Eric West

I’m Eric West. I teach the world about cider and perry. = = = = = I direct the Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan. GLINTCAP is the world’s largest cider judging, with a record 1,585 entries in 2019. I was a judge (2012) and registrar (2013-2014) prior to becoming competition director in 2015. = = = = = I received a Significant Contribution to the Cider Industry award from the United States Association of Cider Makers in February 2017. Only four other people—Ben Watson, Alan Shapiro, Peter Mitchell, and Steve Wood—have been so honored. = = = = = I judged at the British Cider Championships in 2016. It is Europe’s largest cider judging, held as part of the Royal Bath & West Show in Somerset, England. I judged the Single Variety class alongside English cider expert Gabe Cook. Few Americans have ever taken part in this prestigious competition. I was also the guest international judge for the Australian Cider Awards in 2018. = = = = = I served as Interim Director of the Certified Cider Professional program in 2015-2016. CCP was created by the United States Association of Cider Makers to educate and accredit industry professionals who sell cider. I also sat on the CCP Advisory Board in 2017-2018. = = = = = I’ve written educational features for CIDERCRAFT Magazine: = = = = = Issue 9 (August 2017) — The Many Faces of the Apple (w/ Eric Lewandowski), Issue 8 (May 2017) — The Path to Commercial Success, Issue 6 (August 2016) — Cider’s Sweet Spot, Issue 4 (November 2015) — How to Make Cider at Home, Issue 3 (May 2015) — Heirloom Cider Apples, Issue 2 (November 2014) — Tradition in a Bottle = = = = = I’ve traveled across North America, England, and Spain, interviewing cidermakers, bar/restaurant owners, importers, event promoters, and other influential people in the cider industry. Perhaps no one in the United States has sampled more ciders or visited more cideries than I have. (See my United States Cider Map if you’d like to visit a few yourself!) This first-person experience gives me an unrivaled perspective on the modern cider renaissance. = = = = = I am a Certified Cicerone and a BJCP Judge. I was a craft beer enthusiast before falling in love with cider, and I am very much at ease explaining the world of cider to beer enthusiasts. = = = = = I live with my wife Melissa and son Heron in the Blacksburg, Virginia area. Reach out via email at eric@ciderguide.com. I’d love to hear from you!