Sean Connolly

Sean Connolly grew up in Massachusetts but has called Portland, Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest home for the past 26 years. Recently retired after a 28-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a two-year stint in the Peace Corps where he taught English and environmental education to Lithuanian high school students, Sean has been passionate about cider — the craft, its history, makers, cideries, cider apples and orchards, regions, styles, and the inclusive industry culture – since first discovering cider in 2014 when he cracked open a can of Wandering Aengus Ciderworks’ Anthem Hops and his beverage worldview forever changed.

For over 11 years, Sean has been active in the Northwest cider scene, volunteering at CiderCon® and at Northwest-based cider festivals such as Hood River Cider Fest and Cider Rite of Spring. He received his American Cider Association Level 1 Certified Cider Guide™ certification in 2016 at the American Cider Association’s first-ever CiderCon in Portland, Oregon, and has stewarded and judged for the Portland International Cider Cup and the Northwest Cider Cup, and is a long-time member of the American Cider Association and the Northwest Cider Association. Pre-pandemic, he worked as a Brand Ambassador for Portland Cider Company, and currently works for Bauman’s Cider Company as a part-time cellar assistant, pouring at area tastings, events, and festivals.

Sean also makes his own cider at home—which makes him even more appreciative of the level of effort, combination of chemistry and alchemy, and investment it takes to produce high-quality cider on a commercial scale. As one of the ACA’s newest Certified Pommeliers™, he is looking forward to creating entertaining and informative cider-focused experiences to connect those new to cider and the cider curious with what he think is the world’s most interesting and storied beverage category.

You can find his cider-themed posts and reviews at @ciderexperience on Instagram and Facebook.

Certified Pommelier™ Sean Connolly earned his advanced certification at CiderCon® 2026 in Providence, RI.