After a frigid polar vortex, CiderCon 2019 descended on Chicago with almost 1100 attendees from 44 states and 10 countries. Attendance and engagement at the 9th annual conference were the largest for the event in 3 years. The opening general session, which included a presentation from Nielsen, touched on a topic that is important to me – the growth of …
Chicago Cider Week is in full swing and there are amazing events going on all around the city. Cider newbies, connoisseurs, and everyone in between has to learn (and try) something new. Some of our top picks are Monday Feb 4 Right Bee Cider Welcome Party/ Meet the Maker6:00 PM First Draft 649 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60605A warm …
On January 20 Vitrue Cider held their annual Stone Fence Competition. This year saw a new venue and new competitors. As always, we enjoyed the unique takes on the traditional Stone Fence Cocktails. We profiled every cocktail on IG, but here were some of our favorites. Shelly Mercurio – Dorian’s This was Shelly’s 1st cocktail competition and we think she …
On January 20, Virtue Cider is hosting their 5th Annual Stone Fence Competition & Mitten Drive at Big Star (Wrigleyville) The Stone Fence Cocktail Competition brings together 10 of Chicago’s top bartenders to compete with their take on a traditional American cider-based cocktail, the Stone Fence – which is traditionally a blend of bourbon or rum and hard cider. The event will be held: …
Happy New Year! One of the things we always look forward in the cold Chicago winters is the annual return of Cider Summit Chicago. The 7th Annual Cider Summit Chicago is scheduled for Saturday, February 9, 2019, in two sessions – Session 1 is 12 – 3 pm (VIP admission at 11 am) and Session 2 is 5 -8 pm …
As the cider market has continued to have explosive growth (thanks in part to Rose) unique gifts for cider lovers have cropped up. Here are a few of our favorites for 2018. Bitter Pops 12 Days of Cider Gift Box features 12 beautiful ciders that you can enjoy each day starting on Christmas Day. The Bitter Pops Twelve Days …
Cider is a great alternative to wine for your Thanksgiving table. Considering the cider traditions of the US and the resurgence of the beverage Pick(ing) Cider will be sure to impress your guests. To help navigate the world of ciders, we’ve compiled a list to help you choose the perfect Thanksgiving cider pairings for your holiday feast. Appetizers Sparkling Ciders/Perry Tieton Sparkling Perry Prima …
Join me and Sean on October 20 for CiderFest 2018 at Taste Food and Wine (1506 W Jarvis Ave, Chicago). Sample 40 different ciders from Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oregon, France, and Spain. The $20 ticket price includes a souvenir glass and a cider-based dessert. Limited tickets available so don’t wait to buy tickets at Taste Food and Wine or online.
A couple of weeks ago, Sean and I joined the Northman on the Chicago Riverwalk for a Cider Cruise aboard “Chicago’s Classic Lady” (part of Chicago’s First Lady Fleet). The event was a great start to fall (except it’s still been 80 degrees in Chicago) with several producers sampling cider, light bites, and chocolate. The cruise, which we hope will be …
As part of our cider maker series, we highlight some of the smaller or more unique US cider makers. Grand Illusion, one of many urban cideries that are on the rise, is located in Carlisle, PA – about 30 minutes outside of Harrisburg, PA. Grand Illusion opened their doors in February 2018 with three ciders and 14 employees. The cidery was …