2025 U.S. Open Cider Championship Announces Medal Winners and Grand National Champion
Oxford, Ohio (November 18) – Arsenal Cider House & Wine Cellar in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has claimed the Grand National Champion title at the 2025 U.S. Open Cider Championship for the second time in the competition’s history, racking up an impressive haul of 3 gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze medals.
Their gold medals came in the Modern Cider, Heritage Cider, and Perry categories. Arsenal previously won the Grand National crown in 2020.
Finishing in second place was Glacial Till Cidery from Nebraska—the 2019 Grand National Champion—while two-time winner Ciderboys from Wisconsin rounded out the podium in third.
The 2025 Thumper Award
This award is named in memory of Andy “Thumper” Rich, the cidermaker for Arsenal Cider House and the 2020 U.S. Open Cider Grand National Champion. Thumper, a pioneer in the craft cider and beer industries, passed away on December 5, 2023, at his home in Dormont, Pennsylvania, after a courageous battle with cancer.
The Thumper Award will be presented annually to the cider and cidery awarded “Best of Show.” This year, the Thumper Award is presented to Arsenal Cider House & Wine Cellar. Additionally, the U.S. Open Cider Championship will donate proceeds from this year’s competition to the National Brain Tumor Foundation in Thumper’s honor.
Best in Show: Alfred’s Pear, Son! by Arsenal Cider House
2025 U.S. Open Cider Championship’s Top 10 Cideries
1. Arsenal Cider House – Pennsylvania
2. Glacial Till Cidery – Nebraska
3. Ciderboys Hard Cider – Wisconsin
4. Country Boy Brewing – Kentucky
5. Schilling Cider – Washington
6. Thornbury Craft Co. – Ontario
7. Son of Toil Brewing – Ohio, LLC
8. Five Maiden Cider Co. – Pennsylvania
9. FX Matt Brewing – New York
10. Blue Barn Cidery – New York
2025 U.S. Open Cider Championship Medal Winners
Modern Cider – Sweet
GOLD: McKenzie’s Original – FX Matt Brewing Co. – New York
SILVER: Premium Apple Cider – Thornbury Craft Co. – Ontario
BRONZE: Ciderboys First Press – Ciderboys Hard Cider – Wisconsin
Modern Cider – Dry
GOLD: Tubman’s Tenacity – Arsenal Cider House – Pennsylvania
SILVER: Westcider – Blue Barn Cidery – New York
BRONZE: Fox Fire – White Winter Mead, Cider, Spirits – Wisconsin
Heritage Cider
GOLD: Golden Russett – Arsenal Cider House – Pennsylvania
SILVER: Excelsior Imperial Apple – Schilling Cider – Washington
BRONZE: Penn Cider Apple – Penn Brewery – Pennsylvania
BRONZE: Nebraska Heirloom – Vala’s Orchard Cider Co. – Nebraska
Traditional Cider
GOLD: Classic Hard Cider – Country Boy Brewing – Kentucky
SILVER: Driftless French – James Werner – Wisconsin
Perry
GOLD: Alfred’s Pear, Son! – Arsenal Cider House – Pennsylvania
SILVER: Ciderboys Pear Naked – Ciderboys Hard Cider – Wisconsin
BRONZE: Simply 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 Till – Nebraska
BRONZE: Lindsey’s Lemon – Arsenal Cider House – Pennsylvania
Mimosa Cider
GOLD: Ciderboys Grand Mimosa – Ciderboys Hard Cider – Wisconsin
SILVER: Moonmosa – Papa Moon Ciders – Nebraska
Pomegranate Cider
GOLD: Pomegranate – Glacial Till – Nebraska
SILVER: ACE IMPERIAL POMEGRANATE – ACE Cider – California
BRONZE: Prickly Pom – Six Byrd Cider – Arizona
Pineapple Cider
GOLD: Ciderboys Pineapple Hula Ciderboys Hard Cider – Wisconsin
SILVER: ACE PINEAPPLE CRAFT CIDER – ACE Cider – California
BRONZE: Pineapple Cider – Country 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 Hard Cider – Wisconsin
BRONZE: Yellow Belly Cherry Cider – Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery – Minnesota
BRONZE: Cherry Cider – Niagara College Teaching Winery – Ontario
Peach Cider
GOLD: White Peach Mango Jam – Blue Barn Cidery – New York
SILVER: Peach Cider – Country Boy Brewing – Kentucky
BRONZE: Wölffer No. 139 Peach Cider – Wölffer Estate Vineyard – New York
Cranberry Cider
GOLD: Cranberry Star – Cherry Street Brewing – Georgia
SILVER: Cranberry Cider – Country Boy Brewing – Kentucky
BRONZE: Cranberry – Atlanta Hard 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: Red Raspberry Cider – Sons of Toil Brewing – Ohio
SILVER: Thornbury Craft Co. Raspberry Apple Cider – Thornbury Craft Co. – Ontario
BRONZE: Ida’s Heart – Armageddon Brewing – New Jersey
Strawberry Cider
GOLD: Ciderboys Strawberry Magic – Ciderboys Hard Cider – Wisconsin
SILVER: Strawberry Rhubarb – Glacial Till – 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 – Bold Rock Hard Cider – Virginia
SILVER: Ice Cider II – Glacial Till – Nebraska
BRONZE: Pure Liquid Gold(PLG) – Six Byrd Cider – Arizona
Herbal 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 – Bold Rock Hard 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 – Country 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 – Beach Bee Meadery – New Jersey
SILVER: Cranberry Spice Six Byrd Cider – Arizona
BRONZE: Snowbound Cinnamon – Arsenal Cider House – Pennsylvania
Wood-Aged Cider
GOLD: Blueberry Pancake – Glacial Till – 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 Till – Nebraska
SILVER: Spicy Archibald – Arsenal Cider House – Pennsylvania
BRONZE: Orange Cream Cider – Country Boy Brewing – Kentucky
Anything Goes
GOLD: Bobbie Sue’s Blackberry Lemonade – Gatlinburg Brewing Company – Tennessee
SILVER: Lavender Lemonade – Brunswick Beer and Cider – North Carolina
BRONZE: Tropical Sour Cider – Arsenal Cider House – 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 Hard Cider Co. & Distillery – Georgia
SILVER: Ichabod’s Bane – Armageddon Brewing – New Jersey
BRONZE: Grant’s Flying Pumpkin – Arsenal Cider House – Pennsylvania
About 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 annually in Oxford, Ohio, has quickly grown into the second-largest cider competition in the world, attracting entries from countries spanning Hawaii to Iceland and Australia to Spain. This prestigious blind-judged event features dozens of diverse categories, ranging from modern sweet and dry ciders to heritage, fruit-infused, spiced, wood-aged, perry, and innovative “anything goes” styles, with producers limited to 10 entries each at $75 per cider. International judges from England, Canada, and the United States evaluate submissions in partnership with institutions like Niagara College Teaching Winery, crowning a Grand National Champion based on medal tallies—recent winners include Arsenal Cider House & Wine Cellar (Pennsylvania) in 2025 and 2020, Thornbury Craft Cider (Ontario) in 2024, and Woodchuck Cider (Vermont) in 2023 and earlier years—while celebrating the craft cider renaissance and occasionally honoring standout ciders with special awards like the Thumper Best in Show.
Website: U.S. Open Cider Championship
