Snow Capped Cider Shines at 2024 Great American Beer Festival

Colorado apple grower and cider producer Snow Capped Cider, helmed by Kari Williams, made an impressive debut at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival, winning two medals in the No/Low-Tannin Cider category during its first year of serving cider. This remarkable achievement underscores the quality and craftsmanship of Snow Capped Cider, showcasing the unique flavors that Colorado apples can offer.

“Winning two medals at the Great American Beer Festival is a true honor, and we are thrilled to be one of the very first cideries to participate in the festival. These achievements reinforce our mission in the industry to shine a spotlight on Colorado's abundant apple harvest, and I couldn’t be more proud of our team for their tireless efforts in making our cider so special,” said Kari Williams, Owner and Head Cider Maker at Snow Capped Cider.

At the Great American Beer Festival, Snow Capped Cider faced off against cideries and breweries from across the nation, evaluated by industry experts from around the globe. The Professional Judge Panel awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals, which are recognized worldwide as marks of brewing excellence. Judges evaluate beers within their specific expertise and are tasked with identifying the three beers or ciders that best represent each category. 

Snow Capped Cider took home two medals in the No/Low-Tannin Cider category, with The Russets snagging Gold and Gravenstein earning Silver. The Russets has also received a Double Gold in the Modern Sweet category at CiderCraft 2024 and was named Best in Class Heritage Cider (Sweet) at GLINTCAP 2024. Meanwhile, Gravenstein won Platinum in the Modern Sweet category at CiderCraft 2024 and also won Best in Class Heritage Cider (Sweet) at GLINTCAP 2024. Snow Capped Cider has the honor of being the only Colorado cidery at the Great American Beer Festival that received more than one award. 

Snow Capped Cider is on a winning streak, with this latest achievement capping off an already stellar 2024. The cidery won two 2024 Good Food Awards for their Winesap and Porter’s Perfection ciders, and at this year’s GLINTCAP Awards, the cidery recently claimed the Midsize Cidermaker of the Year Award and distinguished itself among competitors by earning the most total Gold medals. They swept the Heritage Cider (Sweet) category, won 18 Silvers, and received an impressive seven Best in Class awards, the highest honor in the competition. Additionally, Snow Capped Cider earned Platinum in six categories, seven Double Gold placements, and a total of 20 medals overall in this year's CiderCraft awards. 

“This year has been truly amazing. I feel incredibly honored to play a role in putting Colorado’s cideries on the map, and every award my team and I have received this year will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Williams. 

Snow Capped Cider’s products are crafted from 100% Colorado-grown fruit, backed by five generations of fruit-growing expertise spanning over a century. As one of the oldest family-run fruit growers in Colorado, each generation has contributed to the cultivation of their orchards, vineyards, and lasting legacy. Their historic varieties of French, American, and English cider apples are grown at elevations of 6,130 to 7,000 feet, making them some of the highest-elevation orchards in the world. The unique mountain terroir enhances the crisp taste of Colorado, resulting in a clean and balanced cider that showcases vibrant flavors only achievable in this remarkable region.

About Snow Capped Cider

Our high-quality, cider-specific fruit is cultivated in Colorado, drawing on authentic English and French orchard styles. This approach eliminates the need for added artificial sugars, ensuring a clean, fresh taste.

We are pioneers in Colorado's fruit-growing history, having first introduced innovative techniques to maximize the natural flavors, quality, quantity, and variety of our produce. Our farms have nurtured over 100 apple varieties and 40 peach varieties, including many heritage and cider-specific fruits.

Located at the base of Grand Mesa in the stunning Surface Creek Valley of Colorado's Western Slope, Williams Family Orchards sits at an elevation of 6,130 feet—making it one of the highest elevation orchards in the world. The unique climate of high elevation, warm days, and cool nights captures the crisp essence of Colorado, producing a clean and balanced cider.

Innovation led our family as the  first fruit farmers in Colorado to implement trellis growing systems, and we pioneered the use of micro-sprinkler technology, propane heating systems, and wind machines. Facing declining sales of older apple varieties, Dan and Orville Williams introduced the Gala apple to the Colorado market in 1986, further cementing our reputation for innovation.

Our Colorado-grown hard ciders are the culmination of over a century of fruit-growing expertise. Each generation has contributed significantly to the development of our family orchards, vineyards, and legacy. We take pride in continuing our family’s commitment to quality, innovation, and excellence with every cider we produce. Read more history here.