If Washington State grows the best apples on the planet, as we claim, there’s no reason we shouldn’t have a local hard-cider as good as England’s classic Strongbow, which is dry, spiky, and crisply refreshing in all the right ways. But in the course of my professional research, which consists of, a) going to bars and, b) drinking lots, most Washington ciders are too syrupy and sweet. If anything’s going to change my mind, it’s Washington Cider Week (continuing through Sunday), which includes tonight’s Ciders Gone Wild tasting. Erika Tedin, of host Full Throttle Bottles, is herself a massive hard-cider enthusiast, and she strongly disagrees with my assessment of local ciders. For a robust, dry, English-style cider, she recommends Wescott Bay’s Traditional Dry (from San Juan Island) and Red Barn Cider’s Burro Loco (from Mount Vernon). Both cideries will be represented tonight, along with Chimacum’s Finnriver and Salem’s Wandering Aengus. And if you still want to try the English stuff, come back on Friday for Invasion of the British Ciders, when Strongbow will be served. ERIN K. THOMPSON

Thu., Sept. 15, 5 p.m., 2011