Celebrating Valentine's Day with a cider news roundup

Valentine’s Day is a day for sweetness. So, instead of some “beers to know this week,” let’s see what’s new in ciders.

Blake’s Beverage goes big on Imperial ciders

Imperial ciders are among the fastest growing styles in total beer sales nationwide, according to the American Cider Association, and Blake’s Beverage Company is driving the bandwagon.

“Off-premise sales for the cider category are up, and Imperials are helping grow the segment by introducing inventive flavor profiles and new occasions for cider consumption in grab-and-go formats like 19.2s,” said Andrew Blake, CEO Blake’s Beverage Company. “As America’s drink, cider is the real fruit forward hard beverage consumers are looking for, and we’re just getting started on innovating and showing everything cider can be.”

Blake’s debuted in 2023 as the collaborative voice of three leading cider brands, Blake’s Hard Cider, Austin Eastciders, and AVID Cider Co. It is on a mission to rekindle America’s passion for cider and fruit-forward beverages.

As the collaborative partnership of three industry leading cideries, Blake’s Beverage Company entered 2024 as the nation’s second largest cider company with a strong national distribution footprint, expanded distribution, and ongoing investments in product innovation and brand development.

Keep an eye out for these three best sellers this Valentine’s Day (and any other day):

Austin Eastciders’ Imperial Tropical Punch (8.3% ABV), which launched as the top-selling on-site package at Austin City Limits in 2023, has grown Texas-wide presence with the introduction of 19.2 oz cans. This brilliant ruby-red punch showcases pineapple, passionfruit, and guava in every drop. Well-balanced tartness, plus a high ABV backbone, make this a delicious cider go-to for the holiday of love.

American Apple Imperial Hard Cider (8% ABV), the fastest growing flagship of Michigan’s top-selling cidery, Blake’s Hard Cider, debuted as its first-released imperial cider in 2022. Made from the finest, freshest blend of five apple varietals grown in the Midwest, American Apple brings big, authentic apple flavor to this gluten-free sensation. Blake’s tripled distribution of American Apple in 2023 and reported a rate of sale increase of 85% for the rapidly growing brand year-over-year. Full flavor for a full Valentine’s Day celebration.

Blueberry Pom Imperial (8.5% ABV) is a big, berry-forward cider from Oregon-based Avid Cider Co., which represents Blake’s Beverage Company’s growing presence throughout the largest apple-growing region of the US. Blueberry Pom Imperial is a whirlpool of juicy blueberry flavor complimented by notes of romantic pomegranate. This imperial cider pours a deep magenta color, reminiscent of freshly crushed blueberries and a beautiful color for Valentine’s Day.

“Increasing cider’s accessibility and bringing a variety of fruit-forward flavors to market is critical to cider’s position as a competitive category in beverage alcohol,” said Blake. “With the introduction of Blake’s Beverage Company last year, we’re in the pole position to lead the industry in real fruit-forward, full-bodied beverages consumers have been looking for.”

Cider Excellence Awards

The American Cider Association (ACA) announced the recipients of their annual Cider Excellence Awards at CiderCon 2024 in Portland, honoring individuals, businesses, and organizations from around the country for their achievements in, and contributions to, the U.S. hard cider industry. Award Winners Included:

Award for Significant Impact on the Industry | Emily Ritchie, Executive Director, NW Cider Association
Award for Significant Impact on the Industry | Brighid O’Keane, Executive Director, Cider Institute of North America
Apple Advocate Award | Representative Earl Blumenauer, Oregon
Apple Advocate Award | Jake Mann, Five Mile Orchard, California
Member of the Year | Ploughman Cider, Pennsylvania
Member of the Year | Seattle Cider, Washington

The highest honor given each year is the award for “Significant Impact on the Cider Industry,” which this year went to Emily Ritchie of Northwest Cider Association for her admirable work promoting the cider industry for the Northwest region (OR, WA, ID, MT & British Columbia), and Brighid O’Keane of Cider Institute of North America for her global efforts to provide rigorous education on quality cider production.

In addition, US Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon was awarded the “Apple Advocate Award” for his enduring commitment to level the playing field for cideries through legislation, as well as orchardist Jake Mann for his ongoing partnership with the cider community through his historic family ranch, Five Mile Orchard. “Member of the Year” awards were given to both Seattle Cider of Washington and Ploughman Cider of Pennsylvania for their ongoing efforts to give back to their communities and the cider industry.

“This is one of my favorite moments at CiderCon each year, when we gather together as a community to celebrate people committed to moving the dial for cider,” says Michelle McGrath, CEO of the ACA. “It’s truly humbling to see how much passion and hard work goes into supporting and growing this industry.”

Now in its 9th year, the Excellence Awards were held on January 18th, 2024 at CiderCon, the ACA’s annual conference, which took place this year in Portland, Oregon from January 17 – January 19, 2024.