Bauman's Best in Show, perfect score

What’s your beverage of pleasure: a gold-medal-winning, red-fleshed Best in Show or an unprecedented perfect-score Endless Harvest new release?

That’s a pickle posed by our own regional Bauman Cider Company which proved once again to be a contender of note at the Northwest Cider Cup during its Thursday, June 20, awards ceremony. The company’s Mountain Rose SV captured Best in Show and a gold medal in the Red Fleshed Cider category, while the novel Endless Harvest scored a perfect 50 while also garnering a gold medal in the High Tannin Dry Cider category.

Bauman spokeswoman Lyndsay Dyk noted that the perfect score is the first awarded in NW Cider Cup history, dating back to its 2012 inception.

Overall, Bauman Cider was once again recognized as the region’s Mid-Sized Cidery of the Year as it collected seven medals for individual ciders. The annual accolade has been a Bauman benchmark since 2019, consistently earning distinction in small and medium-sized categories.

Lyndsay noted that Bauman’s tied for overall runner up with Endless Harvest. Additionally, Bauman proprietors were excited to see Kristof Farms receive two medals and major recognition as Small Cidery of the Year -- a three-way tie -- as Bauman founder and head cider maker Christine Walter and her team craft the Kristof Farms cider at Bauman’s Cider using fruit grown from the Kristof family farm.

"Winning Best of Show and achieving a perfect score are incredible honors," Christine said. "These awards are a testament to the dedication and passion of our team, and we are thrilled to be recognized for our commitment to excellence in cider making."

The accomplishments highlight a banner year for the cidery, during which it expanded operations to include an urban cidery in southeast Portland in addition to its Gervais-based estate cidery.

In April Bauman’s opened cider restaurant and taproom Bauman’s on Oak within its Portland cidery, underlining the connection and potential shared between cider and Oregon’s culinary community.

Company sources stress that guests at Bauman’s on Oak can explore a world of cider through thoughtful food pairings from chef Daniel Green with more than 30 cider taps showcasing Bauman’s award-winning ciders, and community-focused hospitality.

International element

In May, Christine became the first American cider maker to take home 5 medals from the International Cider and Brewing Awards competition.

“The world is beginning to see that the future of American craft beverage is American Cider, and Oregon has a big part to play in that,” Christine said. “At Bauman’s Cider Co, I believe our cider tells that story.”