Preview: CiderCon & Oregon Cider Week 2024

I can’t recall another time in Portland, since the Craft Brewers Conference in 2015, when the local beverage industry was so excited for such a huge industry wide series of events.

So please believe me when I tell you… this is a big fuggin’ deal!

Cidermakers from around the world, as we speak, are already on their way to participate in The American Cider Association’s biggest event of the year, CiderCon 2024 (January 16-19), which has been synced up with Oregon Cider Week (January 13-21) and expected to draw thousands attendees for tours, tastings, educational workshops, networking opportunities, a trade show, and after hours events.

If you’re not familiar with CiderCon, the official proceedings will take place Wednesday through Friday at the Oregon Convention Center (schedule here) and requires registration which can be completed here. Truth be told, most industry folks have already registered, so if you’ve gotten this far I’d surmise you’re more interested in all the events happening concurrently around the Portland-metro area, which I’ll be going into heavy detail about below.

Truth be told, “Portlanders drink more cider per capita than any other city,” according to ACA CEO, Michelle McGrath, which is just one reason it’s so huge to have CiderCon back in town for the first time in eight years. And while craft beer had a quite year, it wasn’t quite the same for Cider. Last year regional and local cider sales were up 10.4% over a 52 week period ending September 9th 2023. The growth of this 1.8 billion dollar industry in North America is currently outpacing craft beer growth and is on a trajectory to continue growing at least 3% annually.

The excitement surrounding this year’s events is palpable being that we get the rare chance to meet the cidermakers themselves and to further revel in all the variety and unique flavors from the Pacific Northwest or better yet, those we’ve never had available in the region until now. So whether you enjoy hard cider or are simply cider-curious, the next eleven days in the Portland area are not to be missed!

That said, here’s a breakdown of everything to keep an eye on next week, which are primarily Oregon Cider Week events, can be found on an interactive calendar via their website. They’re projecting to have over 100 events over the next 11ish days, so be sure to plan ahead.

CiderCon & Oregon Cider Week
Scheduled Events

• Sat. Jan 13 4-8PM | Wassail! at Stone Circle Cider.
  
• Mon. Jan 15 5PM-9PM | Portland’s best pizza and ciders at Pizza Thief Meet the (Cider)Maker Monday brings all 5 alumni back: Bauman’s Cider, Seattle Cider, Raw Cider, Stray Cider, and Yonder Cider.
• Mon. Jan 15 3PM-5PM | Oregon Cider Week Official Kickoff Party at Loyal Legion Portland (SE 6th Ave).
• Mon. Jan 15 6PM-8PM | @southhillcider Fiddle playin’ cider drinking’ tap takeover at @the_place_pdx.
  
• Tues. Jan 16 | Special tasting at Lil Spirit Deli featuring Son of the Smith Hard Cider from Japan.
• Tues. Jan 16 6PM | Social Goods: Beer & Pizza Night at Social Goods Market in Newberg.
• Tues. Jan 16 7PM | Cider Trivia Night with Portland Cider at The Growler Guys South Waterfront in Portland.
• Tues. Jan 16 7PM-9PM | Seattle Cider, 2 Towns Cider, and Schilling Cider Tap Takeover at Birdie Time Pub, Portland’s Best Mini Golf Pub & Sports Bar.
  
• Wed, Jan 17 | OMSI After Dark CiderFest, hosted by 2 Towns Cider & Michigan Cider Night at Schilling Ciderhouse PDX.
• Wed, Jan 17 – Sun, Jan 21 | Femme Faire at Portland Ciderhouse benefiting Pink Boots Society.
• Wed. Jan 17 5:30PM | 2 Towns Ciderhouse BINGO! at 2 Towns Cider in Corvallis.
• Wed. Jan 17 6:30PM | Pint of Science at Working Hands Fermentation Working Hands Beer in Hood River.
• Wed. Jan 17 6:30PM | Oregon Cider Week Bingo Night at Champions Hillsboro hosted by Portland Cider.
  
• Thurs, Jan 18 6PM-8PM | NY Cider Pop Up! with @newyorkcider at Metropolitan Tavern
• Thurs, Jan 18 6:30PM-8PM |Taste of the Nordics at Norse Hall featuring @hanen.no, @aldesider, @balholm.no, @brannlandcider, @ciderhuset, Edel Sider, @fruktstero, @pomologik, @tallship_cider
• Thurs. Jan 18 7PM | Team Trivia at Working Hands Fermentation Working Hands Beer in Hood River
• Thurs. Jan 18 7PM | Mean Girls Trivia at Portland Cider Westside Pub in Beaverton.
• Thurs. Jan 18 6PM-8PM | Meet the Maker – Cidermaker’s Chat with Schilling Cider, 2 Towns Cider, and Seattle Cider at John’s Marketplace – SE Powell.
  
• Friday, Jan 19 4PM | Barrel Aged & Wild featuring 8 different ciders at @imperialbottleshop
• Friday, Jan 19-Sunday Jan 21 | PDX Cider Week Showcase at @pinestreetmarketpdx.
• Fri. Jan 19 6PM-10PM | @queenorchardpremium at @aleandciderhouse in West Linn.
• Fri. Jan 19 5PM-8PM | @frukstereo and @art_science_cider_wine Meet the Makers at @the_place_pdx
  
• Sat. Jan 20 12PM-4PM | Art+Science Drop-In Open House at @art_science_cider_wine
• Sat. Jan 20 1PM-4PM | Artisans by @cidersummit (tickets required)
• Sat. Jan 20 3PM-8PM | 7th annual @mcmenamins Wassail Cider Fest at @mcmenimansimbriehall
• Saturday, Jan. 20 3PM-9PM | Co-Ferment and Pet-Nat Night at @imperialbottleshop