Schilling Hard Cider declares October to be National Cider Month
Seattle, WA based Schilling Hard Cider has the largest cider taplist in the country at their Portland location, and now plans to launch the first national cider month in the country as well. Fall is apple harvest season, so choosing October for a National Cider Month makes sense for this burgeoning initiative to raise awareness about the history, craft, and versatility of hard cider in America. Highlights include cider maker dinners with notable local Top Chef alum Chef Sara Hauman, rare tastings of limited-release hard ciders, tap takeovers, collaborations with other locally renowned PNW cideries, and giveaways. It remains to be seen if other cideries will jump onboard Schilling Cider’s one brand push to make October a national cider month.
More from a press release:
Washington State, known as “America’s Apple State,” produces exceptional hard ciders with their own distinct terroir and a unique sense of place. With its plentiful rainfall and mild summers, the Pacific Northwest’s climate provides the ideal backdrop for growing an abundance of apple varieties, making it the largest-growing apple region in the country. Schilling Hard Cider is committed to championing the region’s high-quality artisanal hard ciders and their makers.
Schilling Hard Cider will host two cider maker dinners and additional events to celebrate National Cider Month while highlighting other local cideries producing hard ciders from Pacific Northwest apples.
Cider Maker Dinners: The two flagship events include cider maker dinners with Top Chef alum Chef Sara Hauman — one in Seattle, WA, on Saturday, October 8, and one in Portland, OR, on Saturday, October 15. 100% of the proceeds from both dinners will be donated to Northwest Harvest and Feeding America. Each dinner will offer a four-course gluten-free menu showcasing the region’s local heirloom apples, paired with unique hard ciders and hard cider cocktails.
General Admission ($120) and VIP Tickets ($200) are now available for purchase. Throughout the month, on social media Schilling will offer ticket giveaways to each Cider Maker Dinner, including hotel stays in Seattle and Portland.
Cider House Events: During October, the Schilling Cider Houses in both Portland and Seattle will feature outstanding local cideries with weekly tap takeovers, rare and unique cider releases, and educational events.
Seasonal Schilling Hard Cider: A Pacific Northwest best-selling seasonal flavor, Schilling’ Chaider, made in collaboration with Kinglet Tea of Portland’s custom chai tea blend, will be on tap at the Schilling Cider Houses and available in cans all month.
ABOUT SCHILLING HARD CIDER and NATIONAL CIDER MONTH
Schilling Hard Cider is a homegrown, hand-crafted hard cider company born out of Washington. The Seattle-based cidery is the largest fresh-pressed cider maker in the U.S. and makes a variety of hand-crafted hard ciders with locally sourced ingredients. Commitment to capturing the essence of the Pacific Northwest, Schilling creates hard ciders that are deliberately innovative, distinct, and flavor-forward. With an eye towards sustainability, Schilling incorporates culls (imperfect apples), sources locally-grown ingredients, and responsibly processes and cans their ciders in the region. Schilling’s ciders are vegan, gluten and GMO-free, and fresh-pressed with no artificial ingredients. More on Schilling Hard Cider’s National Cider Month can be found here.
ABOUT NORTHWEST HARVEST
Northwest Harvest is Washington State’s leading hunger relief agency. In addition to ensuring access to healthy food for those suffering from hunger, they aim to shift public opinion and change policies and practices that perpetuate hunger, poverty and disparities.
ABOUT FEEDING AMERICA
Feeding America is the largest charity working to end hunger in the United States. They partner with food banks, food pantries, and local food programs to bring food to people facing hunger, advocating for policies that create long-term solutions to hunger.
ABOUT CHEF SARA HAUMAN
Sara Hauman, a recent Top Chef alum, is a well-known and respected Pacific Northwest chef. Over the years, she has worked with numerous renowned James Beard Award-winning chefs and Michelin-starred restaurants. Sara currently resides in Portland, where she owns and operates a tinned fish company, Tiny Fish Co., specializing in sourcing and tinning sustainable fish species in the Pacific Northwest waters.