Archive for February 2026
May 13th Certified Pommelier™ Exam at GLINTCAP
TAKE THE CERTIFIED POMMELIER™ EXAM AT GLINTCAP on MAY 13th, 2026!
Are you ready to take the next step in your professional development in the cider industry?
If you have already passed the Level 1 Certified Cider Guide™ exam and are looking for that next challenge? Now is your chance!
The American Cider Association is pleased to announce that a Certified Pommelier™ Exam will be held at GLINTCAP 2026 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The exam will take place on Wednesday, May 13th, 2026. The exam will begin promptly at 9:00 AM.
*Level 1 Certified Cider Guide™ certification is a prerequisite for taking the Certified Pommelier™ Exam. (Haven’t taken your Level 1 Certified Cider Guide Exam™? Buy the bundle here! ACA Member discounts for Level 1 are available in the Resource Hub.)
There’s a discount code available for ACA members for the Certified Pommelier™ Exam. You can find that code in our Resource Hub.
WHAT IS THE CERTIFIED POMMELIER™ EXAM?
The American Cider Association’s mission is to grow a diverse and successful cider industry by providing valuable information, resources and services to our members and by advocating on their behalf. One way to fulfill this mission is through the Certified Cider Professional™ Program, a program aimed at educating the front-line of cider hospitality (distributors, retailers, bartenders and more!) while also welcoming journalists and serious cider enthusiasts.
The exam for the introductory level certification, Certified Cider Guide™ (CCG), is an online test that can be taken at any time. The exam for the more advanced second level of certification, Certified Pommelier™, is only available in person. The exam consists of two parts, a written theory exam comprising short answer and essay questions and a blind sensory evaluation of a number of ciders. Passing the introductory level exam is a mandatory prerequisite to sitting for the Level 2 Certified Pommelier™ exam.
Certified Pommeliers™ must have a fundamental understanding of all topics covered at the introductory level, but must also be able to think critically and demonstrate a deeper understanding of cider and the cider industry.
The topics covered in the exam are:
- Apples, the Orchard & History
- Cider Making
- Flavor & Evaluation
- Cider Families
- Keeping & Serving
- Food & Cider
- Social Responsibility
The exam is meant to be challenging. The only information necessary for successfully passing the theory section of the exam is contained in the Certified Pommelier Study Guide available on Amazon. To study for the evaluation section of the exam, candidates should consider attending one of the sensory analysis videos available through the ACA’s website or attend one of the regularly scheduled webinars. Access to pre-recorded webinars and registration for upcoming live webinars is available directly through our website.
WHY BECOME A CERTIFIED POMMELIER™?
Cider is a beautifully nuanced beverage that is less well understood by most consumers. Having the knowledge and skills required to become a Certified Pommelier will equip you to better serve customers, enhance your standing in the beverage community, and give you a unique and valuable professional qualification. Being recognized as a Certified Pommelier™ will put you in the vanguard of advanced cider specialists in this ever growing category.
HOW MUCH DOES THE TEST COST?
The registration fee for the exam is $350. Current members of the ACA can register at a discounted price of $250 by using the discount code that can be found here. If a candidate sits for the exam but does not pass either section, or only passes one of the two sections, theory or sensory evaluation, they can resit for the section of the exam that they did not pass at a future date. The fee for retaking the exam is $175 for non-members and $125 for current members of the ACA.
Read Terms & Conditions before registering.
WHAT MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDY FOR THE EXAM?
- The Certified Pommelier™ Study Guide is available directly through Amazon. It is also available at all of Amazon’s international sites.This is the official study guide for the second level of the American Cider Association’s professional certification program. It contains all of the information needed to study for and pass the examination. No other reference materials are required.
- There is also a dedicated Facebook Group (that is open for all to join) with prep materials and in-depth peer conversations that many candidates have found useful.
- Sensory evaluation is an important part of being a Certified Pommelier™ which is why we test your ability to accurately analyze the structural components, aromas, and flavors of a variety of ciders. In order to aid in the development of your sensory evaluation skills and understand the approach to testing them, we have several pre-recorded videos available for purchase. In addition, we host several live sensory analysis webinars each year. You can access the videos and look for scheduled webinars here.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(Download the Frequently Asked Questions document.)
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to sit for the event? YES. You must be of legal drinking age in the country where you sit for the exam, and when checking in at the exam you must provide a photo ID that will both verify your age and identity.
When will we receive our graded exams? Exams are not returned to candidates, however you will be notified as to whether or not you have passed about 6 weeks from the exam date. If you did not pass a section of the exam, you may request a breakdown of your points by general topic to help you identify areas in which you could improve your score should you wish to retake the exam.
What is the grade needed for passing? 60% of the possible points for sensory evaluation and 70% for theory
Is there a tasting section on the test? Yes. You will be asked to evaluate six ciders in two flights, one flight that assesses your ability to distinguish between key structural elements and a second where you are asked to complete a full evaluation of three ciders using the Structured Sensory Analysis format. The possible aromas and flavors document will be supplied for use during the exam.
How long does the test take? You are given 2 hours to complete the theory section of the exam and 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete the sensory evaluation section. There is a 15 minute break in between sections.
Is it ok if the name on my ticket or registration doesn’t match the person who attends? Registrations are not transferable, so the name on the I.D. presented when checking in for the exam must match the name on the registration.
What happens if I cannot attend my registered exam? Please see Exam Rescheduling, Timelines and Fees in the Terms and Conditions Document for full details. If you do need to cancel your registration, exam registration fees can be refunded up to 14 days before the exam. Please note that a $25 administration fee applies to any cancellation.
When can I register for the exam? Exam registration is open until 14 days before the posted exam date.
How can I contact the organizer with any questions? Please contact Director of Education Jennie Dorsey at jennie@ciderassociation.org.
What can I bring into the event? Bringing a personal water bottle is recommended for both sections of the exam. Cell phones, smart watches, computers, books or papers, and any and all other personal items must be left at a designated storage area in the exam room. Pencils will be provided, and spare paper will be available on request. Spit cups, and water will be provided during the evaluation exam. We encourage you to bring your own water bottle for the theory exam. Please contact Director of Education Jennie Dorsey at jennie@ciderassociation.org prior to registering for the exam if you wish to request special accommodations.
Is the Certified Pommelier™ Exam available in my area? Certified Pommelier™ exams are held periodically throughout the year and in a variety of locations. Please check our current exam schedule to find an exam suitable for you.
How many Certified Pommeliers™ are there currently? You can find the current number of Certified Pommelers here.
Do I need to pass the Certified Cider Guide™ exam to take the Certified Pommelier™ exam? Yes. Passing the introductory exam to become a Certified Cider Guide™ is a prerequisite. If you have not yet taken this exam, you can purchase a package which includes an instructional video, study guide, and access to an online exam HERE.
April 27th L1 Certified Cider Guide™ Workshop and Exam PDX
Join Us for a Level 1 Certified Cider Guide™ Certification and Sensory Workshop at Bauman’s on Oak on April 27th!
The American Cider Association is so excited to collaborate with Bauman’s On Oak to host this Certified Cider Guide™ in-person certification workshop and tasting experience. This workshop is open to all and is the first level of the only global gold standard cider education program, Certified Cider Professional™.
We have a wonderful afternoon planned, including a Certified Instructor-led in-person training session and an “introduction to sensory evaluation” tasting experience featuring ciders from the cider families. * Light snacks will be included. Participants in this workshop will also have the opportunity to earn their certification by passing the online exam immediately following the training or within 30 days post-workshop.
The cost per person is $189, which includes in-person training, an instructor-led tasting experience, a downloadable study guide, and the online exam fee. Please note that ACA members will receive $50 off registration. The ACA member discount code is available in the Resource Hub.
All are welcome to earn their certification! Please share this event with anyone who sells cider, works in a tasting room or retail shop, chefs, sommeliers, cicerones, buyers, and cidermakers who are interested in cider education or in adding a cider certification to their accreditation.
The topics covered in Level 1 CCG are:
- Apples, Pears, and Orchards
- Cider Production
- Families and Flavour
- Evaluating Cider
- Keeping and Serving
- Cider and Food
- Social Responsibility
Schedule:
12:45 PM Arrival and Check-In
1:00 PM Presentation Begins
2:00 PM Break
2:15 PM Presentation Continues
3:45 PM Break
4:00 PM Tasting Experience
5:15 PM Optional Online Test Taking Time
CiderCon® 2026 recap
CiderCon® 2026 took place from February 2-5th in Providence Rhode Island. This annual event, organized by the American Cider Association, serves as the leading conference for cider industry professionals from around the globe. Now in its 16th year, this conference featured a program rich with educational sessions, networking opportunities, and an extensive trade show.
Key Highlights
- Venue: The event was hosted at the Rhode Island Convention Center in lovely Providence, Rhode Island.
- Attendance: 650 cider industry professionals from around the globe attended including:
- Attendees from 40 states with New York, Washington, California, & Massachusetts having the highest representation.
- Attendees from 13 countries, including Austria, Canada, Latvia, Norway, Lithuania, Spain, Sweden, Russia, France, Denmark, China, and the United Kingdom.
- Workshops and Sessions:
- 25 educational sessions with over 80 speakers covered topics such as cider production techniques, marketing strategies, innovation, orcharding, and cider business management.
- The Cider Institute helped to develop the Craft & Production Excellence track sessions once again.
- Ten tasting sessions highlighting everything from brandy essentials, to international highlights from Ontario and the Baltic Region, to fermenting with wild yeast.
- Scholarships:
- The ACA hosted 3 recipients for their Cider is For Everyone Scholarship at CiderCon® 2026. This scholarship is designed to bring individuals from historically marginalized populations within the beverage industry to CiderCon® to increase the accessibility of cider education and catalyze the careers and ownership pathways of these burgeoning cider professionals.
- Cider Share:
- Cider Share is the beloved welcome reception of CiderCon®. This year Cider Share took place on Tuesday February 3rd featuring more than 50 cideries from around the globe sharing their ciders with CiderCon® attendees. In addition to the main share in the grand ballroom, this year, we were so pleased to feature a special wing just for ciders from the Eastern region. We are so thankful to the support of our sponsor Voran.
- Tours: This year’s CiderCon® tours captivated attendees with a variety of exciting experiences. Participants explored cideries in Connecticut and Rhode Island, embarked on a Prohibition in Providence walking pub tour, and visited the Johnson & Wales University Culinary Arts Museum for an extensive tour and culinary lab presentation.
- Close to 100 attendees participated in the dedicated CiderCon® tours exploring the cider and culture the region has to offer.
- Keynote Speakers: CiderCon® 2026 opened with welcoming remarks from Christine Walter, Chair of the ACA Board of Directors, and Monica Cohen, CEO of the American Cider Association. Together, they reflected on the progress the cider community has made, acknowledged the challenges ahead, and set the tone for a conference focused on growth, collaboration, and strengthening cider’s voice nationwide.The keynote program continued with three dynamic conversations.
- Alan Reed, formerly of Chicagoland, delivered an energizing talk on innovation and scaling small businesses, sharing practical insights for cideries navigating growth.
- Jim Bair, President and CEO of the U.S. Apple Association, provided a comprehensive “State of the Apple” update, highlighting production trends, market pressures, and opportunities impacting cider makers nationwide.
- The session concluded with a fireside conversation between Monica Cohen and Bart Watson, President and CEO of the Brewers Association, exploring the beverage alcohol landscape, the challenges facing producers, and areas where cider can carve out meaningful growth.
- Certified Pommelier™ Exam
- The ACA once again offered its Certified Pommelier™ exam at CiderCon® 2026. The Certified Pommelier™ is an advanced second-level designation of the ACA’s Certified Cider Professional™ program geared toward beverage and hospitality industry professionals. Close to 20 people sat for the challenging certification exam that included a written theory section and blind sensory evaluation section. The new cohort of Certified Pommeliers™ will be announced in 6 weeks.
- Networking:
- There were numerous networking opportunities at CiderCon® 2026, including a Newcomer Networking session, an LGBTQIA+ Cider Social meetup, a Cider Institute meetup, a Guild Leader’s meeting, an Orcharding Meetup where attendees exchanged apple tree scion wood, and numerous gatherings of individuals.
- Trade Show:
- Over 80 exhibitors displayed the latest equipment, products, and services tailored for the cider industry in the Trade Show sponsored by FruitSmart™.
- Vendors came from around the country and the world. This year featured several new vendors as well as many who have returned year after year to support the cider industry. Attendees also enjoyed cider samples from several vendors including the Michigan Cider Association and Cider Association of Maryland.
- For the first time, the trade show also featured an artisan marketplace of local artists, food, and gift vendors.
- Grand Toast & Party
- The Grand party returned this year in a new and bigger way with the generous sponsorship of Endless Orchard.
- We hope that even those who were not able to attend will raise a glass with us now to the Endless Possibilities of ciders future when we craft it together.
CiderCon® was created to offer the commercial cider industry an outlet to meet, share ideas, collaborate, and affect positive changes in cidermaking, apple and pear production, the cider market, and cider regulations. CiderCon® is organized by the American Cider Association whose mission is to grow a diverse and successful US. cider industry by providing valuable information, resources, and services to our members and by advocating on their behalf.
Expanding Cider’s Voice: Board Elections 2026 Results
Each year, the leadership of the American Cider Association reflects the strength, diversity, and ambition of the cider community it serves. At CiderCon 2026 this February, ACA members cast their votes to shape that leadership—re-electing several dedicated directors and welcoming two new voices to the Board of Directors.
We’re grateful to those who continue their service and excited to welcome our newly elected board members, whose experience and energy will help shape the next chapter of cider’s growth nationwide
At-Large Cidery Seats
Re-Elected: Dave Takush, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis, OR – Dave Takush is the Head Cidermaker and Co-Owner of 2 Towns Ciderhouse. Dave earned a Master’s Degree in Fermentation Science at Oregon State University and has over fifteen years of experience in the cider industry. His passion for fermentation led him to join two childhood friends in starting 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis, Oregon. Dave is the current Secretary of the ACA board and serves as board member of the Cider Institute.
Newly Elected: Richard Yi, Brooklyn Cider House, New Paltz, NY – Richard is the cidermaker for Brooklyn Cider House, bringing ten years of wine industry experience and a degree in winemaking to every part of their production. At Brooklyn Cider House he has helped strengthen operations and support steady growth. He also serves on the board of the New York Cider Association, where he works to advance cider education and support the industry statewide.
Regional Chair – Midwest
Re-Elected: John Behrens, Farmhaus Cider Co. and Farmhaus Farms, Hudsonville, MI – John is a longtime CPA turned Corporate Controller for a Fortune 500 company who discovered there had to be more to life. He started Farmhaus Cider Co. along with his wife 11 years ago on his 150+ year old family homestead. Three years ago they purchased a beloved apple orchard, fruit farm, farm market and bakery in Michigan and he added apple grower to my resume and list of responsibilities.
Regional Chair – Mountain West
Re-Elected: Talia Haykin, Haykin Family Cider, Aurora, CO – Talia Haykin is the co-founder of Haykin Family Cider in Colorado, which she launched with her husband Daniel in 2017 after several years as dedicated home cider makers. Talia oversees operations, finance, compliance, sales, and marketing for the cidery, bringing prior experience as the CMO of large nonprofits and as a professional writer and marketing strategist. She lives in Denver with her husband and their three children, and firmly believes apples are better fermented than paired with peanut butter.
Regional Chair – Northwest
Re-Elected: Marcus Robert, Tieton Cider Works, Yakima, WA – Marcus Robert is President, Cider Maker, and Co-Owner of Tieton Cider Works in Yakima, Washington, and a fourth-generation farmer in the Yakima Valley. With deep roots in agriculture and over a decade of cidermaking experience, Marcus brings a grower-producer perspective to industry leadership. He has served on the American Cider Association Board since 2017, representing the Northwest region and advocating for fair regulation, education, and sustainable growth. Marcus is committed to strengthening the cider community and supporting producers of all sizes through thoughtful, practical leadership.
Large Cidery Seat
Colin Schilling, Schilling Cider, Auburn, WA – Colin Schilling is the CEO and Co-Founder of Schilling Cider, where he has helped shape the company into one of the nation’s most innovative and forward-thinking craft cideries. Colin’s passion for food and beverage extends well beyond cider. He enjoys exploring new tastes and experiences and has contributed his expertise to brands in the non-alcoholic, coffee, energy, and cannabis spaces. His background includes an MBA focused on entrepreneurship and business sustainability, as well as experience in technology consulting, giving him a broad perspective on how businesses can make a positive impact.
Executive Board
We are also pleased to announce the return of the executive board members who will continue to lead the ACA:
- Christine Walter of Bauman’s Cider will continue in her role as President
- Ben Calvi of Vermont Cider Company has been chosen to serve as Vice President.
- Dave Takush of 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Oregon will continue in his role as Secretary.
- John Behrens of Farmhaus Cider in Michigan will continue in his role as Treasurer.
Gratitude to Past Board Members
We extend our heartfelt thanks to outgoing At-Large board member Phillipe Bishop and outgoing Large Cidery board member Chris Lacey for their dedicated service on the ACA board. Their contributions have been instrumental in shaping the future of the cider industry, and we are grateful for their commitment and hard work.