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CiderCon® Giveaway!

By Michelle McGrath | December 27, 2019

Bottles cling-wrapped and insulated in a sweatshirt. Cans sealed and stowed in empty bread bags and stuffed in socks. Or shoes. Most of us have taken extreme risk and sketchy measures to get cider to and from CiderCon® and other cider events. Did you know there is a better way? Behold, the cider case (ok, it has another name, but this is what we’re…

Be a Leader: Join the Board

By Michelle McGrath | December 19, 2019

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. Board seats up for election this year include: Regional Chairs (4) (under 1M g/yr) Midwest (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI,…

CiderCon® Seminar: Orcharding in the West

By Michelle McGrath | December 17, 2019

About 6 months ago, Jake Mann of Five Mile Orchard in California called me. He shared that what he loved most about CiderCon® hadn’t happened in a few years, and he wondered if it might be able to return? I didn’t need convincing. I missed it too, and this was a chance for American Cider…

Pick Cider for The Holidays

By Michelle McGrath | November 10, 2019

Thanksgiving is one of the biggest weeks of the year for cider, and November and December is a time to shine! We are once again offering members free promotional materials as a membership benefit. All print material orders will include tabloid-sized Thanksgiving posters and generic holiday/Christmas double-sided table tents.  Just need a logo? Please find…

American Cider Association Board Announces New Seats for 2020 Election

By Michelle McGrath | November 10, 2019

With over 900 cider producers and counting, the cider industry is a mosaic of business models, cider styles, geographies and individuals. Since we first earned our non-profit status in 2014, American Cider Association has worked to push forward programming that benefits everybody in our industry’s ecosystem. One way we do this is by making efforts…

CiderCon® 2020 is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

By Michelle McGrath | November 9, 2019

You can now register to attend CiderCon® 2020–the world’s premiere industry event for the cider community. It’s taking place in sunny and happening Oakland, California at the Marriott from Tuesday, January 28-Friday, January 31.  What’s new at CiderCon®? We are glad you asked! After a brief hiatus, the 1/2 day orcharding seminar is back! This will happen on…

Stop Tax Increases

By Michelle McGrath | October 15, 2019

The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act EXPIRES at the end of 2019. The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act created critical but temporary excise tax credits for beer, wine, spirit and cider producers. This cross-sector cooperation was unprecedented, and the results have been clear—our industries create jobs, support farms, and bolster community…

The Gravensteins of Sonoma County

By Darlene Hayes | October 4, 2019

“What can I get for you?” I ask the next customer at the bar. “I don’t know. Do you have any cider made with Gravenstein apples?”, comes the reply. “All the ciders on our menu have some Gravenstein in them. What sort of cider do you like?” That’s a typical beginning conversation at the Craft…

Are You Overpaying Your Taxes?

By Michelle McGrath | October 3, 2019

Every week I speak with a producer that is unknowingly overpaying their taxes. Last week a quick email resulted in one of our smallest members getting a $700 tax refund. It’s understandable that people are confused about their taxes. In particular, I find there a misunderstanding that because the cider tax rate was expanded with…

Is your label compliant?

By Michelle McGrath | September 5, 2019

Since the enactment of the CIDER Act, the cider tax rate applies to products that are under 8.5% ABV, under 0.64 gram of carbon dioxide per 100 milliliters and contain no other fruit than apples or pears. As of January 1, 2019, the TTB is requiring all cider (not just cider >7% ABV) that qualifies…