Oregon Cider Week 2015

I could not be more excited to celebrate the awe-inspiring Northwest cider scene with you at these various events throughout the city during this year’s Oregon Cider Week. Please join me at one or many. See you soon!

THURSDAY June 18

Cider Appreciation Class, 7-10 PM
Over the course of three hours, “students” will taste 20+ ciders alongside Nat himself, all the while discussing the history of cider, regional differences in cidermaking techniques, and the developing cider culture in the US. The ciders we will drink include traditional English Westcountry, French style from Normandy, Spanish Basque and Asturian, and the emerging American style. Nearly everything we drink will be apple-only; there is just that much variety! This event is held in the taproom, is $45 per person and “class” size is limited to 20. Please arrive at 7 pm well-fed since we will serve no food. Advance registration required, seating is limited. Email carolyn@revnats.com or call 503-567-2221 to reserve your space.

FRIDAY June 19

Cider Summit Portland, 2-8 PM
We will be out in full force for this 5th anniversary event. Over 150 ciders from dozens of producers will be showcased and we will have a sneak peek of our summer seasonal The Passion alongside Revival Hard Apple, Hallelujah Hopricot and the bizarrely awesome ¡Tepache! 21+ only, $30 ticket available online: http://cidersummit.strangertickets.com/ and more details here: http://www.cidersummitnw.com/portlandeventinfo.html

Cider Summit After Party, 4-11 PM
Done with the Summit and want more cider? Come on over to the taproom for $1 off all 12 oz. cider pours with your Summit wristband including many ciders I didn’t bring to the Summit.

SATURDAY JUNE 20

We are throwing an unofficial Cider Summit After Party for the first time this year and I know you won’t drink to excess at the Summit so come on over. I’ll have special cider pricing of $1 off all 12 oz. cider pours with your Summit wristband still intact. And to make it a party, there will be live music by The Loudermilk Sisters covering the perfect harmony / early country band Louvin Brothers. Oh and of course, food trucks on site. Keep the party going!

SUNDAY JUNE 21

PICC Competition Judging, 4 PM
Join us in the taproom for the final Cup round of the 3rd Annual Portland International Cider Cup, the northwest’s premier cider competition. Watch celebrity judges award the Cup, schmooze with industry players and taste the winners starting at 4 PM.

MONDAY JUNE 22

Oregon Bartenders Guild Cider Class, 2-5 PM
OBG Members Only. If you’re a member of the Oregon Bartenders Guild, join Nat West and Dave Shenault at Raven & Rose for this special educational session on cidermaking. Topics include fruit selection and differences, pH and TA acidity and types, simple (fructose) vs complex (malt) sugar types, yeast selection (beer, wine, wild, non-saccharomyces), processing (filtration, conditioning, sulfites), blending, aging, etc. We will drink special bourbon barrel aged ciders from Rev Nat’s and other NW Cidermakers.

Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom Tap Takeover, 5-7 PM
Hang out with the Rev Nat and the rest of the crew at Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom and drink a bunch of ¡Tepache! blends including light hefeweizens, fruity saisons, bold IPAs, dark stouts and mega imperials.

Belmont Station Meet the Brewer, 5-7 PM
Cidermaker Chris will be on hand at the venerable Belmont Station to drink cider, talk cider and probably toss back a beer or two. Special ciders from the cellar will be available for this special night.

TUESDAY JUNE 23

Trifecta Cidermaker’s Dinner, 7-10 PM
Join Nat at Trifecta (his new favorite Portland restaurant) for a 5-course meal, each one paired with a cider. Don’t quote me on this, but we talked about pairing my Bartlett Amarillo with bitter greens salad, Sacrilege Sour Cherry with a nice duck, Revival Hard Apple with the salty ham & pears, Hallelujah Hopricot with a crispy and cheesy flat bread pizza and Deliverance Ginger Tonic with some fresh oysters. Watch this space for more information on the menu! Tickets required. And while Trifecta is child-friendly, this dinner will bore youngsters silly since I won’t serve them my delicious ciders.

The Civic Taproom Tap Takeover, 6-9 PM
Can’t make the Trifecta dinner? Come hang out at The Civic Taproom and Bottle Shop with the Rev Nat’s cidermaker crew and enjoy five ciders from the Rev Nat’s repertoire.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 24

OMSI After Dark, 7-11 PM
Drink up as the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry toasts the history, tradition and science that goes into crafting cider and other fruity treats. Join them for their first annual OMSI After Dark Cider & Seeds with samples from us and other Pacific Northwest cideries. And being OMSI, you’ll be able to have science fun such as shooting off water rockets, concocting chemical creations, and exploring the wonders of OMSI with no kids in sight! Watch aerialists fly overhead and enjoy a pint of cider while learning about the science behind stuff. 21+ only. No advance purchase required, just show up.

Rev Nat’s The Passion Release Party, 4-10 PM 
My acclaimed super-sour berlinerweisse-inspired summer seasonal is brought forth on this day at the taproom. Behold The Passion! My cider scientists proclaim that this is more than twice as tart as anything else I’ve produced so if you have too much tooth enamel, this might solve your problem. To help ease it down, enjoy some fine Hawaiian food from a local restaurant still TBD. (Noho’s? Ate-oh-Ate? Namu? 808 Grind?) No advance tickets needed, just come on down and bring cash for the food. 21+ only in the taproom.

The Beermongers Tap Takeover, 6-9 PM
If you aren’t the type to cross Broadway, then stop into The Beermongers to enjoy three rare ciders from Rev Nat’s and a chance to win some schwag.

Ned Ludd Cider Menu, 5 PM, today through Sunday
If a proper sit-down dinner at Portland’s finest all-wood cooking restaurant is your style, I have you covered. My friends at Ned Ludd are debuting a cider-soaked menu today and expressly to celebrate Oregon Cider Week. The details are under wraps until the moment of, but you can stop in any time Wednesday-Sunday to taste the offerings including specially paired ciders from me! Reservations are encouraged for the weekend.

THURSDAY JUNE 25

Revelation Night at the Public Taproom, 4-11 PM
Last fall, I collected 10 distinct apple varieties, fermented them all with the same yeast and backsweetened each just a touch. Every variable that I could control, I did. Now you get to taste a massive flight of single-variety heirloom ciders, each a member of the Revelation series. My gold medal winning Revelation Newtown Pippin will of course be on hand to focus your palate. This event is at the taproom and is, like always, 21+ only. No advance purchase is required, just come on down.

Eagle Rare Bourbon Barrel Aged Ciders Release Party, 6-10 PM
Back in January, my friends at Raven & Rose offered me a couple of freshly-dumped bourbon barrels. Now I’m never one to say no to a good used barrel of any kind, but these two were of a special provenance. You see, R&R has a habit of buying entire barrels of bourbon from various Kentucky distillers then using that single-barrel whiskey in their award-winning Old Fashioned cocktails. Yes, the barrels I was offered were two of these self-same barrels and they are Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon. So naturally, I’ve aged my flagship cider Revival Hard Apple in one and my spring seasonal Sacrilege Sour Cherry in the other. Aging for four months in these barrels created a taste treat unlike anything I’ve ever had. The Revival will be served alongside a neat glass of the original Eagle Rare bourbon as a boilermaker while the Sacrilege will be served as a Stone Fence cocktail with some bitters and a shot of the same Eagle Rare, maybe even a cherry. Fans of bourbon & cider must not miss this incredible event. 21+ only in the Rookery Bar at Raven & Rose, no advance purchase required.

FRIDAY JUNE 26

Dekum Triangle Cider Stroll, 4 PM
Here’s an idea: Walk around Northeast Portland’s awesome little Woodlawn neighborhood at the Dekum Triangle, trying over 20 ciders at six different venues including:

Stop in to any of the above establishments to pick up a menu & guide of all participating locations as well as details on the Firehouse Cidergarden special event (below). No advance purchase required, just enjoy your stroll around the neighborhood hunting for your favorite ciders and discovering new offerings. Food is available for purchase at any of the participating venues.

CANCELED!

Firehouse Cidergarden
In my opinion, the absolute best way to enjoy the Dekum Triangle Cider Stroll (see above) is by making sure you stop by the beautiful patio of Firehouse restaurant. We are taking over the entire place and will have a mini cider festival, one night only. I’ll be pouring cider alongside three of Oregon’s newest cidermakers that you may not have heard of, and we will all be on hand to talk and taste you through our offerings. Firehouse will be offering a limited menu for patio service. No advance purchase required, just show up and buy tasting tokens for $2 each at this family-friendly event. Look for the huge banner to know you’re in the right place.

Randall-Infused Rare Keg Night at the Public Taproom, 4-11 PM
My barman Jim plundered my home cider cellar to come up with a super-rare keg. Not content to just serve a tasty cider, he is insisting on passing it through our homemade randall. I have no idea what ingredients he is planning on stuffing in there (not just hops, I’m sure!) but expect something intense. Visit my taproom for the fun, 21+ only.

SATURDAY JUNE 27

Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider 2nd Anniversary Party, 12-11 PM
Here it is: The party I’ve been waiting for. Join me and the entire Rev Nat’s crew as we celebrate two entire years in our Public Cidery & Taproom. I’ll bring out the jockey boxes to showcase 20 ciders including 12 from my stash and 8 guests ciders of the highest caliber. Our buddy DJ Dickel will be spinning tunes well into the evening and I’ll have a huge pile of free Otto’s sausages if you get there in time to enjoy one. The street shall be closed for this awesome 21+ only party.

SUNDAY JUNE 28

Hangover Recovery Brunch at Hop & Vine 10 AM
The craft cider lovers at NoPo’s The Hop & Vine have offered up their dining room to those of us who may have imbibed too much during Saturday night’s festivities. They’ve concocted a perfect pairings of cider and breakfast foods and will be offering cider mimosas for those needing a pick-me-up.