Wintertime may be the quietest season, but the news about cider was loud and clear: Hard cider is (still) on the rise and more professionals are getting involved in the industry than ever before. Those trends were evident at the cider community’s annual CiderCon gathering, in market research and, anecdotally, as journalists explored cider’s heritage in regional publications. Oh, and smoked cider to boot!
Here are Cidercraft’s picks for craft cider stories in the news this season.
CiderCon In The Books
The 15th annual CiderCon®, the leading conference for cider industry professionals from across the globe, took place in Chicago in February. A fact sheet from the American Cider Association, the conference organizer, reported 850 attendees from 40 U.S. states and 13 countries. According to Brewbound, nearly half of them were first-time participants.
Shortly after the conference, the New York Cider Association (NYCA) released a widely published recap explaining The Empire State’s key role in the event. Scott Ramsey, the NYCA’s executive director, received the Significant Impact on the Industry Award; several of New York’s cidermakers and retailers were honored in the annual awards ceremony; numerous New York cider experts delivered presentations; and the NY Cider Pop-Up 2025 showcased a curated selection of top ciders from the state. Read the full release on Morning Ag Clips.
CiderCon 2026 is slated for February 3-6, 2026, in Providence, Rhode Island.
Cider and Beer Worlds Continue To Collide
In Colorado, Stem Ciders’ parent company Wilding Brands (which also includes Howdy Beer, Funkwerks and Easy Living Hop Water) integrated Denver Beer Company into its portfolio. Read more about this growing craft beverage conglomerate in the Denver Post.
Cider Heritage In The Centennial State
The first recorded apple orchard in Colorado was established in what’s now the town of Florence in 1847, and the industry has grown immensely since. It shows no signs of stopping, either. Author Gabe Toth explores local orcharding and cidermaking traditions, climate and soil, and conservation — among other topics — in this in-depth Colorado Sun article.
Cider On The Rise
The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) reported in the Beer Purchasers Index that the cider segment continues to grow — it posted a December 2024 reading at 38. It was 32 for December 2023. Craft Brewing Business dissected the index.
IRI data cites Oregon-based 2 Towns Ciderhouse as the #2 top seller in U.S. grocery store sales in the cider category. Angry Orchard remains at #1. A press release from the cidery marks this accomplishment on the heels of a huge year of growth and accolades — including recognition as Cidermaker of the Year at GLINTCAP, Cidermaker of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival and Large Producer of the Year at the Northwest Cider Cup.
Smokin’ Hard Cider
Smoked beverages are all the rage right now. Ahead of the curve, Absolem Cider Company in Maine first started experimenting with smoking apples for cider three years ago. Their latest smoked-apple hard cider, Spur, debuted in January. Learn more about their smoking process in DownEast.
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