10th Anniversary of the U.S. Open Cider Championship
In 2015, U.S. Open Beer Championship’s judging director, Jon Downing suggested we add several cider categories to the U.S. Open Beer Championship. He told me that more and more ciders were popping over the United States and Canada. The first year, we had 8 categories, then this year we had 33 categories ranging from Heritage Cider to Pie/Cobbler Cider. Today, the U.S. Open Cider Championship is one of the largest cider competitions in the world.
2024 U.S. Open Cider Championship Medals and Grand National Champion
Thornbury Craft Co. Cider & Brew House from Thornbury, Ontario, has been crowned Grand National Champion at this year’s U.S. Open Cider Championship, winning four gold medals. After finishing a close second to the two-time champion Woodchuck Cider last year, Thornbury triumphed with top honors in the Modern Cider Dry, Rosé, Raspberry, and Blueberry cider categories. This historic win makes Thornbury the first Canadian cidery to secure the overall title.
Arsenal Cider House from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earned second place, while Glacial Till Vineyard & Winery in Palmyra, Nebraska, claimed third for the second consecutive year.
The 2024 Thumper Award – Best in Show
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Open Cider Championship, we are thrilled to partner with Arsenal Cider Co. to introduce The Thumper Award.
The award is named in memory of Andy “Thumper” Rich, the cidermaker for Arsenal Cider House and the 2020 U.S. Open Cider Grand National Champion. Thumper, a pioneer in the craft cider and beer industries, passed away on December 5, 2023, at his home in Dormont, Pennsylvania, after a courageous battle with cancer.
The Thumper Award will be presented annually to the cider and cidery awarded “Best of Show.” This year, the inaugural Thumper Award is presented to 2 Towns Ciderhouse for their 10th Anniversary Special Cider Release. Additionally, the U.S. Open Cider Championship will donate proceeds from this year’s competition to the National Brain Tumor Society in Thumper’s honor.
Best in Show
1st: 10th Anniversary Special Cider Release – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
2nd: Nice Pear – Missing Falls Brewery – Ohio
3rd: Semi-Sweet Cider – Apple Valley Cider Co. – Colorado
Top 10 Cideries
1. Thornbury Craft Co. – Ontario
2. Arsenal Cider House – Pennsylvania
3. Glacial Till – Nebraska
4. 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
5. Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery – Minnesota
6. Blakes Hard Cider – Michigan
7. Cider Corps – Arizona
8. Ciderboys Cider Co. – Wisconsin
9. Vala’s Orchard Cider Co – Nebraska
10. FX Matt Brewing Co. – New York
2024 U.S. Open Cider Championship Medal Winners.
Modern Cider Sweet
GOLD – Apple Valley Cider Co – Semi-Sweet – CO
SILVER – Arsenal Cider House – Grime’s – PA
BRONZE – FX Matt Brewing Co. – McKenzie’s – Original – NY
Modern Cider Dry
GOLD – Thornbury Craft Co. – Thornbury Craft Co. Road Apples Cider – Canada
SILVER – Arsenal Cider House – Granny – PA
SILVER – Woodchuck Cidery – Pearsecco – VT
BRONZE – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – BrightCider – OR
Heritage Cider Sweet
GOLD – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – 10th Anniversary – OR
SILVER – Trump Cidery – DONNY APPLESEED – VA
BRONZE – Bent Ladder – Russet – OH
Heritage Cider Dry
GOLD – The Duxbury Cider Co. Ltd. – Heritage 1650 Dry Cider – Canada
SILVER – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – 14th Anniversary – OR
BRONZE – Vala’s Orchard Cider Co – Autumn’s Harvest – NE
Traditional Cider
GOLD – Freewater Cider Company – Fuji – OR
SILVER – James Werner – Driftless French – WI
SILVER – Niagara Teaching College – Cider 101 – Canada
BRONZE – Thornbury Craft Co. – Thornbury Craft Co. The Jonah – Canada
Perry
GOLD – Arsenal Cider House – “Alfred’s Pear – Son!” – PA
GOLD – Missing Falls Brewery – Nice Pear – OH
SILVER – Jeffrey Carlson – PrimeTime Perry – MI
Fruit Cider
GOLD – ACE Cider – ACE High Peach – CA
SILVER – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Raspberry Cosmic Crisp – OR
BRONZE – Austin East Cider – Imperial Watermelon – MI
Pineapple Cider
GOLD – FX Matt Brewing Co. – McKenzie’s – Pineapple – NY
SILVER – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Pacific Pineapple – OR
BRONZE – Glacial Till – Passion pineapple – NE
Cherry Cider
GOLD – Ciderboys Cider Co. – Ciderboys Cherry Jubilee – WI
SILVER – Apple Barrel Orchards – Tart Cherry – NY
BRONZE – FX Matt Brewing Co. – McKenzie’s – Black Cherry – NY
Peach Cider
GOLD – Windmill Ridge Brewing Co. – Peach-Apple Cider – Canada
SILVER – Blakes Hard Cider – Peach Party – MI
BRONZE – Ciderboys Cider Co. – Ciderboys Peach County – WI
Cranberry Cider
GOLD – Glacial Till – Cranberry – NE
SILVER – FIVE MAIDENS CIDER CO – CRANBERRY CIDER – PA
BRONZE – Cherry Street Brewing – Cranberry Star – GA
Fruit and Berry Cider
GOLD – Ciderboys Cider Co. – Ciderboys Strawberry Magic – WI
SILVER – Blakes Hard Cider – American Berry – MI
BRONZE – Inside the Five Brewing Company – Inside the Orchard – Blueberry – OH
Ice Cider/Apple Wine
GOLD – Glacial Till – Ice Cider – NE
BRONZE – “White Winter Mead – Cider – Spirits” – Cyser – Wisconsin
Herbal Cider
GOLD – Austin East Cider – Strawbery Hibiscus Fresca – MI
SILVER – Wölffer Estate Vineyard – Wölffer No. 139 Hibiscus Cider – NY
BRONZE – Wölffer Estate Vineyard – Wölffer No. 139 Botanical Cider – NY
Hopped Cider
GOLD – Doc Waters Cidery – Hopped Carbonated – MD
SILVER – Orchard Girls Cidery – Lindsay – ME
BRONZE – Apple Barrel Orchards – Dry Hopped – NY
Apple Pie Cider
GOLD – Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery – Yellow Belly Apple Pie Cider – MN
SILVER – Cider Corps – We The People Apple Pie – AZ
BRONZE – Williamson Mead and Brewing – Cinder Dragon – NC
Spiced Cider
GOLD – Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery – Yellow Belly Caramel Apple Cider – MN
SILVER – Newtopia Cyder – Blue Dream – CA
BRONZE – Arsenal Cider House – Snowbound Cinnamon – PA
Wood-Aged Cider
GOLD – Vala’s Orchard Cider Co – Imperial Cherry – NE
SILVER – Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery – Yellow Belly Maple Bourbon – MN
BRONZE – Vala’s Orchard Cider Co – Vanilla Rye Peach Pie – NE
Specialty Cider
GOLD – Cider Corps – Mango Foxtrot – AZ
SILVER – Papa Moon Vineyards & Winery – Salted Caramel – NE
BRONZE – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Hollow Jack – OR
Anything Goes
GOLD – Glacial Till – Barrel Aged Blueberry Pancake – NE
SILVER – Vala’s Orchard Cider Co – Habanango – NE
BRONZE – Country Boy Brewing – Country Boy Orange Cream Cider – KY
Single Varietal
GOLD – FIVE MAIDENS CIDER CO – MS. JACKSON – PA
SILVER – Arsenal Cider House – Redfield – PA
BRONZE – Doc Waters Cidery – Golden Russet – MD
Rose/Brut
GOLD – Thornbury Craft Co. – Thornbury Craft Co. Rose Apple Cider – Canada
SILVER – Wölffer Estate Vineyard – Wölffer No. 139 Brut Cuvée Cider – NY
BRONZE – Wölffer Estate Vineyard – Wölffer No. 139 Brut Cuvée Cider – NY
Black Currant
GOLD – Quartz Rock Cider House – Apple Currant – NY
SILVER – Apple Valley Cider Co – Black Currant – CO
BRONZE – Blue Barn Cidery – Jostaberry Jam – NY
Raspberry
GOLD – Thornbury Craft Co. – Thornbury Craft Co. Raspberry Apple Cider – Canada
SILVER – Wyder’s Cidery – Raspberry – VT
BRONZE – Wise Man Brewing – Wisest Pursuit Raspberry – NC
Pear Apple Cider
GOLD – Wyder’s Cidery – Pear – VT
SILVER – Windmill Ridge Brewing Co. – Pear Cider – Canada
BRONZE – Arsenal Cider House – For the Love of Thumper – PA
Blackberry
GOLD – Dingo Dog Brewing Company – Suzie’s Blackberry Cider – NC
SILVER – Bold Rock Hard Cider – Blackberry – NC
BRONZE – Blakes Hard Cider – Triple Jam – MI
BRONZE – New Realm Brewing and Distilling – New Realm Blackberry Cider – GA
Blueberry
GOLD – Thornbury Craft Co. – Thornbury Craft Co. Wild Blueberry Elderflower Cider – Canada
SILVER – Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery – Yellow Belly Blue Betcha Blueberry Cider – MN
BRONZE – Wise Man Brewing – Wisest Pursuit Blueberry – NC
Mango
GOLD – Trump Cidery – TWO TO MANGO – VA
SILVER – Blakes Hard Cider – Tropical Mango – MI
BRONZE – FX Matt Brewing Co. – McKenzie’s – Peach Mango – NY
Apple Cider Donut
GOLD – Blakes Hard Cider – Cider Mill Donut – MI
SILVER – Glacial Till – Apple Cider Donut – NE
BRONZE – FIVE MAIDENS CIDER CO – CIDER DONUT – PA
Passionfruit
GOLD – Woodchuck Cidery – Wild Tropics – VT
SILVER – Armageddon Brewing LLc – Circe – NJ
BRONZE – No Award
Pumpkin Spice
GOLD – Arsenal Cider House – Grant’s Flying Pumpkin – PA
SILVER – Armageddon Brewing LLc – Ichabod’s Bane – NJ
SILVER – High Limb Cider – Skeleton Grin – MA
BRONZE – Punx Ciderworx – Pumpkutawney – PA
Pie/Cobbler
GOLD – Cider Corps – We The People Blueberry Pie – Az
SILVER – Austin East Cider – Peach Cobbler – MI
BRONZE – Glacial Till – Barrel Aged Key Lime Pie – NE