SEBASTOPOL, Calif. – The founders of Golden State Cider (GSC) are excited to announce the release of ‘The Elder Tree’, the first of their new Harvest Series Ciders; a seasonal product line featuring traditionally fermented local and estate California heirloom apples. Barrel fermented in neutral oak and aged for 12 months, ‘The Elder Tree’ features a blend of Pippins, Arkansas Blacks, and a myriad of traditional cider apples and is blended over multiple vintages. The result is a rich and refreshing cider experience that appeals to cider, wine, and traditional beer aficionados alike.

“We’re excited to continue raising the bar in the world of cider, offering our customers a flavor profile that is unprecedented and in a format that you don’t find heritage ciders of this caliber packaged in: 16 oz. cans,” states Jolie Devoto, GSC co-founder and orchardist. The inaugural ‘Elder Tree’ release marks our vision of what we want the Harvest Series to represent: the unique, terroir-driven fruit character that gives people a real sense of our home in Sebastopol.”

‘The Elder Tree’ Cider is 7.5% Alcohol by volume and is sold in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans and Kegs only in Sonoma County, California. Expect to find ‘The Elder Tree’ Cider at farm-to-table restaurants in Sonoma County, like Handline. Find it at retailers like BeerCraft, Wilibees Wine & Spirits, Oliver’s Markets, Whole Foods Markets, and Bottle Barn. ‘The Elder Tree’ is the first of three Harvest Series Ciders that will be released throughout the year until they’re sold out. The three new Harvest Series releases (The Elder Tree, Fool’s Gold, and Save the Gravenstein), will gradually replace the cidery’s three ‘Devoto Orchards Cider’ brands, the farm’s namesake and original brand that the founders sold exclusively at Bay Area farmers markets for the first couple years.

GSC Hires Chris Lacey as VP of Sales & Marketing
With the release of the Harvest Series, GSC welcomes Chris Lacey as VP of Sales and Marketing. Chris brings over twelve years of experience in the area of sales, marketing and business development for wine, beer and spirits. With his strategic and tactical industry insights, Chris has the unique combination of expertise, industry relationships and creativity to introduce Golden State Cider and the growing craft cider category to a wider audience. Chris will also join the executive team at Golden State Cider.Prior to joining Golden State Cider, Chris was Constellation Brand Manager at DBI Beverage for San Francisco and San Mateo counties where he grew incremental volume and brand awareness for some of the fastest growing beer brands in the country: Corona, Modelo, Pacifico and Victoria.

In Seattle, Chris was Marketing Director for Precept Wine, the largest privately-owned winemaker in Washington State. He developed branding strategies for twenty core wine brands from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, New Mexico and Australia. Chris experienced the rise of craft beer during his time with Rogue Ales & Spirits in Oregon, one of the oldest and most innovative craft breweries in the country. Ultimately rising to Vice President of Sales, Chris was instrumental in creating brand-defining new products, reinforcing Rogue’s unique culture and growing sales significantly over 50 states and 25 countries. Lacey’s leadership will help bring GSC to a broader audience by way of quality apples and cider, the foundation on which the GSC brand was built.

About Golden State Cider
Our story starts in 1976, when a Berkeley couple moved back to the land and started cultivating apples, flowers, and veggies in Sebastopol, CA. In 2012, the farm’s second generation moved back to the land and started crafting Golden State Ciders from the farm’s prized heirloom apples, with the goal of crafting the highest quality ciders for the United State of CA. The farm and cidery are both located in Sebastopol, CA. All of our ciders are naturally gluten-free and vegan-friendly. Follow us on Instagram @drinkgoldenstate.