Nine Pin Marks its 5th 26er Challenge Highlighting the Depth and Nuance of Cider
(Albany, N.Y.) – Nine Pin Ciderworks, New York’s first farm cidery, announces its highly anticipated 2026 26er Challenge. The biennial 26er Challenge started in 2016, and has become one of the cidery’s most beloved and ambitious traditions and a must-do experience for cider enthusiasts across the Northeast.
Registration is now open, and the first cider will be released on March 30. Nine Pin is ready to welcome participants as they begin the year-long journey of tasting 26 unique small-batch ciders over 52 weeks.
Those who complete the challenge earn the coveted title of “Nine Pin 26er,” unlocking exclusive perks for life including happy hour pricing, access to limited and special cider releases and events, and an invitation to Nine Pin’s legendary 26er Party at the conclusion of the challenge, which will be held next year at the Albany Capital Center. Those who completed a challenge in previous years are still incentivized to complete another in order to climb the ranks of Silver, Gold and Platinum for even more perks.
New for 2026, Nine Pin is also introducing expanded participation options, including the launch of 26er Teams. Aspiring 26ers can now form a team of five or more and tackle the 26er Challenge together. Team participation does not affect individual 26er status, it just adds an extra layer of challenge. Every team member must complete all 26 ciders for the team to qualify, and each finishing team member earns a raffle entry for a chance to win a 2-hour open cider bar party on Nine Pin’s production floor. Bigger teams mean more chances to win, and more pressure to show up. The raffle winner will be announced at the 2026 26er Party, with the prize redeemable by March 31, 2028. Team registration opens in late March, stay tuned for details.
Since its inception, the 26er Challenge has seen remarkable growth, expanding from 358 participants in its inaugural year to 1,900 in 2024, a testament to Nine Pin’s loyal following and the continued rise of craft cider throughout the region.
“The 26er Challenge is about community, curiosity, and celebrating the craft,” said Alejandro del Peral, Co-Owner and Head Cidermaker at Nine Pin Cider. “Every small-batch cider tells a story, and the 26er experience invites people to explore new cider varieties while being part of something bigger than themselves.”
In keeping with Nine Pin’s commitment to environmental stewardship, a portion of the proceeds from the 26er endeavor are donated to the Adirondack Mountain Club’s (ADK) Summit Stewardship Program, which protects fragile alpine vegetation and educates hikers in the Adirondack High Peaks region. To date, the 26er Challenge has raised more than $30,000 in support of ADK’s Summit Stewardship efforts.
“Supporting the Summit Stewards aligns perfectly with our values,” del Peral added. “Just as we support the careful use of New York agricultural lands through crafting our cider, it’s important to take care of the forever wild landscapes that make New York such a special place.”
Additional challenge information, a link to register, level benefits, and the full cider release schedule are available at https://www.ninepincider.com/
Cider enthusiasts can enjoy Nine Pin’s fresh-pressed hard ciders seven days a week in their Tasting Room located in Albany’s increasingly popular Warehouse District, at retailers across New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey and at bars and restaurants who carry Nine Pin products. Nine Pin’s online stores serve fans throughout New York and across the United States.
For more information about Nine Pin, visit, www.ninepincider.com.
