A Beer Girl in a Cider World

Written by Winsome Lewis

(A stickered-up Nalgene water bottle to keep myself hydrated at elevation and my reusable tasting glass. I was surprised to see a, no kidding, glass tasting glass...shattering was definitely an issue in some cases as the festival went on.)

When the slopes aren’t quite ski ready, Copper Mountain opens its doors to engage the beer thirsty and cider eager population. The Colorado Cider and Beer Circus hosted 27,000 guests with 29 breweries and cideries from local favorites to visiting Brewmasters the weekend of August 26th and 27th. Complete with a cider tasting class, a food truck, and a dog-friendly atmosphere, I, a beer lover, entered the grounds of cidery with an open mind and an open mouth (I mean, not actually because bugs, but you get what I’m saying).

Not well-versed in ciders, this festival was completely user-friendly for me. Each guest received a re-usable tasting glass and were released into the array of tents to explore various ciders. Most of the vendors had at least two ciders to sample, ranging from watermelon, to fall specialties (I had a great pumpkin cider from Wild Cider that will make any girl with a pumpkin spice addiction very happy), to high-hopped ciders (I didn’t know you could describe a cider as hoppy; I learned a lot), to jalapeño infusions, and berry varieties. Guests were encouraged to try as many ciders as possible, comparing sweetness, saltiness, floral hints, and that cider shimmer. Beer enthusiasts, eager to try new drinks, but maybe needing a palate break, were able to fall back on some favorite brews from Tivoli, Epic Brewing, High Hops, Grimm Brothers, Pikes Peak Brewing, and others. (This will be my only moment to discuss beer, so I’ll make it quick. Tivoli had their original recipe brew in addition to their Hoppy-Marzen, a collaboration beer with Thirst Colorado. What a delight to sample both of these beers! The original recipe is not a hard beer to drink: the German style golden lager is smooth, light, and crisp. Followed by the Hoppy-Marzen, the extra weight of the woodsy, Oktoberfest-style beer created a smooth transition from golden to brown. Both beers were excellent, leaving me wanting to refill my tasting glass multiple times. However, wanting a solid cider education, I resisted).

Backed by 80's music and small circus performers, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the festival. I felt encouraged and welcomed to try lots of different ciders. Learning my tastes and preferences for ciders was never easier as the tasting was judgment free. My experience in the drinking world has made me cautious to delve into new tastes and brews, as you are always on the lookout for the ever present 'beer snob.' Sometimes used as a self-defined term, interactions with beer snobs can be positive or negative. However, the cider snobs, the lesser known, just as indignant drinking population, are intimidating for me to interact with. The vendors and other guests were nothing to fear as the environment of easy drinking and sampling encouraged you to try something new just for the sake of taste exploration.

As a woman with a beer preference, my palate has been shaped to find wheats, hops, and clove flavors. Trying ciders with limited knowledge of the cider-brew process allowed me to sample beverages and experience flavors from a strictly sensorial perspective. I could rely on taste alone to discover what was good for me and what I wouldn’t try again. Some of my favorites were Bump and Rind from Boulder Beer, the Habanero Cider from Finn River, the Pumpkin from Wild Cider, and the Sangria Cider from the Portland Cider Company.

Colorado had a big alcohol weekend August 26th-27th and Coloradans had to choose between this Cider and Beer Circus, Tour de Fat in Fort Collins (a New Belgium Brewing Company hosted event exciting bike enthusiasts and craft beer lovers), the San Juan Brew Fest in Durango, Glendale’s Bruises and Brews Beerfest (engaging rugby fans), and the Steers and Beers Brew Fest in Colorado Springs (hosted at Antler’s Lodge complete with a mechanical bull. I don’t think I would mix my beers and bulls, but hey, that’s just me). No matter where you are in Colorado, beer is close at hand. I would highly recommend the Beer and Cider Circus for those already sold on ciders and those wanting to get out of their drinking comfort zone and take a whack at the cider life. Cheers!