Navy Pier was abuzz with cider enthusiasts and curious sippers alike at the 12th annual Cider Summit festival. Over three dozen producers and 125 cider products were on hand to delight attendees with their unique offerings. Each guest received 16 tickets to sample the various ciders, allowing them to cleanse their palates between tastings.
While wine aficionados might be drawn to the complexity of some ciders, festival founder Alan Shapiro notes that many attendees are blown away by the elegance and finesse on display. This year's event also saw the presence of Ambrosia Borowski, the founder of Chicago Cider Week, who attended with her usual enthusiasm.
Borowski credits cider for elevating consumers' knowledge and appreciation for the drink. She got into cider through wine and has been a long-time supporter of the festival. The annual event not only brings together enthusiasts but also provides an opportunity to discover new producers and products.
A portion of this year's summit ticket sales will be donated to Evolved Network, a Chicago-based nonprofit that offers experiential programming for children in culinary arts and gardening. The organization is grateful for the Cider Summit's support, which will help continue their work.
For cider fan Deborah Mathis, Saturday was her fifth time attending the summit, and she appreciates the laid-back atmosphere – although she wishes more people were aware of this beloved Chicago tradition.
While wine aficionados might be drawn to the complexity of some ciders, festival founder Alan Shapiro notes that many attendees are blown away by the elegance and finesse on display. This year's event also saw the presence of Ambrosia Borowski, the founder of Chicago Cider Week, who attended with her usual enthusiasm.
Borowski credits cider for elevating consumers' knowledge and appreciation for the drink. She got into cider through wine and has been a long-time supporter of the festival. The annual event not only brings together enthusiasts but also provides an opportunity to discover new producers and products.
A portion of this year's summit ticket sales will be donated to Evolved Network, a Chicago-based nonprofit that offers experiential programming for children in culinary arts and gardening. The organization is grateful for the Cider Summit's support, which will help continue their work.
For cider fan Deborah Mathis, Saturday was her fifth time attending the summit, and she appreciates the laid-back atmosphere – although she wishes more people were aware of this beloved Chicago tradition.
. But seriously, 125 cider products? That's like a whole new world of bubbly goodness over there! And the fact that they're donating to an awesome org is just the cherry on top (or should I say, the head on the cider apple?). Love how it brings people together and elevates our knowledge of cider – now if only more people knew about this amazing event 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to spend a day sipping cider and learning about its elegance? Sounds like my idea of a perfect Saturday 
️!
it sounds like so much fun! im totally down to try new ciders and meet other people who share my love for drinks 
but what's the deal with cider tasting? do you get to keep the cider after you've tasted all the tickets? 
also, i heard chicago cider week is a thing now? how does that work? do they have their own festivals too? 
I mean, 12th annual Cider Summit is like, a thing! And it's awesome that they're supporting Evolved Network, too. I remember when I was in college, we used to have those little cider tastings back on campus and it was always so much fun. Nowadays, I feel like people are more into wine and craft beers, but I'm loving the cider revival 
. Alan Shapiro's right, ciders got so much elegance and finesse going on – I mean, who knew you could make a drink out of apples? 
I mean, have you guys tried those new-age apple cider varieties? Game changer! But what really impressed me about the Cider Summit is how it brings together all these passionate cider folks and allows them to share their knowledge with each other 
Like, Alan Shapiro said that many attendees are blown away by the elegance and finesse on display... I was there too, and I had no idea ciders could be so nuanced! 
And it's awesome to see Ambrosia Borowski spreading the love for cider, especially with her Chicago Cider Week thing 
the producers were super passionate about their craft and it was amazing to see all these new faces trying the different ones for the first time. i met deborah there too and she's been going for like 5 years now lol 
Deborah's right about the laid-back vibe though... maybe next year we'll get more cider enthusiasts spreading the word?
. It's all about exploring and finding those unique flavors. And I totally get why the elegance and finesse of some ciders would blow people away 
It's awesome to see communities come together like this!
i'm like totally impressed that alan shapiro has been putting on this amazing event for 12 years already it's so great to see people coming together to share their love for cider and support new producers too! and isn't it awesome that a portion of the ticket sales will be going to help kids learn about gardening and cooking? it's like, the perfect way to bring people together while doing good