Cider at the 20th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival

NEW FOR 2013! The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is proud to present cider alongside traditional craft beer at the Grand Tasting on Saturday, September 14th. Come sample some of Colorado’s finest cider in Telluride Town Park from 12-3pm. Colorado Cider Company and Big B’s Hard Cider will be bringing a combined four flavors of tasty cider.

Having cider at the Grand Tasting is a first for Blues & Brews and we are very excited to welcome these two Colorado cideries to the festival. “Cider is a hand-crafted product worthy of acknowledgement and exposure” says Steve Gumble, owner and founder of SBG Productions. “There are many similarities between beer and cider with respect to the variety of styles and flavors. The bottom line is that they are fun to drink”.

Cider has been increasing in popularity over the years as drinkers seeking an alternative to beer increased U.S. volumes 20 percent in 2011, contrasting with a 2 percent decline in beer. While major beer conglomerates have moved into the cider market, cider drinkers tend to prefer small, local brands to larger names that try to be all things to all markets. This is especially true in the state of Colorado where residents are known for being particular towards locally grown or produced products.

Cider from Colorado is a truly ‘home grown’ industry. Globally imported apples that compete with local orchards for market share put pressure on the Colorado apple industry. Cider-makers rely on bitter apples to make cider. Apples like Foxwhelp, Kingston Black, and Harry Masters Jersey are commonly used as they ferment well and make a thicker cider. The ever-growing demand for bittersweet apples led cider-makers like Big B’s Hard Cider (Paonia, CO) and Colorado Cider Company (Denver, CO) to focus heavily on their own orchards.

Colorado Cider Company will be bringing Glider Cider and Grasshop-ah. Glider is their flagship dry cider. Crisp, tart and drinkable. Grasshop-ah is a marriage between cider with hops (flowers) and Lemon Grass. Big B’s Hard Cider will be bringing their Orchard Apple Hard Cider (slightly sweet) and their Traditional Dry Hard Cider. Look for Big B’s in brewer tent #1 and Colorado Cider Company in brewer tent #3 on the festival grounds.