508: The American Cider Association Responds to Questions About CiderCon 2027

The announcement that CiderCon 2027 will be co-located with the Craft Brewers Conference sparked one of the most active online discussions the cider community has seen in years.

In this episode of Cider Chat, ACA Board President Christine Walter joins host Ria Windcaller to discuss why the decision was made, the financial realities facing CiderCon, how the conference will operate alongside the Craft Brewers Conference, and what it means for the future of the American Cider Association.

The conversation also explores cider's identity, the role of orchard-based producers and commercial brands, the ACA's current leadership structure, and whether this partnership is intended to become a long-term model.

Whether you're planning to attend CiderCon 2027 or simply want to better understand the thinking behind one of the cider industry's biggest announcements, this episode offers an in-depth conversation on where things stand today.

Time Stamps

00:00 Why CiderCon Is Co-Locating

00:15 Meet Your Host

01:31 CiderCon 2027 Shakes Up Ciderville

03:29 News Out and About Ciderville

04:51 French Cider Tour Update

08:48 Setting Up the Conversation

10:46 The Future of the American Cider Association

12:41 Why the ACA Chose This Partnership

16:25 Survey Results and Other Options

21:25 Protecting Cider's Identity

21:47 How Co-Location Will Work

28:30 Why Now? Lessons From Providence

32:37 Concerns About Beer Culture

34:46 Safety, Inclusion, and Progress

38:15 Headlines, Keynotes, and Programming

40:36 What Cider Can Learn From Beer

43:42 Big Cider, Small Cider

47:43 Messaging, Tours, and Community

51:46 Leadership and Financial Challenges

56:22 National Conference or Regional Future?

1:01:12 A One-Year Experiment?

1:03:56 An Invitation to Show Up

1:07:08 Host Reflection

1:09:21 Until Next Time in Ciderville

🍎 Find the full show notes for Episode 508 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/aca-cidercon-2027-questions/

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