Cider is now officially the fastest growing drinks category in the world. Really though. Cider sales were up 10% in 2018. The enthusiasm and appreciation for this craft beverage is growing and the opportunities for education are following suit.
Certification programs for beer, wine, and spirits have been around for years with distinctions ranging from Certified Server to Master Cicerone and Master Sommelier. Cider only had one level, comparable to certified beer and wine servers, until very recently.
Here comes the game changer. For the first time in U.S. history, there’s a chance to become a Certified Pommelier. We will most definitely raise a glass to that. A cider glass, of course!
WHAT’S A POMMELIER?
The term was coined in the United Kingdom (because of course the UK did it first). Anyway, Jane Peyton became the UK’s first Pommelier accredited by the Beer & Cider Academy this past September, so it’s still super super new. Thanks to The United States Association of Cider Makers, we are not far behind.
A Pommelier is to cider as a Cicerone is to beer, and as a Sommelier is to wine. In other words, it’s an officially recognized accreditation for the cider industry. The exam can only be taken in person, and the pilot exam is making its debut at CiderCon next week. Cider history is being made…NBD.
THE GOAL HERE?
Educate, inform, and change perceptions of cider. The cider industry is undoubtedly growing. New cidermakers are emerging all over the world, and appreciation for craft cider is catching on. But, there’s a big but. People still have a lot to learn about cider. Just like great wine, great cider respects the fruit and the process, but that’s not a fact everyone’s familiar with. The USACM hopes increased awareness will help the cider industry to further sustain this growth.
SIGN US UP
But really! We live and breathe the craft beverage industry, so we are constantly seeking opportunities expand our knowledge base. Our expertise is rooted in marketing and craft beverage, and we’re always developing both. As cider is concerned, getting certified is our obvious next step.
Our end goal? Stand among some of America’s first official pommeliers. Here we go! We officially are adding it to our 2019 to-do list. Really, we ordered the books and everything.
Currently in our library, you’ll find Ciderology by Gabe Cook and Tasting Cider: The CIDERCRAFT Guide by Erin James. First impressions? These are two very different books written from two very different perspectives. The first was written by the guy who created the Pommelier accreditation scheme in the UK.
Gabe Cook is a witty Brit with the ability to captivate a reader’s interest from the very beginning. More importantly, he keeps it from the origin story of cider through the craft revolution and beyond. Personally, we flew through the first four chapters in one evening. There’s all sorts of fun facts layered in these pages. For example, the first bubbly was of the cider variety, not wine. Mind blown, right?
Our second pick is put together by CIDERCRAFT, North America’s first print publication dedicated to hard cider. We can tell already this will be our very best companion for tastings. This guide outlines the 11 variations of cider very graphically. Literally so many graphics and recipes, guys. BTWs, we are definitely looking forward to tasting nights and crafting our own cider cocktails. #Research
JOIN US
In case you couldn’t tell, we’re super excited to start our cider learning journey. You can keep tabs on us by following us on Insta and Facebook. Or send us an email and we’ll start a book club. Kidding. Not kidding.