After a four-year hiatus, the Virginia Berry Cider Jam returns to Blue Bee Cider on Saturday, April 30, from 12-7 p.m. The festival will offer a huge array of the Commonwealth’s berry-infused ciders, alongside local food, vendors, and live music.
In 2013, Blue Bee Cider pioneered this cider style in Virginia with the release of Mill Race Bramble, featuring raspberries and blackberries from Agriberry Farm. The VA Berry Cider Jam will celebrate 11 berry-infused ciders from eight Virginia cideries, including:
- Blue Bee Cider (Richmond)
- Bold Rock Hard Cider (Nellysford)
- Ciders from Mars (Staunton)
- Coyote Hole Ciderworks (Mineral)
- Old Town Cidery (Winchester)
- Potter’s Craft Cider (Charlottesville)
- Sage Bird Cider (Harrisonburg)
- Sly Clyde Ciderworks (Hampton)
These ciders will be available to sample in two unique flights, or to purchase by the glass. The event will also showcase the final keg of Cranberry (Blue Bee’s winter seasonal) and four releases:
- New vintages of Mill Race Bramble and Blackberry Ginger
- The return of Frosé, a frozen cider treat
- The debut of a single-keg small batch Boysenberry Lavender cider (keg tapping at 3 p.m.)
Food offerings include Karmalita’s Marshmallows & Confections, Rappahannock River Oysters, and Truckle Cheesemongers, plus a flower arrangement stem bar by The Freckled Flower Farm. Live music will fill the courtyard all afternoon, with sets by The Richmond Rounders old-time string band (12:30-2 p.m.), the acoustic pop stylings of Tiara & Andrew (2:30-4 p.m.), and jazz from the Kevin Gaines Trio (4:30-6 p.m.).
Festival admission is free; pay-as-you-go for food & beverage. Children and leashed pets welcome. For more information, visit bluebeecider.com, email [email protected], or call (804) 231-0280.
Blue Bee will join cideries across the U.S. in designating a percentage of proceeds on April 30 to a direct fund for rebuilding Berryland, an award-winning Ukrainian cidery, fruit winery and meadery located near Kyiv.
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