Oxford, Ohio (November 18) – Arsenal Cider Home & Wine Cellar in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has claimed the Grand Nationwide Champion title on the 2025 U.S. Open Cider Championship for the second time within the competitors’s historical past, racking up a powerful haul of three gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze medals.
Their gold medals got here within the Fashionable Cider, Heritage Cider, and Perry classes. Arsenal beforehand gained the Grand Nationwide crown in 2020.
Ending in second place was Glacial Until Cidery from Nebraska—the 2019 Grand Nationwide Champion—whereas two-time winner Ciderboys from Wisconsin rounded out the rostrum in third.
The 2025 Thumper Award
This award is called in reminiscence of Andy “Thumper” Wealthy, the cidermaker for Arsenal Cider Home and the 2020 U.S. Open Cider Grand Nationwide Champion. Thumper, a pioneer within the craft cider and beer industries, handed away on December 5, 2023, at his dwelling in Dormont, Pennsylvania, after a brave battle with most cancers.
The Thumper Award might be offered yearly to the cider and cidery awarded “Better of Present.” This 12 months, the Thumper Award is offered to Arsenal Cider Home & Wine Cellar. Moreover, the U.S. Open Cider Championship will donate proceeds from this 12 months’s competitors to the Nationwide Mind Tumor Basis in Thumper’s honor.
Greatest in Present: Alfred’s Pear, Son! by Arsenal Cider Home
2025 U.S. Open Cider Championship’s High 10 Cideries
1. Arsenal Cider Home – Pennsylvania
2. Glacial Until Cidery – Nebraska
3. Ciderboys Onerous Cider – Wisconsin
4. Nation Boy Brewing – Kentucky
5. Schilling Cider – Washington
6. Thornbury Craft Co. – Ontario
7. Son of Toil Brewing – Ohio, LLC
8. 5 Maiden Cider Co. – Pennsylvania
9. FX Matt Brewing – New York
10. Blue Barn Cidery – New York
2025 U.S. Open Cider Championship Medal Winners
Fashionable Cider – Candy
GOLD: McKenzie’s Unique – FX Matt Brewing Co. – New York
SILVER: Premium Apple Cider – Thornbury Craft Co. – Ontario
BRONZE: Ciderboys First Press – Ciderboys Onerous Cider – Wisconsin
Fashionable Cider – Dry
GOLD: Tubman’s Tenacity – Arsenal Cider Home – Pennsylvania
SILVER: Westcider – Blue Barn Cidery – New York
BRONZE: Fox Fireplace – White Winter Mead, Cider, Spirits – Wisconsin
Heritage Cider
GOLD: Golden Russett – Arsenal Cider Home – Pennsylvania
SILVER: Excelsior Imperial Apple – Schilling Cider – Washington
BRONZE: Penn Cider Apple – Penn Brewery – Pennsylvania
BRONZE: Nebraska Heirloom – Vala’s Orchard Cider Co. – Nebraska
Conventional Cider
GOLD: Traditional Onerous Cider – Nation Boy Brewing – Kentucky
SILVER: Driftless French – James Werner – Wisconsin
Perry
GOLD: Alfred’s Pear, Son! – Arsenal Cider Home – Pennsylvania
SILVER: Ciderboys Pear Bare – Ciderboys Onerous Cider – Wisconsin
BRONZE: Merely Perry – Papa Moon Ciders – Nebraska
Apple Pear
GOLD: Pear – Wyders Cider – Vermont
SILVER: Thornbury Craft Co. Pear Apple Cider – Thornbury Craft Co. – Ontario
SILVER: Pearsecco – Woodchuck Cider – Vermont
Fruit Cider
GOLD: Excelsior Imperial Passionfruit Pineapple – Schilling Cider – Washington
SILVER: Apricot Tillarita – Glacial Until – Nebraska
BRONZE: Lindsey’s Lemon – Arsenal Cider Home – Pennsylvania
Mimosa Cider
GOLD: Ciderboys Grand Mimosa – Ciderboys Onerous Cider – Wisconsin
SILVER: Moonmosa – Papa Moon Ciders – Nebraska
Pomegranate Cider
GOLD: Pomegranate – Glacial Until – Nebraska
SILVER: ACE IMPERIAL POMEGRANATE – ACE Cider – California
BRONZE: Prickly Pom – Six Byrd Cider – Arizona
Pineapple Cider
GOLD: Ciderboys Pineapple Hula Ciderboys Onerous Cider – Wisconsin
SILVER: ACE PINEAPPLE CRAFT CIDER – ACE Cider – California
BRONZE: Pineapple Cider – Nation Boy Brewing – Kentucky
BRONZE: Pineapple Cider – Sons of Toil Brewing – Ohio
Cherry Cider
GOLD: McKenzie’s Black Cherry – FX Matt Brewing Co. – New York
SILVER: Ciderboys Cherry Jubilee – Ciderboys Onerous Cider – Wisconsin
BRONZE: Yellow Stomach Cherry Cider – Sapsucker Farms Yellow Stomach Cidery – Minnesota
BRONZE: Cherry Cider – Niagara School Educating Vineyard – Ontario
Peach Cider
GOLD: White Peach Mango Jam – Blue Barn Cidery – New York
SILVER: Peach Cider – Nation Boy Brewing – Kentucky
BRONZE: Wölffer No. 139 Peach Cider – Wölffer Property Winery – New York
Cranberry Cider
GOLD: Cranberry Star – Cherry Road Brewing – Georgia
SILVER: Cranberry Cider – Nation Boy Brewing – Kentucky
BRONZE: Cranberry – Atlanta Onerous Cider Co. & Distillery – Georgia
Fruit & Berry Cider
GOLD: KIW Black Currant – Schilling Cider – Washington
SILVER: Moon Berries – Schilling Cider – Washington
BRONZE: Jostaberry Jam – Blue Barn Cidery – New York
Raspberry Cider
GOLD: Crimson Raspberry Cider – Sons of Toil Brewing – Ohio
SILVER: Thornbury Craft Co. Raspberry Apple Cider – Thornbury Craft Co. – Ontario
BRONZE: Ida’s Coronary heart – Armageddon Brewing – New Jersey
Strawberry Cider
GOLD: Ciderboys Strawberry Magic – Ciderboys Onerous Cider – Wisconsin
SILVER: Strawberry Rhubarb – Glacial Until – Nebraska
BRONZE: Strawberry Rhube Awakening – Schilling Cider – Washington
Blueberry Cider
GOLD: Thornbury Craft Co. Wild Blueberry Elderflower Apple Cider – Thornbury Craft Co. – Ontario
SILVER: Blueberry Fest Cider – White Winter Mead, Cider, Spirits – Wisconsin
BRONZE: Blueberry – Woodchuck Cider – Vermont
Apple Wine/Ice
GOLD: Imperial Apple – Daring Rock Onerous Cider – Virginia
SILVER: Ice Cider II – Glacial Until – Nebraska
BRONZE: Pure Liquid Gold(PLG) – Six Byrd Cider – Arizona
Natural Cider
GOLD: Mango Foxtrot – Cider Corps – Arizona
SILVER: Tulsi – Armageddon Brewing – New Jersey
BRONZE: Honey Lavender – Papa Moon Ciders – Nebraska
Hopped Cider
GOLD: GALACTIC CHARLIE GOES TO IDAHO – FIVE MAIDENS CIDER CO – Pennsylvania
SILVER: IPA – Daring Rock Onerous Cider – Virginia
SILVER: Hopped – Bent Ladder Cidery – Ohio
BRONZE: NECTARON CIDER – FIVE MAIDENS CIDER CO – Pennsylvania
Apple Pie Spiced Cider
GOLD: Gold Medal Apple Pie Cider – Nation Boy Brewing – Kentucky
GOLD: Spiced Apple Cider – Sons of Toil Brewing – Ohio
SILVER: American Apple Pie – Cider Corps – Arizona
BRONZE: Excelsior Imperial Apple Pie – Schilling Cider – Washington
Spiced Cider
GOLD: Bourbon Mango Hobanaro – Seaside Bee Meadery – New Jersey
SILVER: Cranberry Spice Six Byrd Cider – Arizona
BRONZE: Snowbound Cinnamon – Arsenal Cider Home – Pennsylvania
Wooden-Aged Cider
GOLD: Blueberry Pancake – Glacial Until – Nebraska
SILVER: Wild Meadow Reserve – Vala’s Orchard Cider Co. – Nebraska
BRONZE: QUARTER HOOP – FIVE MAIDENS CIDER CO – Pennsylvania
Specialty Cider and Perry
GOLD: Caramel Apple – Glacial Until – Nebraska
SILVER: Spicy Archibald – Arsenal Cider Home – Pennsylvania
BRONZE: Orange Cream Cider – Nation Boy Brewing – Kentucky
Something Goes
GOLD: Bobbie Sue’s Blackberry Lemonade – Gatlinburg Brewing Firm – Tennessee
SILVER: Lavender Lemonade – Brunswick Beer and Cider – North Carolina
BRONZE: Tropical Bitter Cider – Arsenal Cider Home – Pennsylvania
BRONZE: Apollo Palmer – Papa Moon Ciders – Nebraska
Single Varietal Cider
GOLD: Thornbury Craft Co. Honeycrisp Apple Cider – Thornbury Craft Co. – OntarioSILVER: BETTY – FIVE MAIDENS CIDER CO – Pennsylvania
BRONZE: Golden Russet – Doc Waters Cidery – Maryland
Pumpkin Spice Cider
GOLD: Pumpkin Spice – Atlanta Onerous Cider Co. & Distillery – Georgia
SILVER: Ichabod’s Bane – Armageddon Brewing – New Jersey
BRONZE: Grant’s Flying Pumpkin – Arsenal Cider Home – Pennsylvania
In regards to the U.S. Open Cider Championship
The U.S. Open Cider Championship, launched in 2015 as a spin-off from the U.S. Open Beer Championship and held yearly in Oxford, Ohio, has rapidly grown into the second-largest cider competitors on the planet, attracting entries from international locations spanning Hawaii to Iceland and Australia to Spain. This prestigious blind-judged occasion options dozens of numerous classes, starting from fashionable candy and dry ciders to heritage, fruit-infused, spiced, wood-aged, perry, and modern “something goes” kinds, with producers restricted to 10 entries every at $75 per cider. Worldwide judges from England, Canada, and the USA consider submissions in partnership with establishments like Niagara School Educating Vineyard, crowning a Grand Nationwide Champion based mostly on medal tallies—latest winners embody Arsenal Cider Home & Wine Cellar (Pennsylvania) in 2025 and 2020, Thornbury Craft Cider (Ontario) in 2024, and Woodchuck Cider (Vermont) in 2023 and earlier years—whereas celebrating the craft cider renaissance and infrequently honoring standout ciders with particular awards just like the Thumper Greatest in Present.
Web site: U.S. Open Cider Championship
