September 4

Cyber Sips

Cider Summit Seattle Goes Virtual.

The Cider Summit Seattle event has been a late-summer staple in South Lake Union for years, but due to COVID-19 restrictions and safety concerns, there won’t be any in-person tastings in 2020. In a show of ingenuity spurred by a global pandemic, the annual celebration of the fermented fruit beverage is going virtual.

The Summit is partnering with Northwest Cider Association to create a virtual event through Zoom. Participants could opt for a Bottled Classic Tasting Kit (featuring Alpenfire, Chatter Creek, Finnriver, Liberty, and Snowdrift) or a Modern Tasting Kit (featuring Bad Granny, Herb’s Schilling, Incline, Seattle, Tieton, and Yonder). Each kit also includes a bottle of the event’s 2020 collaboration cider, Virtue Salut!, plus stemware, a bar towel, and other goodies. Those who snapped up the kits before sales ended will receive a special code for the virtual Summit, which includes a greeting from the event’s founder, Alan Shapiro, NWCA’s executive director, Emily Ritchie, and a performance from of Oregon Music Hall of Famer “Boogie Cat” Norman Sylvester.

Seattle Cider Summit tasting kit offering; includes a bar towel with logo, 2 tasting glasses, and various ciders.

The annual Summit is part of a series of thirst-quenching events that make up Washington Cider Week from Septemeber 10–20. Cideries from all over the state are offering tasting kits, special socially distanced pickup options, and more. For a dose of cider education, check out Sip Magazine’s “The Full Pour” on Facebook Live on September 10 at 5pm PST. The show will include a tasting panel and plenty of apple education.

While sales for the Cider Summit Seattle tasting kits have closed, you can get your fill of Washington and Northwest ciders at Downtown Spirits, which is currently celebrating its eighth anniversary, or Whole Foods Market at Westlake.

Story by Ethan Chung and photographs courtesy Cider Summit Seattle.


At The Center

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