World Cider Cup Is Here: A New Era of International Recognition for Cider

Cider has a place on the world stage, and in 2027, for the first time, cider will have its own dedicated international competition at the World Beer Cup.

With Certified Pommeliers leading the judging, the 2027 World Cider Cup puts cider expertise, craftsmanship, and global diversity front and center.

The Brewers Association has officially opened registration for the 2027 World Beer Cup, and with it comes an exciting new chapter for the cider industry: the inaugural World Cider Cup.

For years, cider has been included alongside beer in the World Beer Cup. Beginning in 2027, that recognition takes an important step forward with a standalone competition designed specifically to celebrate the diversity, technical skill, and craftsmanship of cider producers around the world.

And there is something particularly important about how this competition will be judged. The World Cider Cup will feature dedicated judges who hold the American Cider Association's Certified Pommelier™ designation, bringing specialized cider knowledge and sensory expertise to the evaluation process.

As Certified Pommeliers, we understand that cider is more than fermented apple juice. It is an agricultural product shaped by fruit varieties, growing conditions, regional traditions, fermentation choices, and the cidermaker's creativity. Evaluating cider requires an understanding of all these elements, and the World Cider Cup creates an opportunity to recognize that expertise on an international stage.

The World Cider Cup builds on the World Beer Cup's established reputation and judging framework while giving cider its own dedicated identity.

Developed through a partnership between the Brewers Association and the American Cider Association (ACA), the competition will bring together international cider producers and a judging panel made up exclusively of global ACA Certified Pommeliers™.

This is an important distinction.

One of the most exciting developments is the expansion of cider styles recognized in the competition.

The 2027 World Cider Cup introduces additional categories that reflect the evolving cider landscape and give more producers an opportunity to showcase their work.

New categories include:

Low & No Alcohol Cider

The low- and no-alcohol market continues to evolve, with cidermakers exploring new production techniques and approaches to delivering recognizable cider character with reduced or no alcohol. This category recognizes the technical challenges and creativity involved in producing balanced, flavorful low- and no-alcohol cider.

Natural Cider

Natural cider deserves recognition for the complexity and diversity that can come from minimal-intervention production. This category welcomes ciders showcasing spontaneous and malolactic fermentation, wild yeast character, desirable volatile acidity, and rustic or earthy characteristics when they contribute to a balanced and intentional cider.

Ice Cider or Fortified Cider

Concentration, fruit expression, sweetness, acidity, and alcohol all play important roles in these distinctive styles. This category recognizes the craftsmanship behind ice cider and fortified cider, including products such as pommeau and other fruit-based fortified expressions.

These additions are more than new places to enter a cider. They demonstrate a commitment to recognizing the breadth of global cider production, from traditional regional expressions to modern interpretations and innovative production methods.

The competition also introduces two new champion awards:

Champion Cidermaker

Champion Brewery

These awards provide another opportunity to recognize excellence across the producers participating in the competition.

Competitions play an important role in the beverage industry. They offer producers an opportunity to benchmark their work, gain professional recognition, and introduce their products to new audiences.

But they also help establish a shared understanding of quality.

For cider, that conversation is particularly important. The category encompasses an extraordinary range of products and styles.

There isn't one definition of what great cider should taste like.

Instead, great cider is about understanding the fruit, making intentional production decisions, and creating a finished product that demonstrates balance, quality, and a clear expression of its intended style.

The World Cider Cup recognizes that diversity while providing a professional framework for evaluating cider across different styles and traditions.

It also creates a valuable opportunity for cider to gain visibility alongside the global beverage community.

As CiderCon joins the Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America in 2027, the timing couldn't be better. Bringing these industries together creates opportunities for collaboration, education, and greater recognition of the beverages we produce.

2027 World Cider Cup: Registration and Important Dates

Registration is officially open for the 2027 competition.

International cidermakers interested in participating should pay attention to the following deadlines:

November 5, 2026: Registration opens.

December 16, 2026: Early bird registration deadline. Save $15 per entry.

December 17, 2026: Regular registration begins.

January 2027: Registration closes, subject to availability.

April 7, 2027: World Beer Cup and World Cider Cup awards ceremony in San Antonio, Texas.

The awards ceremony will take place during the 2027 Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America.

Registration and competition details are available at WorldBeerCup.org.

Cidermakers should also review the official cider style guidelines before entering to ensure their products are submitted in the most appropriate categories.

-----------

A New Chapter for Cider

As Certified Pommeliers, we are excited to see cider receive a dedicated international platform that recognizes the knowledge, skill, and craftsmanship behind the beverage.

The World Cider Cup is an opportunity to celebrate the people growing the fruit, making the cider, preserving regional traditions, and pushing the boundaries of what cider can be.

It is also an opportunity to continue building a stronger, more educated cider community, one that values both the diversity of cider and the expertise required to understand it.

Cider deserves its own spotlight. In 2027, we're putting it there.

We look forward to raising a glass to the inaugural World Cider Cup and celebrating the cidermakers who make this industry so extraordinary.

Enter the 2027 World Cider Cup

Learn more about becoming a Certified Pommelier™

< Older Post