209: CiderCon2020 Insider Tips

209: CiderCon2020 Insider Tips

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist January 22, 2020 Duration: 42:25

The 10th Annual American Cider Association trade conference CiderCon will be held in Oakland California, January 28th through to January 31, 2020. This episode provides an overview on the following topics:

  • Oakland weather in winter & What to wear
  • How to get to CiderCon via public transportation and using BART to get around Oakland and San Francisco
  • Where to find morning coffee and bagels
  • Madison Park's morning Tai Chi session in Oakland
  • The Bay Area Cider Week

Oakland graffti on the Marriott Hotel where CiderCon will take place Oakland graffiti on the Marriott Hotel where CiderCon will take place

Oakland Marriott City Center where CiderCon is held

  • 1 block from the 12 Street/City Center BART stop.
  • 7 blocks (0.4 miles) to Crooked City Cider Tap House.
  • 9 blocks (0.6 miles) to Jack London Square.

Oakland Weather in late January

  • Low 60s Fahrenheit, 15 Celsius
  • Dress in layers and always bring a cap to wear as it usually drops down to the 40s in the evening.

Transportation options BART or Ferry Service

  • Via BART - aka the metro line
  • Oakland Airport to CiderCon is 30 minutes - $2.60 one way
  • San Francisco Airport to CiderCon - expect an hour ride - $2.60 one way
  • Use Bart to San Francisco and to Redfield Cider Bar get off at the Rockridge stop. Redfield is a 500 foot walk from the Rockridge stop.
  • Crooked City Cider And Taphouse is an 11 minute walk and there will be evening events through the week

Jack London Square archway Jack London Square archway, within view of Crooked City Cider. Go here to board the San Francisco Bay Ferry

Take a ride on the San Francisco Bay Ferry from Oakland to the SF historical Ferry Building

  • The commuter ferry leaves form jack London Square, which is about a 12 minute walk from CiderCon.
  • $7.20 one way
  • $5.40 with Clipper Card - but you need to keep a balance of $5.40 on your card.
    • Clipper Card

      https://www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/getTranslink.do

      Order online: https://www.clippercard.com/ClipperCard/order.jsf

      Buy in-person:

      Need a card right away? Get an adult card in person at:

      • Many Walgreens, and Whole Foods Market stores and other participating retail locations
      • Transit agency ticket offices and Clipper Customer Service Centers
      • Muni Metro and Golden Gate Ferry ticket machines and SMART fare machines (minimum value required)

      There is a ticket machine at the Coliseum station, and at 12th St / City Center station.

      There is a Walgreens at the 12th St / City Center station.

      [Looking back at San Francisco via the SF Bay Ferry Looking back at San Francisco via the SF Bay Ferry.

Morning Coffee and Bagels

  • 5 min walk from the Marriott/CiderCon location to Awaken Cafe which opens at 7:30am to 3pm
  • 10 min walk to Beauty Bagels Shop - opens at 8am - 3pm
  • 16 min walk to Farleys Coffee Monday - Friday 7am-8pm, Saturday- Sunday 8am-8pm
  • Clear you cider palate with some bitters via craft beer
    • Along the way, 1/2 block off Broadway is The Trappist (Belgian & specialty beer cafe), Beer Revolution (bottle shop and tap house), Federation Brewing (brewery).

Chat with Michelle McGrath, the Executive Director of the American Cider Association

  • Michelle provides an overview of key speakers at CiderCon

Get the Conference App - Attendify

  • This app provides contact info for speakers, sponsors, and fellow attendees
  • Check your reservation to CiderCon to get the code for the Attendify CiderCon program

Check out cider events happening all week long during CiderCon

Bay Area Cider Week begins January 25 and run through to February 1, 2020

Bonus Sightseeing Tip:

If you have a car, take a drive to Almeida about 15 minutes from the Marriott and visit the USS Hornet. This is a fantastic place to catch the sunset with San Francisco in the background. The big battleships are quiet and you will find yourself right on the water with barely a person around.

USS Hornet museum in Almeida, California USS Hornet museum in Almeida, California. San Francisco can be seen in the distance. This is a powerful spot to catch the sunset, but you will need a car to get to this little know battleship area. It is super cool and puts you right on the bay with spectacular views.

Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving!

Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts.


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
488: Vintage Cider Label Lawsuit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:10
A pending lawsuit spearheaded by Ron Extract of Garden Path Fermentation could change how cider makers label harvest year and "vintage" on cider over 7% ABV. Ron explains why the current TTB rules block truthful harvest-…
487: Further Tales of Chocolate Pears [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:00
In This Episode, We Cover Why Sorbus domestica is often nicknamed "the chocolate pear" (and why that name actually helps people get it) What bletting means, and why sorbs can be delicious before they turn fully brown (de…
485: Cider as a Catalyst for Chile's Edible Forest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:14
Carlos Flores is an architect, landscape designer, and co-founder of Punta de Fierro Fine Cider. At the 2025 CiderCon in Chicago he presented Carlos presented "Developing An Experimental Edible Forest in a Heritage Apple…
484: Rethinking American Cider History with Patrick McCauley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:59
Meet Patrick McCauley, a Michigan-based cider maker and researcher, who is questioning some of the most common myths about American cider history. What Patrick uncovers is a far more regional, farm-based, and resilient c…
483: The Talking Pomme's Grand Winter Party [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:23
Enjoy this annual winter tale from Cider Chat Central! In this special holiday episode, Cider Chat invites you to step into the enchanting world of the Talking Pommes. The Talking Pommes Grand Winter Party is more than j…
482: FLX Cider & Cheese Pairing with Cheesemonger Rachel Freier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:53
At the New York Cider Fest in November, there were 2 Cider and Cheese sessions. Cider Chat Emcee Ria Windcaller attended one featuring ciders from 4 different makers. This cider and cheese pairing was led by Rachel Freie…
481: Totally Cider Tour: A Merry Visit to Tom Oliver's [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:34
Tom Oliver is delightfully talented, mischievously witty, and not only a renowned cider maker but also a top-notch perry maker. He may say, "If you're going to make perry and work with pears, you've already identified yo…
480: Holiday Cider Gift Guide 2025 and Playing with Pommeau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:36
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:32 French Pronunciation Fun 02:27 Holiday Gift Ideas for 2025 02:59 Cider Chat News and Updates 04:42 Listener Stories and Experiences 07:49 Upcoming UK Cider Tour 2026 12:47 Fe…
479: New York Cider Fest | Audio Snapshots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:45
New York Cider Fest 2025 brought together makers and enthusiasts for an unforgettable day at City Winery Manhattan. In this special collection of on-the-floor recordings, Cider Chat® captures Audio Snap Shots with festiv…