The 2024 Erie County Fair Best in Show Cider, “Grandstand Peach” was created by Tim Hull of Tonawanda, NY. The fruit cider’s name came out of Hull’s love for attending concerts in The Buffalo News Grandstand each year. Hull began experimenting with peach flavors two years ago, originally inspired by the classic Georgia peach and Masters golf tournament in Augusta, GA. This past spring, he perfected the flavor and entered it into the Fair’s annual competition. According to Hull, this sweet and refreshing cider will pair best with salty Fair foods like French fries, nachos or a blooming onion.
Hull first began making cider after taking home his uncle’s cider recipe from a holiday party 10 years ago. Since then, Hull has expanded his basement production room to include both cider and wine. Hull’s mother was an avid exhibitor in local fair competitions, which inspired Hull to begin competing himself. In 2021, Hull won the Best of Show Cider title and took home numerous silver and bronze awards in the 2021 Home Wine competition at the Fair.
The team with Blackbird Cider at Resurgence Brewing Company will work with Hull to professionally produce Grandstand Peach to be distributed in TOPS Friendly Markets and other retail outlets. The award-winning cider will also be kegged and sold in the beer gardens at the Erie County Fair. A first-time sampling event for the cider will take place on July 11th at Resurgence Brewing Company at 6 p.m.
