Week, sponsored by the Northwest Cider Association.
From June 15-25 — a little longer than the standard week, but hey, there are a lot of Oregon cideries these days — Oregon will play host to a vast assortment of cider-themed events, parties, dinners, tap takeovers, educational classes and special releases. There’s more to do than any one human can handle, so here’s our take on what not to miss.
After a couple of pre-func parties at Cider Bite in the Pearl District and Portland Cider House on SE Hawthorne, the festivities start in earnest with Cider Summit on June 16 and 17, downtown Portland’s all-cider festival. With more than 150 ciders and cider cocktails to try, you’ll never be able to taste them all, so prioritization is the name of the game.
If you like fruit ciders, the world is your melon-pineapple-basil infused oyster. Don’t miss 2 Towns Ciderhouse’s Prickle me Pink, a fluorescent pink cider infused with watermelon and prickly pear fruit (in spite of appearances, the color’s all natural). Alter Ego’s The Guardian Angel lies on the other end of the flavor and color spectrum, a deep purple refresher made with antioxidant-rich blueberry and pomegranate.
For those uneasily making the transition from beer to cider, the number of hopped ciders also seems to be proliferating rapidly. Good options include Strawbasaurus Hop from ^5 (pronounced “high five”), which features Sorachi Ace hops; as well as Swift Cider’s Dank Hop, which blends high-alpha Centennial, Chinook and Columbus hops with organic pineapple.
Purists in search of apple-driven expressions should turn to Wandering Aengus, EZ Orchards and 1859 Cider Co., as well as several French and English producers who will be making the trek. And while it’s not on any official lists, if anybody offers you a taste of Eden Valley’s award-winning perry, don’t pass up the chance. It’s delicious, and not yet widely distributed beyond its hometown of Medford.
Tons of bars are also holding special events and hosting release parties throughout the week, including Cider Bite, Portland Cider House, Reverend Nat’s Cidery and Taproom, Loyal Legion, Belmont Station, Cider Riot!, Tin Bucket and Bushwacker Cider. In the mood to let somebody else do the driving? Hop on Brewvana’s Cider Week tour, which takes you behind the scenes at four local cideries, sans transportation anxiety.
The party continues outside of Portland. On June 24, 1859 Cider Co. in Salem, is turning one, and marking the occasion with an anniversary party where they’ll release their 12th Street Bittersweet Blend, aged in bourbon casks. At the northern end of the Valley, Portland Cider Co. is hosting a ticketed Snakebite Showdown at their Clackamas tasting room, also on June 24, pairing a dozen cideries with a dozen breweries to create 12 signature snakebite cocktails (that refreshing British concoction that mixes beer and cider). Expect a jovial atmosphere and plenty of fizz. Out in Astoria, Reach Break Brewing and Reveille Ciderworks are pouring a special all-Astoria snakebite at the Reach Break taproom, starting June 23rd.
When it’s all finally over, pop by Reverend Nat’s on the morning of Sunday, July 25 to stock your cellar at one of their semi-regular garage sales. Shop for discounted bottles from their back stock as well as ciders from Schilling and Finnriver while enjoying ¡Tepache! mimosas and a hearty breakfast from Sizzle Pie and Pine State Biscuits. After 10 days of cider, you’ll need it all the fortification you can get.
