Portland Cider Co. Receives Best In Class Trophy at International Cider Awards
The 2024 International Brewing and Cider Awards were held this week in Manchester and London, United Kingdom and one local cidery came out on top. Portland Cider Company took home two awards, including the coveted Best-in-Class trophy for its Original Gold. This is the first time in the competition’s 136-year history that a U.S. cidery has been awarded this trophy.
Original Gold Cider, the company’s most-awarded cider and earned its 12th gold medal at this year’s competition. Then to top it all of, the cider received the Best-in-Class trophy during the awards ceremony.
“Of course we aspire to our cider being among the best in the world. But I admit, I was speechless when I heard that our industry peers awarded us the top honor at the competition,” said Portland Cider co-founder Jeff Parrish. “The judges are all active cidermakers from around the world. It’s a huge honor to be recognized like this by our peers, and humbling to share this award with such a long line of excellent cidermakers.”
A three-day judging process to decide the medal winners took place in March 2024 at Depot Mayfield in Manchester, United Kingdom, and comprised 38 working professionals in the brewing and cidermaking industries from across the globe. The trophies were awarded at what organizers refer to as “the industry’s ‘Oscars’’’ in a ceremony on May 1st in London. Of the 115 beer and cider medals, just 13 were awarded trophies—one in each class. Original Gold competed in the classic cider category.
In addition to Original Gold’s accolades, Portland Cider Company’s own English Pub Cider earned a silver medal at the competition. Bauman’s Cider and 2 Towns Ciderhouse brought multiple medals back to Oregon, as well.
“I’m so proud that our company was able to shine during the competition, and I think it’s a triumph for Oregon ciders overall,” said Lynda Parrish, co-founder of Portland Cider. “For three Oregon cideries to bring home medals from my home country, the birthplace of cider, speaks volumes about how strong our local cider industry is. It feels very full-circle to me.”
Original Gold, English Pub Cider, and all of Portland Cider’s creations can be found at retailers throughout the West using the Cider Finder on the company’s website.
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.