Hogan’s strikes triple gold!

Hogan’s Cider

Hogan’s Cider has topped up its trophy cabinet with a clutch of new awards thanks to a great performance at America’s premier cider and perry competition.

The Warwickshire-based cider producer scooped three gold medals and a Best in Show for its ciders and perry at the Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition held on 2 April in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

Hogan’s bottled Medium Cider, Dry Cider and Vintage Perry 2009 were all deemed worthy of a top spot with Hogan’s Dry Cider awarded Best in Show from a total of 130 entrants in the Standard, Speciality and Unrestricted Cider and Perry categories.

All judging was conducted with blind panels consisting of a combination of professional and amateur cider and perry makers, academics and other professionals with ties to the food and beverage industry.

Now in its sixth year, the competition organised by the Great Lakes Cider and Perry Association, attracted nearly 300 commercial and non-commercial entries from a wide swathe of the United States and Canada.  It also extended an international reach over to England with record number of participants.

Held in a region of the US celebrated for its apple production, the event has grown to become the second largest cider and perry competition in the English-speaking world, behind the Royal Bath & West Show in Somerset. 

Cider maker Allen Hogan of Hogan’s Cider, who produces his drinks in Worcestershire, a part of the world renowned for its unique cider heritage was thrilled at the good news.  He said:

“I am delighted that our ciders and perry have been recognised with gold medals at this impressive event, and to be judged Best in Show by one’s fellow cider aficionados’ is a true accolade.

This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to the quality of our drinks, which are only created from one hundred per cent fresh pressed English fruit and our dedication to using the time-honoured and traditional method of production.”

Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association President and show organiser Gary Awdey said:

“Hogan's honours were all achieved in the most restrictive category with respect to use of use of apple, pear, and traditional practices.  In a competition that makes deliberate efforts to recognise and respect regional cider and perry styles of the world these distinguished themselves as exceptionally fine examples.” 

The pleasing results come hot on the tail of recent export deals to the States which has seen Hogan’s draught and bottled ciders enthusiastically received by an emerging American market eager for the genuine product.

For more information about Hogan’s gold medal winning drinks visit http://www.hoganscider.co.uk or call Allen Hogan on 01789 488433.

-Ends-

Photo caption: Hogan’s award winning bottled Dry Cider, Medium Cider and Vintage Perry 2009

For further information or photo opportunity please call Lise at MoreThanPR on landline +44(0)1789 400251 mobile +44 (0)7769 673865 or email

Notes for Editors

·         The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association is a not-for-profit organisation incorporated in 2008 with a mission of promoting cider and perry and of providing related educational opportunities for producers and consumers.

• Its core membership is comprised of commercial and non-commercial cider makers in the United States and province bordering on the Great Lakes.  Additional information about the association may be found at www.greatlakescider.com.

• The growing popularity of cider in the US coupled with new cider producers that have emerged to serve a growing market, means that GLINTCAP looks set to become the largest competition of its kind within the next two years.

• Today, the states and province bordering on the Great Lakes produce about one quarter of all the apples grown in North America

·         Hogan’s Cider launched in 2005 when Allen Hogan turned his twenty year hobby into a full-time business. 

• Hogan’s Cider Ltd is Warwickshire’s only commercial cider producer and is based at Haselor, near Alcester.  The process of artisan cider and perry making takes place at Castlemorton, Worcestershire.

• Hogan’s ciders and perry are traditionally produced from 100% fresh pressed English fruit from the counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

• November 2009 saw the first shipment of Hogan’s keg cider to the USA for distribution by specialist beer importers Shelton Brothers of (appropriately named) Belchertown, Massachusetts.

• Hogan’s Cider celebrated its fifth birthday in August 2010.

• Hogan’s Cider is available in bottle or draught from a wide range of pubs, restaurants and farm shops regionally and nationally, plus a number of major supermarkets.

• For more information please visit http://www.hoganscider.co.uk

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