Board
Meet Your Board Member: David Glaize
Where do you work and what is your position?
Co-owner of Glaize & Brother Juice Co. and Old Town Cidery
Tell us about your family farm/orchard
Glaize Apples are grown in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Since the early 1900s, four generations of Glaizes have added to the history of premium fruit harvests between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains
How did you get into cider?
In 2012 my brother and I convinced our dad to top work existing trees into cider specific fruit. Around that same time I started experimenting with 5 gallon carboys and fell in love with the natural chemistry, and history, of the process. In 2017 we put in a juicing facility to service the cider/wine/beer industry with fresh pressed juice. In 2019 we hired a cidermaker (Stephen Kelly), and in 2020 launched Old Town Cidery.
Why did you decide to run for a position on the board?
I wanted to represent our region not only as a cidery but also as a grower. I want to help promote the growth of cider but also the expansion of apple orchards. It is important for me to keep the land in apples and working directly with cideries, orchardists, and law-makers can help achieve that goal.
What are your hopes for the future of the US Cider Industry?
I want to see the US Cider Industry continue to grow and establish itself as a leading producer of top notch cider throughout the world. We also need to better understand the demand for fresh juice vs concentrate, and the global supply/scale of apples and concentrate. The US Cider Industry has potential to play a large role in helping promote sustainable growing/juicing practices.
How do you describe your cider region?
Our cider region is dense with apple varietals, rich in history, and very complex. Virginia offers mass produced sweet ciders, fruity adjunct ciders, and also traditional single varietals of heirloom fruit. Virginia is home to some of the oldest apple varieties in the US, and some would argue Virginians were the first to drink, and perfect, the craft.
What’s your favorite apple to work with and why?
The Idared and Black Twig. The Idared is one of the first to come off the trees so it is early to the press. It is my favorite to ferment. Its flesh is straight white and loaded with fruity notes plus the perfect touch of acidity. The Black Twig is one of the last apples we pick and stores very well in cold storage. It showcases a thick body with an earthy aroma that is hard to find in any other apple. Both the Idared and Black Twig produce amazing single varietals, but also do well blended.
What is your favorite cider/food pairing?
In my eyes, it all pairs well together. I’m not too picky when it comes to food nor drink. But if I had to say something, it would be pork.
What is your favorite nature/cider pairing?
Its hard to beat drinking a cider while walking through the orchard that helped produce it.
ACA Announces Board Election Results
Last Friday, the American Cider Association (ACA) announced the results of their annual board of directors election at their 2022 industry trade conference called CiderCon®, held this year in Richmond, Virginia. The ACA is the nation’s non-profit trade group working to protect and advance the hard cider industry. Christine Walter of Bauman’s Cider in Gervais, Oregon was elected by members to the ACA board as a director-at-large and David Glaize of Old Town Cidery in Winchester, Virginia was elected as the Southern Chair, tasked with serving as the liaison for the ACA’s Southern members and the Board of Directors.
Notably, both new board members are multi-generational apple growers in addition to being cidermakers. Apples are a critical ingredient in cider’s production as all hard cider–traditional, bottle-conditioned, fruited or otherwise–is made from fermenting apple juice using the same fermentation methods as wine. Having a substantial grower presence on the board of directors connects the board further with cider’s most important ingredient–apples.
New ACA Board Members
Christine Walter grew up on the family farm, Bauman Farms, in rural Oregon. Raising apples and pressing juice with her family are some of her earliest memories. She studied Biochemistry in college, and eventually made it back to the farm where she now makes award winning Bauman’s Cider in the barn. She is currently a member of the board of The Cider Institute of North America, close partners of ACA. She is energetic, creative, and strategic.
David Glaize is a 4th generation apple grower in Winchester VA, and co-owner of Old Town Cidery. Alongside his brother (Philip) the two convinced their dad to plant cider varieties back in 2010, and to construct a processing facility in 2018. The juice company, Glaize & Brother Juice Co, provides custom juice blends to cideries, wineries, and breweries up and down the East Coast. In working to keep the family business vertically integrated, David and his brother opened Old Town Cidery in 2021. David is a member of US Apple–a trade group for apple producers–and hopes to help deepen the relationship between the two groups. He is passionate about consumer education and farmland protection.
2022 ACA Board Officers
The ACA also announced the results of their 2022 board officer elections. Dave Takush, the head cidermaker of 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Oregon joins the ACA’s executive committee as Secretary. John Behrens of Farmhaus Cider in Michigan served as the board secretary in 2021 and was newly elected as Treasurer for 2022. Brooke Glover of Swilled Dog in West Virginia and Eleanor Leger of Eden Specialty Ciders in Vermont were both reelected as Vice-President and President, respectively.
“I’m excited to work with our fantastic board and our diverse membership to move the cider industry forward with the trade and regulators. Together, we will help American drinkers of all demographics discover and enjoy the amazing range of great ciders in the marketplace,” says Leger.
Retiring Directors
Paul Vander Heide of Vander Mill Cider in Michigan and David Thornton of James Creek Cider House in North Carolina both completed their ACA board service this year.
“Paul and David are both incredibly strong leaders,” says ACA executive director, Michelle McGrath. “Paul and I have worked very closely together to grow the ACA since my hiring in 2016. It’s been an honor to work with him and learn from his mentorship. And David was a force for positive change. I am a better leader for having worked with both Paul and David, and I will miss their presence on the board tremendously.”
Membership Meeting
The ACA will hold its annual virtual membership meeting, with opportunities to meet board member, on March 8, 2022 at 10AM Pacific. Members will be sent meeting details by email.
“Our virtual membership meeting last year was a big success. The board loved it so much we’re going to do it every year now,” says McGrath. “It’s a great chance to talk more deeply about strategic initiatives on the heels of CiderCon® conversations.”
###
ACA Board Elections
Please meet the candidates for the 2022 Board of Directors! We will email active cidery level members their ballots Wednesday and they will close Friday.
At Large Cidery Seat – 3 Candidates
Christine Walter, Bauman’s Cider Company
I know that an organization like the American Cider Association makes a thousand small decisions and hosts hundreds of conversations all along the way to be the effective industry-shaping force that it is. Casting a broad net with regard to diversity and inclusion is no little thing. Spearheading and advocating for the kind of lasting legislation that makes or breaks cidermakers of all sizes is transformative work as well. I want to bring my creativity and energy to the board, to help shape the conversations and lean on my experiences as a small farm-based producer to make the climate of cidermaking more friendly to both big and small cider businesses.
ABOUT CHRISTINE
I grew up on my family’s farm in rural Oregon. Raising apples and pressing juice with my family are some of my earliest memories. I studied Biochemistry in college, and started and ran a small retail company for 22 years before discovering and quickly falling in love with cider. It took me a couple years to convince my family that cider was a real thing and that I might be able to make it on the farm if they would only let me use a small corner of a barn.
I think you can imagine that I have since taken over the whole barn, and created a huge following among my family. And I absolutely love making cider, drinking cider and being around cider makers!
I am currently a member of the board of The Cider Institute of North America and regular guest instructor.
Adam Ruhland, Wild State Cider
I want to see your cidery succeed. The realities of owning a successful cidery extend well beyond making amazing liquid. I’d like to help support the ACA and it’s members by being a champion for practical resources and initiatives for the average cider business owner. This includes increased support and programming around finance/funding, marketing, distribution, product innovation, human resources, and retail strategies.
It’s a tough market out there for even the most established brands, and we need to work together to grow our individual cideries and, in turn, the whole category. Cider exists in a strange and ever-changing place in the alcohol market. Our relevance depends on the strategies used by our members to meet our customers where they are, which involves frequent change and re-thinking how we operate our businesses.
As a board member, I’ll help the ACA maintain a focus on how it can practically support the needs of the average member working hard to succeed in a crowded market.
ABOUT ADAM
Adam Ruhland is the co-owner of Wild State Cider and president of the Minnesota Cider Guild. WIld State is a Duluth, MN based cidery started in 2019 that sells cider in five states and employs 27 individuals. Adam spent five years as a special education teacher before making the jump to entrepreneurship. He believes anything is possible through creativity, hard work, and education. Adam is married with two young children, a dog, and a cat named Kevin. He loves cross-country skiing, trail running, and mountain biking with his kids.
Steve Hance, Number 12 Cider
One thing my experience in serving non-profits has taught me is that there is typically no shortage of great ideas but a great shortage of initiative. Volunteer board members have day jobs that take priority and organizations often struggle to find people that will actually dedicate real time and effort to the organization. For better or worse, I have always been one to raise my hand and volunteer my time when it comes to this kind of service. The reward is seeing the positive impact and being directly involved in something worthwhile.
We all want to see cider grow, and hopefully not just for the bottom line, but because we want to share the joy of cider with everyone. I think a strong ACA is critical for that goal.
The ACA has already made great strides to help cider grow since its inception. CiderCon is an incredible event for us to come together and share ideas. The CCP program is a great way for us to develop our own conventions. Gathering and sharing market data is essential for us to understand how we can fit in to the economy and grow.
Moving forward, I would like to help the Board expand on these and other existing initiatives, but also to find new ways to connect with more of those potential cider-makers and drinkers out there. One thing I see for cider compared to other products, is a lack of resources for people seeking to learn how to start making cider themselves and all of the different styles of cider.
We have a great foundation, lets build on that but also start looking beyond the die-hard cider fanatics and market to the next generation of cider-makers.
I would be honored to serve on the Board if you choose to elect me.
ABOUT STEVE
I am the President of Number 12 Cider in Minneapolis where I live with my wife and our 14-year-old son. I have been making cider for about 25 years. Most of that time I have been “that guy” who always had plenty of cider to share whenever the chance arose. I am a student of history, and I love learning about the tradition and history of cider.
Although I am a lawyer by trade, a few years ago I decided to follow my passion and started an orchard-based cidery in the small town of Buffalo, Minnesota with my friend and business partner Colin. We were one of the first cideries in Minnesota when we started in 2014. Four years later we built a new facility in Minneapolis.
I helped to create the Minnesota Cider Guild where I have served as its President and Treasurer. It has been a joy to see cider grow in Minnesota and nationally since then. Outside of my law career and cider, I have dedicated countless hours to other non-profits as Organizer, Board Member, President and other posts.
Eastern Chair
CT, MA, ME, PA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT.
Eleanor Leger, Eden Ciders
I believe more than ever that cider’s future is strengthened when we draw the connection from apples to orchards to cider. Stories of growers, varieties, and the flavors that apples bring to ciders and to food pairings are what can move people to a greater appreciation of the diversity among cider offerings and a greater openness to considering cider as a choice on the shelf or at the table. These stories will benefit large and small cideries alike, across all price points and methods. Our fruit is what makes our product more expensive than grain or cane sugar-based alcohols. We all must celebrate it if we are to claim the price points we need for economic sustainability across size and method. In this sense, we are truly united in our “big tent” approach. All cider is made from apples and we as a category share pride in that. As passionate as I am about the high end, expensive ciders I make from rare and delicious apples, I want cider as a broad category to succeed, at all price points and across all processes. I am excited to engage with all the wonderful cideries in the large Eastern Region, to seek their input and feedback, to work collaboratively with Michelle and fellow board members to reach sound decisions, and to move us all forward.
ABOUT ELEANOR
Eleanor started producing ice cider with her husband Albert in the basement of their Vermont farmhouse in 2007. For the next eight years they built the business themselves, planting 1,000 trees, developing partnerships with other small local orchards, and working together in the cellar to produce ice ciders, and eventually expanding into dry wine-style ciders and apple-based aperitifs.
Today Eleanor primarily runs the business, the team has grown to six people, and in 2020 they launched a new line of harvest-driven ciders in cans. Before cider Eleanor was an over-educated execu-mom who was underwhelming her potential in corporate america. Now she parses TTB forms and depletion reports with gusto. With spare time she doesn’t have, she occasionally writes about small cidery economics at cidernomics.com.
In addition to serving on the board of the ACA as an At Large Member from 2015-2018, and Eastern Region Chair from 2019 to the present, Eleanor is a founder of the Vermont Cider Makers Association, and was appointed to the inaugural Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Board, proving once again that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Southern Chair
AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV, MD, DE, DC.
David Glaize, Old Town Cidery & Glaize & Brother Juice Co.
American Cider Association is the liaison between cider-makers/enthusiasts, and law makers, consumers, and buyers. As a member of the ACA board, David will work as the voice for cideries to promote industry growth and to broaden consumer education. David is a 4th generation apple grower and fresh juice provider. His understanding of the base industry will contribute immensely to supporting sustainable practices that lead to high quality juice/cider and hopefully orchard expansion. In selling fresh juice to over a dozen cideries throughout the South, David will represent the southern region with a strong understanding of what cideries need, and what the consumer wants. David has worked/lobbied with USApple and is familiar with policy making that helps protect our industry. With an end goal to keep the land in apple trees, David will do what it takes to get more people drinking more apples!
ABOUT DAVID
David Glaize is a 4th generation apple grower in Winchester VA, and co-owner of Old Town Cidery. Alongside his brother (Philip) the two convinced their dad to plant cider varieties back in 2010, and to construct a processing facility in 2018. The juice company, Glaize & Brother Juice Co, provides custom juice blends to cideries, wineries, and breweries up and down the East Coast. In working to keep the family business vertically integrated, David and his brother opened Old Town Cidery in 2021. David resides in Winchester VA with his wife Mimi, and two children, Charlotte and Walker.
Large Cidery Seat
Ben Calvi, Vermont Hard Cider
I have served on the ACA board since 2016 as a representative for large producers. Over the years, I have worked on the CCP, Legislative, Financial, and AEI committees. As board treasurer, I advised the ACA on its business plan, financial policies, and tax returns. I continue to work on the legislative committee addressing legal and regulatory issues important to Cider following passage of the Cider Act in 2015. And most recently, I joined the Anti-racism, Equity & Inclusion committee to support its development and outreach to members. There are 2 strategic goals I am most excited to participate in: (1) building Cider’s Political Power and (2) creating a more Sustainable and Inclusive Future for cider. The ACA has a unique position to speak on behalf of the cider industry. From lobbying efforts in Washington D.C. to liaising with state and regional chapters, the ACA must work to ensure regulations align with how cider is made and sold in the U.S. and to make sure laws and regulations allow all our members to remain competitive and well represented in the bev-alc landscape. Cider is a small and niche industry, however, it is not isolated from the broader social and cultural changes rippling through our nation. In the past few years, the ACA has begun to look within our organization, to educate ourselves, and to advocate for a more diverse and inclusive industry. It is not an easy task, nor always a comfortable one, but it is necessary so that cider becomes a beverage for all and a place where all people feel welcome.
ABOUT BEN
Ben Calvi was born and raised in Vermont and is an accomplished cider & wine maker. He joined Vermont Hard Cider in 2015 and now leads operations as COO. At prior roles in California, Germany, and Vermont, he has made wines and ciders for Quintessa, Esser, the Robert Mondavi Institute, Burklin-Wolf, and Champlain Orchards. Ben earned a Master of Science in Viticulture & Enology from the University of California Davis, a post-Bach from the University of Vermont, and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Middlebury College. He serves on boards of the American Cider, Vermont Cider, and Vermont Tree Fruit Growers associations, and he was a founding member of the Atletico Middlebury Soccer Club. Ben lives in Cornwall, VT with his wife and two children enjoying music, sport, and anything outdoors.
Nominations for 2022 ACA Board of Directors Open
Running for the ACA board of directors is a great way to get involved in lifting our industry up. We are actively recruiting individuals from US-based cider companies to run for the board of directors. These are volunteer positions with a three year commitment. Active membership of the association is required and candidates must be permanent employees or owners of active bonded-cideries to run. Board seats up for election this year include:
- “At Large” (Open to all regions and cidery sizes)
- LARGE Cidery (>1M gal produced in 2020)
- Southern Regional Chair (AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
- Eastern Regional Chair (CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT)
Interested candidates should complete the self-nomination form by January 25:
Have questions about board service? Reach out to Michelle.
Do you know who is on the current board? Meet them HERE.
Developing a more diverse and equitable cider industry and association is a long-term project that requires conscious iterative investment at every stage. Our board is actively working toward goal development in this area (read a blog post from our board vice president, Brooke Glover). We believe that representation matters in reaching those goals and we are thus encouraging diverse candidates including women, BIPOCs, LGTBQIA+, veterans and people with disabilities to run for the board of directors.
Letter from Board President Eleanor Leger
Dear Cider Friends –
As the new year begins, I am reflecting on the special challenges our incredible industry faces. 2022 will inevitably require more adaptation to supply chain issues, inflation, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of the pandemic on sales channels and business models. These conditions are impacting all sectors of the alcoholic beverage market, but the special challenges we face in cider are a function of our small category size and the limited resources and power we have among ourselves to build awareness among consumers and achieve leverage in distribution.
I believe more than ever that cider’s future is strengthened when we draw the connection from apples to orchards to cider. Stories of growers, varieties, and the flavors that apples bring to ciders and to food pairings are what can move people to a greater appreciation of the diversity among cider offerings and a greater openness to considering cider as a choice on the shelf or at the table. These stories will benefit large and small cideries alike, across all price points and methods. Our fruit is what makes our product more expensive than grain or cane sugar based alcohols. We all must celebrate it if we are to claim the price points we need for economic sustainability across size and method. In this sense, we are truly united in our “big tent” approach. All cider is made from apples and we as a category share pride in that.
On an exciting note, we are seeing new cideries continue to open across the country. Also increasing are wineries and breweries who are adding ciders to their product line ups, including new orchard operations. These will be more voices helping to spread the word about apples and cider. Concurrently, as an association, we have invested this year in more projects to measure and report on the growth of cideries. Additionally, for the first time, we are reporting on trends in the segments of the market that are often missed by data services such as Nilsen and IRI, including cellar door and cider club sales and sales to smaller and/or regional on-premises accounts. This will allow us to create a fuller picture of the American cider market. Stay tuned for more exciting data announcements!
We are excited to include this new data perspective in our CiderCon® program in Richmond next month. The ACA team, volunteers and partners have worked hard to identify the best tracks, presenters and topics based on your feedback, from apples and orcharding to production, compliance and more. CiderCon® covers these important topics across a range of experience and business models: from enthusiast to expert, from taprooms to cider clubs, and from high volume cans to small batch natural ciders. Michelle and the Board are working to make sure we can hold CiderCon® safely in the current environment, and there will continue to be updates as the date draws nearer.
I wish all of you, your families and team members health and prosperity for 2022. In the meantime, if I can be of service, if you have questions, if you have comments or suggestions, I will always be delighted to hear from you.
Get to Know Your Board Member: Soham Bhatt
We’re pleased to introduce you to the newest ACA Board Member, Soham Bhatt of Artifact Cider Project who was elected to an At Large Cidery Seat on the board in 2021!
Where do you work and what is your position?
Co-founder and cidermaker at Artifact Cider Project in Massachusetts
Do you work in cider full time? If not, what is your other job?
Full-time
How did you get into cider?
As a customer! I had a few “epiphany ciders” that pushed me from customer to producer and changed my worldview on the relationship between apples and cider: West County Cider, Oliver’s, Cidre Dupont, and Gurutzeta.
Why did you decide to run for a position on the board?
Cider is at an exciting moment in it’s growth as an industry, and I think that I can provide a unique perspective on customer education and advocacy of cider as a category.
What are your hopes for the future of the US Cider Industry?
That it’s here to stay. Some alcohol trends come and go, styles come and go, but I’d really like cider to become a fundamental part of the cultural landscape of the United States.
How do you describe your cider region?
Broadly, our region is the Northeast. The apples we work with primarily grow in MA, NY, NH, and VT. When we make terroir-driven ciders, we focus specifically on the middle Connecticut River valley, upper Berkshires area.
What’s your favorite apple to work with and why?
Depends on the grower. I love Roxbury Russet because of its provenance, but also because of its richness, versatility, and distinct flavor profile. McIntosh is an oft-maligned apple that in the right hands with the right tools is also quite explosive aromatically and exciting. In terms of European apples, I would have to say that Yarlington Mill, with its floral, fruity softness, is also a pleasure to work with and makes me yearn for an American seedling that can supplant it.
What is your favorite cider/food pairing?
Depends on the cider. I love fresh, fruit forward ciders at the start of a meal, so anything snack-y, like pâté, tinned fish, basically any cheese, raw bar, takis, cheetos, funyuns, chips of various flavors, fried goodies.
What is your favorite nature/cider pairing?
Also depends on the cider. I love a dry, funky cider at dusk, sitting ocean side around early May, when the flowers are beginning to bloom but the water’s still too cold to take a swim.
What would you like our members to know about you that they might not know?
My wife and I are enthusiastic travelers (pre-Covid), and love to explore new places around the world. As avid home cooks we try to take cooking classes and eat everything wherever we go. Upon returning we try to replicate our favorite dishes for our friends. Come over and eat!
Learn more about all our board members here.
Get to Know ACA President Eleanor Leger
International Women’s Day has been happening for a little over 100 years, but we all know the mark women have made upon history is much longer than that and so has been their role in cidermaking. Furthermore, we continue to see more women take a leading role in the cider industry.
You’ve already been introduced to Vice President Brooke Glover today. Now it’s time to get to know ACA Board President Eleanor Leger. Eleanor has been involved with the ACA since it’s inception and has served on the board in various capacities over the years. She was elected to be Board President in 2021.
Where do you work and what is your position?
Founder and CEO, Eden Specialty Ciders, Newport, VT
How did you get into cider?
I started making ice cider in our basement in 2007. One thing led to another…
Why did you decide to run for a position on the board?
I originally ran for an ‘At Large’ position on the Board back in 2015 hoping to represent the perspective of smaller, orchard-based cideries. For the first few years I was the only woman and the only small cidery on the Board. We made good progress in professionalizing the Association, moving our finances from spreadsheets to QuickBooks, hiring our first Executive Director in Michelle, and including a track at CiderCon of relevance to smaller orchard-based producers. I was honored to be re-elected in 2019 as Eastern Region Chair.
What are your hopes for the future of the US Cider Industry?
I’m encouraged by the continued steady growth of regional ciders. I look forward to increasing awareness of cider’s diversity of flavors and methods, our ties to orchards and agriculture, and our efforts to welcome all to our products, our taprooms, and our industry.
What do you feel you uniquely bring to the board?
I bring a unique combination of 1) a professional background in business and product strategy, 2) 14 years as a very small scale grower and producer, 3) experience with wide distribution in the market due to our leadership in the tiny niche of ice cider. This means I have some understanding of the needs of cideries of all sizes and strategies, and of the complexities of the regulations, market dynamics and business challenges that impact them.
How would you describe the approach you plan to take in your role as president of the ACA board?
Our role is to work with Michelle to set the overall strategy and plans for the Association and support her in achieving them. I’ve been involved in the development of our new strategic plan, and am very excited about the initiatives we will be working on. I will be looking to insure our work is delivering benefits for all segments of our industry, and that we are consciously expanding our outreach – to the hundreds of small cideries that may not realize how our programming can help them, to the apple growing community that shares a stake in our future, and to Black, Indigenous and People of Color among consumers, trade, producers and suppliers whom we invite to join our journey.
Finally, I want to make sure we all have FUN doing this work. One of the things I have loved most about being in this industry is that by and large we are down-to-earth people that enjoy having a good cider at the end of the day, and are excited to have others party with us!
What’s your favorite apple to work with and why?
At Eden we work with so many heirloom and tannic varieties it is difficult to choose just one. For right now I will choose Belle de Boskoop – an old Dutch russet that actually became very popular in Normandy. We just released a single-variety of this from the 2019 harvest at Scott Farm. It has wonderful juicy acidity with pronounced orange and tropical notes.
What is your favorite cider/food pairing?
Any dry, tannic still cider with a pan-seared pork chop, also shortbread cookies with a glass of ice cider at the end of a meal!
What is your favorite nature/cider pairing?
Sitting on the beach at nearby, aptly-named Crystal Lake with a can of Deep Cut.
What would you like our members to know about you that they might not know?
I have two grown children, two border collies, and am blessed to be married to a saint for more than 35 years 🙂
Get to Know ACA Vice President Brooke Glover
International Women’s Day has been happening for a little over 100 years, but we all know the mark women have made upon history is much longer than that and so has been their role in cidermaking. Furthermore, we continue to see more women take a leading role in the cider industry.
Today we invite you to get to know the two women at the helm of the ACA board–first up, Vice-President Brooke Glover. Brooke was re-elected to the board and re-elected to the position of Vice President in 2021.
Where do you work and what is your position?
I am one of the co-founders and President at Swilled Dog Hard Cider and Swilled Dog Spirits.
How did you get into cider?
The first time my husband took me back to his hometown, we went to one of his friend’s cellars and I was able to try dry cider, straight from the barrel, made from West Virginia apples. Up to that point, I had only experienced sweet cider. So that was very eye-opening for me that there were many ways to make cider and I pretty much fell in love with the beverage. We then started exploring the category more and making it at home. I also soon found out that my grandfather used to make cider when he was younger- I didn’t know that about him so it has been cool for me to talk to him about that part of his life that I knew nothing about.
Why did you decide to run for a position on the board?
I really enjoy being of service and feeling like I can make a difference. We have such an amazing industry and I want it to continue growing and thriving.
What are your hopes for the future of the US Cider Industry?
Growth. I believe that growth will come with better understanding of the category and education about the beverage, how it’s made and the passion that goes into it from the makers.
What do you feel you uniquely bring to the board?
Our board has varied and wonderful skill sets and backgrounds but something unique that I try to bring to our work every day is positivity and a growth mindset to everything we do. Challenges do (and will continue to) arise and I enjoy tackling those and always try to think of it as a chance to grow and improve.
How would you describe the approach you plan to take in your role as vice president of the ACA board?
I’ve been Vice-President now for two years and I’ve always tried to make sure I’m doing more listening than talking- I want to continue doing that this year. Also, I try to make sure everything we do is working toward fulfilling our mission and our strategic plan. The strategic plan takes a lot of time, effort, and mindshare to develop and it is important that we stay on track with working that plan. And lastly, I want to make sure I am supporting the board, Michelle, and our new President, Eleanor, as much as possible.
What’s your favorite apple to work with and why?
I love the Virginia Hewes Crab. It is tiny and is a ton of work but it is very worth it. The flavor that it provides is amazing and we have bunch that grow here in West Virginia, so I’m keeping it local!
What is your favorite cider/food pairing?
I love a dry cider paired with a nice cheese tray.
What is your favorite nature/cider pairing?
My favorite nature/cider pairing is our Pumpkin Patch cider sitting around a fire in the early fall in West Virginia listening to Tony Caridi calling the Mountaineers on the radio. It really doesn’t get much better than that but my second favorite is our Pineapple cider on the beach.
What would you like our members to know about you that they might not know?
Just two fun facts: I played Division I college volleyball and we also own a distillery.
2021 ACA Board Election Results
The American Cider Association announced the results of its 2021 Board of Director Elections live from CiderCon 2021 today. The ACA membership elected Brooke Glover, Soham Bhatt and Ryan Burk. Burk and Glover are board veterans and Bhatt is excited to be serving on the board for the first time.
The Board also selected its 2021 officers. They are:
Outgoing President Paul Vander Heide will remain on the board and looks forward to working closely with the new officers.
Sam Fitz of ANXO Cider in Washington DC, board member as a Cidery-At-Large, did not run for re-election in 2021. Sam has been a very engaged and contributive board member and looks forward to staying engaged with the association as a member in the next year.
Eleanor Leger shares her excitement to be serving as the 2021 Board Presdient:
I am honored to be newly elected as Board President of the American Cider Association. We have a fantastic new strategic plan with initiatives to strengthen understanding and support in the trade, make innovation and compliance easier, to support cider makers of all sizes and models, and to specifically reach out to Black, Indigenous and People of Color to let them know we welcome them as makers, customers, influencers, trade buyers and suppliers. As we go forward, I pledge to you that as Board President, my email door is always open, that I will work with my fellow Board members and Michelle to strengthen our organization and the value it delivers to you, our members, and that we will do our work in a way that brings us together in our common goal to build a great industry for everyone. – Eleanor Leger, 2021 ACA Board President
For media inquiry about these election results, please contact Michelle McGrath: michelle [at] ciderassociation [dot] org.
2021 ACA Board Candidates
As a 501C-6 non-profit membership-based trade association for the US hard cider industry, each year the American Cider Association holds elections for our board of directors. The board members play a critical role in governance and oversight as well as guiding strategic decisions. Our bylaws have established specific seats that include representation for regions and cidery size (gallons produced). Our succession plan rotates which seats are up for election each year to ensure a mixture of new perspective and institutional knowledge. This year there are 3 seats who are up for election—2 are “At Large” and the third is for Large Cidery (>1M g; voted for among ‘Large Cidery’ members only).
Our elections are electronic with a vote by email system. Each cidery gets 1 ballot. Ballots are sent to the Primary Contact email in our database. Members are encouraged to get team input on who your cidery is voting for.
Ballots will go out Wednesday morning and will close Friday morning. Only active ACA members will receive a ballot. As there are two seats available for the At Large Director category, members will have the chance to cast a vote for two candidates.
It is our pleasure to introduce to you the 2021 ACA Board Election Candidates. At Large Candidates: Brooke Glover, James Chuck, Soham Bhatt and Tyler Butcher. Large Cidery Candidate: Ryan Burk. Scroll down to get to know all of these candidates and what they hope to do on the board of the ACA.
>>At-Large Board Candidates
Brooke Glover – Swilled Dog Hard Cider (West Virginia) Watch Brooke’s Candidate Statement and read her words below:
“My name is Brooke Glover, and I am the co-founder of Swilled Dog Hard Cider, a small cidery out of West Virginia. I’ve had the privilege of serving on the Board of the ACA for the past three years, including as Vice-President for the last two, as well as chair of the Marketing Committee and as a member of the Gov’t Affairs Committee. It would be an honor to continue my service to the industry and to our members and I’d like to focus on three things should I be re-elected: 1. Regulatory affairs and lobbying for our industry. We’ve had some significant wins this year in this department and I’d like to continue advocating for our members and keep the momentum to help make regulations fair and logical. 2. Continuing to act as a representative for our smaller cideries. Smaller cideries need to continue to have a voice in the decisions that affect our approach to the industry’s growth. This includes helping to get data that can be used to make business decisions and gain shelf space. 3. Continued growth of the industry. To fulfill the ACA’s mission of having a successful and diverse industry, we need to work together and support each other. Bringing together all cidermakers in this goal needs to continue to be a focus for our organization. Thanks so much! I would love the privilege of continuing to serve you and I appreciate your vote.”
James Chuck – Empire Cider (New York) Watch James’s Candidate Statement and read his words below:
“I know how tough the cider business is. I’m running for an At Large Board position because I want to help you and your company survive COVID and thrive once it’s over. I co-founded the Empire Cider Company in New York State in 2013 to make great ciders from New York apples. We’ve had some successes and failures, won awards and helped others throughout the country do so, too. I’ve served on the Marketing committees of both the ACA and the New York Cider Association, and am a member of the NYCA’s Social Justice Committee. As an At Large member I’d apply my background in hard cider company management, strategy consulting, social entrepreneurship, economic development and digital marketing to: 1) Help us all grow the US cider category by 50% to $2 billion with gains in every region and state; 2) Protect and increase cider shelf-space in off-premise accounts; 3) Support cider’s return to on-premise accounts so that sales and margins post-COVID are better than pre-COVID; and 4) Create tools and templates to help small and medium sized cideries achieve lasting profitability. Additionally, I would support Michelle’s work advocating to ensure an inclusive and successful US cider industry in which you can achieve healthy living-wages and sustainable economic viability in order to continue your passion of cider-making, environmental and land stewardship, and job preservation and creation in your community.
I’m committed to contribution and I’d be grateful for your vote and the opportunity to serve you as an At Large member on the Board of the American Cider Association. Thank you very much.”
Soham Bhatt – Artifact Cider (Massachussetts) Watch Soham’s Candidate Statement and read his words below:
“This past July during an otherwise hilarious monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! comedian Iliza Shlesinger did a bit on hard seltzer brands. She joked, “the hard seltzer race, too many contenders!…we saw this gold rush with the flavored water game and hard cider game”. [cringe]. While it might be true that hard seltzer is getting saturated, I know for a fact that “the hard cider game” is anything but a gold rush. Having started my cidery with my best friend and our paltry pooled life savings, it was dispiriting to think that the mainstream understanding of this beverage had been reduced to a flash-in-the-pan, forgettable fad drink. Even after untold fits, starts, and the motivation pulverizing life of small business, I’m still optimistic about the promise of cider. I’m optimistic about the diversity of approaches we have in the United States and how we can collaborate with our peers across the globe. I’m excited about everything from exploring terroir in cider to the coolest co-ferment on the block. But I think that on the most fundamental level, it’s still a broadly and tragically misunderstood beverage. So my goal, if honored with the opportunity to serve on the board of the ACA, is a simple and focused one. I’d like to contribute and expand the work currently being done to figure out new and novel ways to educate the trade and our drinkers about cider, our different approaches, the value of diversity in those approaches, and why cider is not a fad. Despite our differences, there are a number of things that all cider producers can agree on and industry materials should reflect it. Perhaps someday as a result of these efforts, Iliza will know the difference between the ‘gold rush’ she referenced and the Gold Rush we care about.”
Tyler Butcher – Kekionga Cider Company (Indiana) Watch Tyler’s Candidate Statment and read his words below:
“Hello all. I am the co-founder of Kekionga Craft Company, which opened in July of 2017. We are a farm winery that is located within a historic apple mill, dating back to the late 1920’s. Cider is our primary focus, as we can and bottle for distribution in the 10-county area of northeast Indiana. I recently joined our company full time to manage all the business operations. I have 10+ years of experience in the accounting and finance industry. I have worked for companies with revenues that range from 12 mil up to 6 billion. Currently, I hold the position of treasurer for the Northeast Indiana Beer Trail. I am hoping that my passion for small business and the alcohol industry, combined with my financial background, would be a great fit for the American Cider Association.”
>> Large Cidery Board Candidate
Ryan Burk – Angry Orchard (New York) Watch Ryan’s Candidate Statement and read his word’s below.
“Hey, American Cider Association! Ryan Burk here from Angry Orchard. I am asking for your vote for my third term on the ACA board. I’m really excited to continue my work on the board, and to contribute at a high level to the cider industry at large. I definitely appreciate being able to be a bridge between CINA, that’s the Cider Institute of North America, and the American Cider Association Board. Education in the cellar is something that I’m personally interested in and invested in, not just for myself but for other cidermakers. Certainly education as relates to the CCP and the Certified Pommelier program, connecting with our friends in the bars, at the wholesaler, etc, provides an opportunity to elevate their own education and become experts in cider. We can continue to develop a shared language about what cider is. All of these things are really interesting to me, and I think are our greatest opportunities as we move forward with our dynamic and growing industry.
I think that I can share a local‑here in New York‑national, and global perspective, with the board, and with the industry, and I’m happy to continue to get that opportunity. Cheers and happy CiderCon!”