In the eighth annual U.S. Open Cider Championship, Cideries, wineries, and breweries from Washington State to France entered over 290 ciders representing 25 different styles for the 2022 U.S. Open Cider Championship. The first round of judging was held at the Big Ditch Brewing Company in Buffalo, New York. The final round of judging was held in snowy Oxford, Ohio. 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 three gold medals and a bronze. They became the first 2-time Grand National Champion at the U.S. Open Cider Championship. Their gold medal winners were: Ciderboys Strawberry Magic, Ciderboys Peach County, and Ciderboys Pineapple Hula.
Wölffer Estate Vineyard from Sagaponack, New York placed second while Glacial Till Vineyard & Winery in Palmyra, Nebraska, and Five Maidens Cider Company in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania tied for third overall. And big congrats to 2 Towns Ciderhouse for winning 5 medals, more than any other cidery.
2022 U.S. Open Cider Championship Medal Winners
Modern Cider – Sweet
Gold – Original – Glacial Till Vineyard – Nebraska
Silver – Apple – Bold Rock Hard Cider – NC
Bronze – Cider 101 – Niagara College – Ontario
Bronze – Amber – Vermont Hard Cider – Vermont
Modern Cider – Dry
Gold – Wölffer No. 139 Dry White Cider – Wölffer Estate Vineyard – New York
Silver – Crisp Apple – Atlanta Hard Cider – Georgia
Bronze – Dry – Glacial Till Vineyard – Nebraska
Bronze – Dry Saison – Colfax CiderWorks – California
Heritage Cider
Gold – Springhouse Semi-Sweet – Tumbling Creek Cider – Virginia
Gold – Cidre Fermier – Niagara College – Ontario
Silver – The Vintage Blend 2021 – Easthampton Cider Project – Massachusetts
Bronze – Galipette Brut – Galipette Cidre – France
Traditional Cider
Gold – Beginnings Without End – Angry Orchard – New York
Silver – The OG – High Limb Cider – Massachusetts
Silver – Galipette Biologique – Galipette Cidre – France
Bronze – Saison – Bold Rock Hard Cider – North Carolina
Perry & Pear Ciders
Gold – ACE Perry Craft Cider – California Cider Co. – California
Silver – Sparkling Perry – Lee Ranch Cellars – California
Bronze – Nice Pear – Missing Falls Brewing – Ohio
Fruit Cider
Gold – MoonMosa – Papa Moon Ciders – Nebraska
Silver – Tropical Cosmic Crisp – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
Bronze – Nectarine Cider – Covered Bridge Brewery – Oregon
Mimosa Cider
Gold – Ecto Cider – Odd Brothers Craft Cider – Michigan
Silver – Mimosa – Tropical Cosmic Crisp – Vermont Hard Cider – Vermont
Bronze – Grand Mimosa – Ciderboys Cider Co. – Wisconsin
Pineapple Cider
Gold – Pineapple Sour – Duluth Cider – Minnesota
Gold – Ciderboys Pineapple Hula – Ciderboys Cider Co. – Wisconsin
Silver – Kona Gold – Ola Brew – Hawaii
Bronze – Pacific Pineapple – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
Cherry Cider
Gold – VALANCE – Five Maidens Cider – Pennsylvania
Silver – Cherry Sublime – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
Silver – Fruits from Flowers – Angry Orchard – New York
Bronze – Pom-Cheri – Thor’s Hard Cider – Minnesota
Peach Cider
Gold – Ciderboys Peach County – Ciderboys Cider Co. – Wisconsin
Silver – Millions of Peaches – Odd Brothers Craft Cider – Michigan
Bronze – White Peach – Incline Cider Company – Washington
Cranberry Cider
Gold – Cranberry – Incline Cider Company – Washington
Silver – Cranberry Cider – Country Boy Brewing – Kentucky
Bronze – Crimson Bliss – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
Fruit and Berry Cider
Gold – Ciderboys Strawberry Magic – Ciderboys Cider Co. – Wisconsin
Silver – Raspberry Lemon Cider – Country Boy Brewing – Kentucky
Bronze – Blueberry Pie – Cider Corps – Arizona
Applewine/ Ice Cider / Imperial Cider
Gold – Winter Crisp – Bent Ladder – Ohio
Silver – Imperial Peach Tea – Portland Cider Company – Oregon
Bronze – Imperial Cider – Bold Rock Hard Cider
Bronze – Amshire – Blakes Hard Cider – Michigan
Herbal Cider
Gold – Honey Lavender – Papa Moon Ciders – Nebraska
Silver – Lavender – Sandia Hard Cider – New Hampshire
Bronze – Suzie’s Honeysuckle Cider – Dingo Dog Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze – Sitron Tee – Thor’s Hard Cider – Minnesota
Pepper
Gold – Sweet Heat Haze – Urban Tree Hard Cider – Georgia
Gold – El Thoro – Thor’s Hard Cider – Minnesota
Silver – Yellow Belly Cayenne Cider – Sapsucker Farms – Minnesota
Bronze – Chantico – Orchard Girls Cidery – Maine
Hopped Cider
Gold – India Bound – Five Maidens Cider – Pennsylvania
Silver – Dat Juice – Cigar City Cider & Mead – Florida
Silver – Cottonwood – Mountain West Cider Utah
Silver – Orange U and IPA? – Urban Tree Hard Cider – Georgia
Apple Pie Spiced Cider
Gold – Apple Pie Cider – Country Boy Brewing – Kentucky
Gold – Apple Pie – Blakes Hard Cider – Michican
Silver – How Bout Dem Apples – Missing Falls Brewery – Ohio
Bronze – The Wanderer – Odd Brothers Craft Cider – Michigan
Spiced Cider
Gold – Mckenzie’s Pumpkin Jack – F.X. Matt Brewing – Ohio
Silver – Punkin Spice – Bryant’s Cider – Virginia
Bronze – Honey Cinnamon – Apple Valley Cider – Colorado
Wood-Aged Cider and Perry
Gold – ACE Blackjack 30th Anniversary – California Cider – California
Silver – Wild Mulberry – Glacial Till Vineyard – Nebraska
Bronze – THE BUNG IS TOO BIG – Five Maidens Cider Company – Pennsylvania
Specialty Cider and Perry
Gold – Las Lajas – Duluth Cider – Minnesota
Gold – Ginger Peach – Thornapple Brewing – Michigan
Silver – Caramel Apple – Glacial Till Vineyard – Nebraska
Bronze – Beezy – Rhinegeist Cidergeist – Ohio
Anything Goes
Gold – Yellow Belly Wildflower – Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery – Minnesota
Silver – Hollow Jack – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
Bronze – Sweet Potato Casserole – Hidden Cave Cidery – Wisconsin
Single Varietal Cider
Gold – Kermerrien – Portland Cider Company – Oregon
Gold – Sidra California – Mount Diablo Cider – California
Silver – Redheart – Union Hill Cider Co. – Washington
Bronze – Black Twig – Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewery – Virginia
Rosé Ciders
Gold – Cider – Wölffer Estate Vineyard – New York
Silver – Rosé – Atlanta Hard Cider – Georgia
Bronze – Beaupré Rosé – Cidrerie Beaupré – Quebec
Bronze – Rosé – Jack’s Hard Cider – Pennsylvania
Brut
Gold – BRUT Virginia Sparkling Apple – Muse Orchard/Widow’s Watch Cider – Virgina
Silver – Wölffer No. 139 Brut Cuvee Cider – Wölffer Estate Vineyard – New York
Bronze – Brite Good – Bryant’s Cider – Virginia
Bronze – 2020 Hugus Farms Local Cider – Parsons North Brewing – Ohio
Sangrias
Gold – Primavera – Broski Ciderworks – Florida
Silver – Sangria – Coyote Hole Ciderworks – Virginia
Bronze – Sangria – Sandia Hard Cider – New Mexico
Bronze – Sunset Sangria – Coyote Hole Ciderworks – Virginia