Food & Drink

Summer Cider Day Kicks Off Months of Cider Events

Eighteen cideries and an intimate orchard brunch kick off the festivites

By Seattle Mag July 27, 2015

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Come August, you’ll be seeing apples in your dreams as a plethora of craft cider events take over the state.

From Summer Cider Day on August 8 in Port Townsend to Washington Cider Week, a whopping 10-day celebration kicking off September 10 in Seattle’s South Lake Union, and Seattle Cider Fest in October, one thing is crystal clear: Fermented apple juice is still the fastest growing segment of the beverage market.

If you can’t wait until September and long to sample refreshing hard ciders in the summer sun, buy your tickets now ($25 in advance; $30 at the door) for Summer Cider Day, which takes place from noon to 5 p.m. on Aug. 8 at the Northwest Maritime Center.

The fifth annual celebration is not as grandiose in scope as the Northwest Cider Summit, which caps off Washington Cider Week on Sept. 20, but North Puget Sound is still a gorgeous setting from which to sip 60 different ciders from 18 cideries including, from Port Townsend, Alpenfire Cider, Eaglemount Wine and Cider, and Finnriver Farm & Cider; from Vashon Island, Dragon’s Head Cider and Nashi Orchards (perry made from Asian pears, yum); from East Wenatchee, Snowdrift Cider Co and Neigel Vintners; and from Olympia, Spire Mountain Cider and Whitewood Cider Co.

If you’re looking for something a bit more intimate, opt for the Cider Breakfast in the Orchard, the following morning, Aug. 9, at Alpenfire Cider. Owners Steve and Nancy Bishop will serve you and 20 cidermakers a Ploughman’s-style breakfast ($20) right in the orchard. The menu will include pork and apple bangers, local cheeses, cured meats, Pane de Amore breads toasted on the grill, sauteed potatoes, cider baked beans and pickled eggs. Are we in Europe? Could be.

Just don’t forget to ask for a pomosa – a mimosa made with cider.

 

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