Posts by Woodley Smith
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Webinar: The Story Within the Story of Cider
You’ve heard the headlines and the general trends for Cider. Join Brian “BK” Krueger and Dave Williams from Bump Williams Consulting on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 11:00 AM Pacific to dive in a little deeper and really take a look at the KPI’s that matter and how you can apply them to your own situation, presentations, insights, and decisions.
You can expect to hear more of the story on Cider Velocity, Runway for the Future, the Role of Flavor, Pack Size and Type, Innovation, Regional Power, and the Modern Bev Alc Consumer.
This webinar is for active ACA members only. Not a member? Join now!
Our Speakers
Brian “BK” Krueger graduated from the University of Texas, Austin in 1996 with a degree in Marketing – focusing on Strategic Marketing & Promotional Strategies. BK is a 24-year Industry Sales Leader with a distinguished and accomplished history of growth and development across multiple National and Regional Craft Breweries. Rising from New Belgium’s first “Texas Beer Ranger” in 1999, BK spent 17 years growing in parallel with New Belgium’s success and expansion and held the role of Assistant Director of Sales for 5+ Years. Leaving New Belgium in 2015, BK spent the next 4 years applying his knowledge, experience, and skill set to an extended selection of National and Regional Craft Breweries helping to evolve them into the modern and future world of Craft Beer. Joining Bump Williams Consulting in 2020, BK now applies his talents and expertise on Sales Systems and Structure, Portfolio Development, Distributor & Retailer Partnership, and Sales Strategy & Growth across the broad spectrum of Beverage Alcohol clients.
Dave Williams graduated from Penn State University in 2006 with a degree in Marketing. Dave began his career at Marketing Management Analytics (Ipsos MMA) as a Data Analyst, running sales regression models and market level analytics across various Retail and CPG clients. He left MMA and joined Nielsen in 2010, working up to the role of Client Manager. In this role, Dave led a team dedicated to Market Mix, Price/Promo and Consumer analysis for Procter & Gamble globally, spanning multiple categories and brands across their wide portfolio. In 2015, Dave left Nielsen to join Bump Williams Consulting where he currently runs high-end analytics across the Beverage Alcohol universe. His key focus areas include Consumer Behavior, Pricing, Promotion and Retail Landscape for BWC’s Supplier, Distributor and Retailer clients.
Live Sensory Webinar with Artifact Cider Project
Join our Certified Pommelier™ panel in a live practice sensory webinar on May 4 from 4:00-6:00 PM Pacific featuring cider from Artifact Cider Project. This webinar will also be available to rewatch and practice as a prerecorded event.
Cider must be purchased separately. Please be aware that it may take several days to receive your cider order, so we encourage you to purchase your ciders as soon as possible. Also, please verify that cider can be sent to your state before purchasing ciders. Order the Certified Pommelier Study Sample Pack from Artifact to participate along with the webinar here.
Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email. This email is a placeholder for the event. The evening before the event you will receive an email with a Zoom link to the webinar. Please note this link will be sent to the registered email.
Spring is in the Air on the Virginia Cider Trail
Spring is in the air and it’s time to hit the trail! The Virginia Cider Trail that is. Apple blossoms are bursting open around the state and spring festivals and cider releases are popping up like daffodils. Check out these upcoming events to find something near you or something farther afield if you’re looking for a nice drive on a sunny day!
April 7: Habanero Mango Cider Release at Buskey Cider
April 7: Friday Love Cider Series at Stable Craft Brewing
April 8: Farmhouse Hops & Hunt at Back Bay Brew House
April 8: Adult Easter Egg Hunt at Henway Hard Cider
April 8: Easter Weekend Brunch at Courthouse Creek Cider
April 8: Adult Easter Egg Hunt at Coyote Hole Ciderworks
April 9: Live Music in the Orchard at Albemarle Ciderworks
April 9: Easter Weekend Brunch at Courthouse Creek Cider
April 9: Easter Sunday Brunch at Stable Craft Brewing
April 9: Heirloom Apple Grafting Workshop at Tumbling Creek Cider Company
April 12: Hewe’s Crab and Crab Action at Sage Bird Ciderworks
April 14: Night Teach with Spectator Bird at Cider From Mars
April 14: Boot Scoot Square Dance Party at Potter’s Craft Cider
April 15: Seafood and Sounds with Jacob Paul Allen at Blue Toad Hard Cider
April 15: Daze of Rosé Festival at Castle Hill Cider
April 15: Mars Market: Spring Edition and Cider From Mars
April 15: Second Annual Bloom Fest at Potter’s Craft Cider
April 15: Winchester Ciderworks Takeover Night at Blue Fox Billiards
April 16: Pints & Ponies at Stable Craft Brewing
April 16: Heirloom Apple Grafting Workshop at Tumbling Creek Cider Company
April 20: Flappy Hour Benefit for Bat Conservation and Rescue of VA at Cider From Mars
April 22: Sharif Live at Blue Toad Hard Cider
April 22: Spring Apple Blossom Festival at Bryant’s Cider
April 22: Earth Day Flower Crown Workshop at Courthouse Creek Cider
April 22: Spring Block Party at Lost Boy Cider
April 23: Step Up for Down Syndrome Annual Fundraiser at Blue Toad Hard Cider
April 23: Liquid Craft Festival at Sly Clyde Ciderworks
April 26: Pride Night Social Fundraiser at Sage Bird Ciderworks
April 29: Britchin Brown Renaissance Fest at Stable Craft Brewing
May 6: Kentucky Derby Party at Coyote Hole Ciderworks
May 7: Spring Car Show at Coyote Hole Ciderworks
May 13: Mother’s Day Saturday Flower Workshop with Faded Poppy at Stable Craft Brewing
May 14: Live Music in the Orchard at Albemarle Ciderworks
Three Upcoming ACA Webinars
The American Cider Association is pleased to share that we have several upcoming webinars in the next month and we hope you’ll join us at one or all of them. Read on to learn more about these webinars and to find links to register!
March 22 – 11:00 AM Pacific: 3 Tier Beverages Dashboard Orientation for ACA Members
3 Tier Beverages, in partnership with NielsenIQ, is proud to be the official data supplier of the American Cider Association. Part of this partnership brings ACA members quarterly dashboards with key market data and insights to help you drive your business forward. This webinar will walk ACA members through these dashboards so you can make the most of this unique offering. This webinar is for active ACA members only. Join now or renew your membership by clicking here.
March 24 – 9:30 AM Pacific: Coffee Chat with Vinoshipper: 2022 Cider Trends for Online Sales
Vinoshipper Senior Analyst Taylor Harrison will lead us through a look back at their data from 2022 and also provide a quick snap shot of what they’re seeing at the beginning of 2023 with regards to sales, packaging, and demographics! Want to check out some of the data before Taylor’s presentation? You can download it here. This webinar is open to all.
April 18 – 11:00 AM Pacific: ACA Annual Membership Meeting
The American Cider Association is pleased to invite our members to join us for the Annual Membership Meeting. We will review last year’s accomplishments, examine our strategic plan, and share what’s in the works for the year ahead. We look forward seeing all of you virtually and hearing your ideas for how we can promote the US cider industry. You must be an Active ACA Member to participate in the Annual Membership Meeting. You can join or renew your membership here.
ACA Welcomes 20 New Certified Pommeliers™ Following CiderCon® 2023
The American Cider Association is thrilled to announce that twenty people have newly earned the title of Certified Pommelier™ as a result of the exam held at CiderCon® 2023 in Chicago, Illinois last month. It is the largest passing cohort of any Certified Pommelier™ exam to date.
The new Certified Pommeliers™ are: Ann Marie Thornton of James Creek Cider House (NC), Anthony Lopez of Casa de Oro Cider (CA), Brian Wing, James Kerr & Khris Johnson of Green Bench Brewing (FL), Cam Workman of Schilling Cider (WA), Casey Simpson of Artifact Cider Project (MA), Danny Dispo of Hydraulic Hearth (NY), David Lugo of the Clyde Theatre (IN), Deirdre Birmingham of The Cider Farm (WI), Geoff Happel (NC), Ian Niblock (VA), Karl Hartdegen (NC) & Max Finnance (CT) of Bold Rock Hard Cider, Janelle Balsillie of Carolinia Cider Company and Heeman’s Cidery and Meadery (ON), Joseph Nosse of Frontier Ciderworks (OH), Sarah Pozgay of Twin Cities Somms (MN), Walker Smith of Goldeneye Cider (WA), cidermaker Eric Gasser (CA), and cider enthusiast Brandon Buza (CA). You can learn more about our Certified Pommeliers™ on the ACA website.
Cider is a beautifully nuanced beverage with a diverse set of elements that are often less understood by food and beverage professionals. Certifications are increasingly used in the professional realm to set oneself apart as an individual with specialized knowledge, though cider is often covered in a cursory manner by most certification programs, if at all. This led the American Cider Association to establish its Certified Cider Professional (CCP) program to educate those on the front-line of cider sales. Today it is the world’s most comprehensive and in-depth cider certification program for beverage professionals.
The Certified Cider Professional program began with a Level 1 certification to help those in the industry develop a fundamental understanding of cider. The Certified Pommelier™ certification was developed to move beyond a fundamental understanding and to encourage cider professionals to think critically while demonstrating a higher understanding of the elements of cider. The rigorous test consists of five types of questions: short answer, fill in the blank, matching, essay and blind sensory (based on tasting). Test questions fall into seven categories: Apples, the Orchard & History, Cidermaking, Evaluation, Families & Flavor, Keeping & Serving, Food & Cider and Social Responsibility.
“To see twenty people pass the Certified Pommelier™ exam in one sitting is remarkable for many reasons,” says Michelle McGrath, CEO of the ACA. “People are valuing the Certified Pommelier™ designation and putting in the hard work of preparing for the exam. It’s exciting to watch ACA’s cider appreciation program grow and succeed.”
While the Certified Pommelier™ exam is designed to be challenging, the ACA is dedicated to making sure all the information tested on is accessible to those desiring to learn. To that end, the ACA recently announced the release of their new textbook to help candidates prepare to take the exam. Those interested in preparing for the exam can purchase the new textbook through Kindle Direct Publishing. In addition, sensory analysis practice webinars and a Facebook study group are continually being updated with resources for candidates studying for the exam. Links to all CCP resources can be found on the ACA’s website.
“We have seen a huge advantage for candidates that utilize the study aides we make available,” states Jennie Dorsey, ACA’s Cider Education Outreach Manager. “We’ve also witnessed new professional connections form through ACA prep-webinars and informal study groups. It’s exciting to see networking as one of the CCP program’s many positive impacts on the cider community.”
The ACA asks that you contact Cider Education Outreach Manager Jennie Dorsey if you have questions about the program or are interested in taking either the Level 1 Certified Cider Professional test or the Certified Pommelier™ exam.
The next Certified Pommelier™ exam will be scheduled for the Bay Area of California in September, and more tests dates will be announced shortly. You can also learn more at https://ciderassociation.org/certification.
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Celebrating Women’s History in the Cider Industry
Happy International Women’s Day!
What is this day for? International Women’s Day is a day to bring awareness to the lack of gender equity on our planet. Where does the U.S. fall in gender equity progress? The gender gap in pay is one measure of dynamic inequalities–just last year, U.S. “women earned 82% of what men earned, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers.” (Pew Research) Researchers also found that this number hasn’t changed much in 20 years.
As a cider industry, we can take steps to ensure we are part of progress on gender equity. Here are a few ways your cidery can lead the way on gender equity in hiring and HR:
- Post all jobs with a pay rate.
- Avoid using gendered pronouns in job descriptions.
- Evaluate your pay scales for equality–are people earning the same wage for similar positions?
- Use established skill-based assessments to promote.
- Invest in making sure your company and your establishment are taking proactive steps to prevent gender-based violence and discrimination.
- Increase women and non-binary representation in leadership and decision-making teams.
In what ways are you promoting gender equity at your cidery?
Did you miss Dr. J’s presentation at CiderCon® on Retaining Great Talent? Her tips are useful for recruiting and retaining a talented gender-diverse workforce. Check out her slides here.
Celebrate Women’s Voices
The cider industry has an extremely talented community of women doing incredible work. We’re celebrating International Women’s Day by sharing some of their stories with you. And to double the celebration–all these stories were written by women beverage journalists and storytellers! Enjoy this collection of recent publications by women, about women, and for cider!*
Cider Chat Podcast by Ria Windcaller –ACA 2023 Significant Impact Winner
Prohibitchin’ Newsletter by Beth Demmon
Courage and Other C Words by Jenn Martell
Cider Culture
- Cidermaker Q&A: DOPE Cider House and Winery with Malaika Tyson –ACA 2023 Significant Impact Winner
- Women Making Waves in the Cider World: Elizabeth Ryan of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider by Malaika Tyson
- Women Making Waves in the Cider World: Gretchen Esbensen of Shoal Draft Cider by Malaika Tyson
CiderCraft Magazine
- Meriwether’s Taproom Manager Mixes it Up on Netflix Series by Molly Allen
- Book Review: The Lost Orchards by Liz Copa by Darlene Hayes –ACA 2020 Significant Impact Winner
- 4 Questions with Elle Correll, Co-Owner of Buskey Cider by Stasia Brewcynski
And Some Women-Created Stories About Apples That We Love:
- From Apples to Fromage: 5 episodes of cheese and cider pairing goodness from Talia Haykin and Colleen Vidlocker
- Apple of My Eye: Foxwhelp by Lily Waite for Pellicle Magazine
- Stoke Red: Small-Town Apple Wins Big Competition by Darlene Hayes for Cidercraft Magazine
*Friendly reminder cider members–make sure you have Michelle McGrath on your press list. We want to elevate your press!
Claude Jolicoeur Book Signing Events
The American Cider Association is pleased to share that they will be hosting three book signing events in the Northwest with esteemed global cider ambassador and celebrated drinks author Claude Jolicoeur. Come to one of the events to learn more about cider and perry making traditions from around the world, take home a signed copy of his delighful book Cider Planet, and enjoy a refreshing cider. Books and cider will be available for sale at all events. Cider and books––what pairs better than that?
Book signing events will be held at the following:
- March 10, 2023 at 6:00 PM at The Place, 1212-D SE Powell, Portland, OR
- March 11, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Crush Cider Café, 1020 Wasco St., Hood River, OR
- March 15, 2023 at 5:00pm at Finnriver Farm & Cidery, 124 Center Rd., Chimacum, WA
Let us know you’ll be joining on Facebook!
Can’t make any of these three events? Claude will be presenting at the Northwest Cider Symposium in Tacoma, WA on March 14, 2023 and signing books as well. You must have registered for the Symposium in order to attend.
Open That Cider Bottle 2023 Prize Winners
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We are so ecstatic with the turnout for year two of our #openthatciderbottle celebration! Almost 100 posts from around the United States and from Canada, France, Japan, Spain and the UK! There were so many amazing posts and amazing cider bottle stories told that it made it really hard to choose just one winner for each category. But it had to be done, so without further ado the winners are…
Most likely to make you 🤣: @cidermakeric
Consulting with the cellar dog to see what to taste for Open That Cider Bottle? It’s hard to quit smiling when you see this adorable pic!
Most likely to 🤯: @fencelinecider
A gift of cider made in 1993? Made by a family that’s been making cider since the late 1800s? How could our minds not be blown?!
Most likely to warm your ❤️: @heartland_ciderworks
It may look chilly outside in this pic, but it warms our hearts to hear about a cidermaker popping the top on their first commercially made cider and making their dreams come true! Good luck!
Most likely to make you 💲 a 🍾: @littleapplecidery
This was one of the first things to show up on our feed for #openthatciderbottle and we just couldn’t help watching this reel again and again and wishing we had a bottle to sip on too!
And last but not least…the randomly drawn winner of the wine (we mean cider) suitcase is…
And she created a pretty awesome story about this Kingston Black trio from Finnriver too!