2017 U.S. Open Cider Championship Medal Winners and Grand National Champion

2017 U.S. Open Cider Championship Results
In the third annual U.S. Open Cider Championship, Cideries, wineries and breweries from Washington State to the United Kingdom entered over 240 ciders representing 20 different styles for 2017 U.S. Open Cider Championship. The final round of judging was held at the Big Ditch Brewing Company in Buffalo, New York. The judges were from Niagara College Teaching Winery, Niagara College Teaching Brewery and cideries in the Niagara area. Judging in the U.S. Open Cider Championships is blind, and the judges do not know what ciders they are tasting.

Ciderboys Cider Co. from Stevens Point, Wisconsin was named Grand National Champion by winning two gold medals, one silver medal and two bronzes. Their gold medal winners were: Ciderboys Strawberry Magic in the Fruit and Berry Category and Ciderboys Mad Bark in the Spiced Cider Category.

Virtue Cider Company from Fennville, Michigan placed second while Urban Tree Hard Cider out of Atlanta, Georgia. A Honorable Mention goes to ACE Premium Craft Cider from Sebastopol, California. No cidery dominated the judging since 18 different cideries won Gold medals in 20 categories. Photos of Ciders and Medals

Top 10 Most Creative Cider Names
The judges also named a “Judges Award” for the top ten “Most Creative Names.” Among the favorites:

1. Yellow Belly from Sapsucker Farms – Minnesota
2. Ginja Ninja – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
3. I am Brut – Green Bench Mead & Cider – Florida
4. Chesterhoppearcot – Big B’s Hard Cider – Colorado
5. Apple Pie la Mode Hard Cider – Turquoise Barn Cider – California
6. All The Good Hopped Names Were Taken – South City Ciderworks – California
7. Pedaler’s Road Rash Hard Cider – Quantum Leap Winery – Florida
8. Mystic Dragon – Appalachian Mountain Cidery – North Carolina
9. Rooted Insanity – Fourth Coast Ciderhouse – Michigan
10. The-Dark-Cide (R) – Liquid Alchemy Beverages – Delaware

U.S. Open Cider Championship Medal Winners
New World Cider
Gold – Cider 101 – Niagara College Teaching Winery – Canada
Silver – Michigan Brut – Virtue Cider – Michigan
Bronze – Northern Highlands Hard Cider – White Winter Winery – Wisconsin

English Cider
Gold – Dunkertons Dry CIder – Winesellers Ltd – United Kingdon
Silver – Magners Original Cider – Vermont Cider Company – Vermont
Bronze – Union Jack – Portland Cider Company – Oregon

New World Perry
Gold – Pearfect Perry – Portland Cider Company – Oregon

Traditional Perry
Gold – Daufresne Poire Cidre – Cidrerie Daufresne – France
Silver – Angry Orchard Perry – Angry Orchard Cider Company – New York
Bronze – Dunkertons Perry(Organic) – Dunkerton’s – England

New England Cider
Gold – Heirloom Apple Cider – Heritage Estate Winery & Cidery – Canada
Silver – Walden Hollow – Angry Orchard Cider Company – New York
Bronze – Bad Apple – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon

Fruit Cider
Gold – Ace Perry Hard Cider – California Cider Company – California
Silver – Hail Storm – Garage D’or Ciders – Canada
Bronze – Ciderboys Peach County – Ciderboys Cider Co. – Wisconsin

Pineapple Cider
Gold – Passport – Schilling Cider – Washington
Silver – Carebe Tropical Hard Cider Pineapple – Florida Beer Company
Bronze – Ciderboys Pineapple Hula – Ciderboy Cider Co. – Wisconsin
Bronze – Apple Pineapple Hard Cider – Turquoise Barn Cider – California

Cherry Cider
Gold – Wild On Cherry – Urban Tree Hard Cider – Georgia
Silver – Seedling Orchard Schaerbeek – Virtue Cider – Michigan
Bronze – Cherry Flight – Cider House of Wisconsin – Wisconsin
Bronze – Companion – Citizen Cider – Vermont

Fruit and Berry Cider
Gold – Ciderboys Strawberry Magic – Ciderboys Cider Co. – Wisconsin
Silver – Ciderboys Cranberry Road- Ciderboys Cider Co. – Wisconsin
Bronze – Mischief Maker – Schilling Cider – Washingon

Applewine
Gold – Applewine – Heritage Estate Winery and Cidery – Canada
Silver – Serious Scrump – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
Bronze – The Muse – Angry Orchard Cider Company – New York

Herbal Cider
Gold – Basil Mint – Seattle Cider Company – Washington
Silver – The Legend Lemongrass – Incline Cider Company – Washington
Silver – Mystic Dragon – Appalachian Mountain Cidery – North Carolina
Bronze – Broski Elderflower – Broski Ciderworks – Florida

Hopped Cider
Gold – Pedaler’s Hopped Up Hard Cider – Quantum Leap Winery – Florida
Silver – Cidre Houblonn – Cidrerie Beaupre – Canada
Bronze – Dry Hopped – Jack’s Hard Cider – Pennsylvania

Apple Pie Spiced Cider
Gold – Pumpkin Spice – Portland Cider Company – Oregon
Silver – Baked Apple – d’s Wicked Cider – Washington
Bronze – Fireside – Jack’s Hard Cider – Pennsylvania

Spiced Cider
Gold – Mad Bark – Ciderboys Cider Co. – Wisconsin
Silver – Cider Hammer – d’s Wicked Cider – Washington
Bronze – Three Pepper – Seattle Cider Company – Washington
Bronze – Deeply-Rooted – Liquid Alchemy Beverages – Delaware

Wood-Aged Cider and Perry
Gold – Percheron – Virtue Cider – Michigan
Silver – Oak Island Oaked Hard Cider – White Winter Winery – Wisconsin
Bronze – Foxcraft Cranberry – Foxcraft Hard Cider – California

Specialty Cider and Perry
Gold – Verglas – Cidrerie Beaupre’ – Canada
Silver – Michigan Honey – Virtue Cider – Michigan
Bronze – Ace spACE Bloody Orange – California Cider Company – California
Bronze – Rooftop Cider – Green Bench Mead & Cider – Florida

Unlimited Cider and Perry
Gold – Woodchuck Granny Smith – Vermont Cider – Vermont
Silver – Samuel Smiths Organic Perry – Samuel Smiths – England
Bronze – Virgina Apple – Bold Rock Cider – Virginia

Anything Goes
Gold – Ferme de Romilly Demi-sec – Ferme de Romilly – France
Silver – Half Sour – Brooklyn Cider House – New York
Bronze – Elderflower – Clafeld Fruit Winery and Ciderhouse – Ontario

Single Varietal Cider
Gold – Vintage Gala – Urban Tree Hard Cider – Georgia
Silver – Dolgo Crabapple – Big Hill Ciderworks – Pennsylvania
Bronze – Angry Orchard Newtown Pippin Vintage 2016 – New York

Ice Ciders
Gold – North by West – West Avenue Cider – Ontario
Silver – Eiszider – White Winter Winery – Wisconsin