Out of a record 27 home brews entered into the competition during the Sixth Annual Cider & Mead Festival on July 23, three emerged to be judged the “Best of the Fest!” Each winner received a beautiful one-of-a-kind growler especially crafted for this event by Phil Shane, owner/artist of Orcas Island Growlers.

First place winners were Jared and Galen Kraner with their stunning 2015 pear cider described by the judges as having “a great pear flavor and full bodied.” Second place winner was the relentless Gil Becerra with his Orcas apple and pear cider, described as being a “great combo with a forward finish.” And third went to a very surprised Peter Carlson who entered just to hear what the judges thought of his first attempt at making a home brewed cider. They liked it enough to give him third place! His entry was a 2013 brew made up of 100 percent Orcas Island applies described by the judges “a tasty, well-rounded cider with a full apple flavor and great carbonation.”

The makers of all of the ciders were blind to the judges with the only information being given was the age and contents of the ciders. The judges were long-time cider and mead producers Glenda Downs with Sky River Mead, Nick Wiswell with Reverend Nats Ciders and Dan Northcraft with Square Mile Cider. Judging 27 ciders isn’t easy, and the judges can’t be thanked enough for giving their time and expertise during the festival to professionally judge this competition for our obviously talented and enthusiastic home brewers.

The Home Brew Competition is part of the annual Orcas Island Cider & Mead Festival benefitting the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program. This year more than 650 people visited the big white tasting tent to experience almost 70 varieties of great ciders and meads made by 18 Northwest producers. A good time was had by all.

Congratulations to the winners of the home brew competition, and a huge thanks to all who entered their great brews!