Today’s Cider News
The Rise, Fall, And Rise Again Of Hard Apple Cider In America(September 12) – When the pilgrims first arrived in America, edible pomes probably weren’t even indigenous to New England. In case you’re unfamiliar, the term “pome” encompasses the family of fruits that includes apples, pears, loquats, medlars, and quinces — and the country’s first foodies weren’t slicing them up on a plate. Roughly 60% of all pomes grown throughout history have been used to make hard cider. Complete Story
Owner of Farmhaus Cider eyes reopening Moelker Orchards(September 11) – Plans are underway for John Behrens of Farmhaus Cider to take over Moelker Orchards near Grand Rapids, township documents show. The Moelker family closed the orchard, located at 9265 Kenowa Ave. near Riverbend Drive in Tallmadge Township, at the end of 2022 after more than 100 years. The family said it would be put up for sale in early 2023. Complete Story
Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider Will Close After 12 Years of Progressing American Cider Craft(September 10) – Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider, the Portland cider company beloved for its inventive approach to American cider fermentation, will close on September 24 after 12 years. Founder Nat West attributes Rev Nat’s closure to the difficulties of pandemic recovery, leaving behind a legacy within the city’s beverage scene both in terms of his process and the way he incorporated activism into his business. Complete Story
Taste of Beaver Island, Michigan: Cider made from 170-year-old apple trees(July 20) – The apple trees scattered around Beaver Island are large, plentiful and old. What kind of apples do they grow? Who knows. It doesn’t really matter to the folks at Bee Well Mead and Cider in Bellaire, Michigan, who make a unique cider from wild apples foraged from island trees planted 170-some years ago. Complete Story
Stone Tree Farm and Cidery celebrates 2 years, but something is missing(July 6) – “The Bull Moose skull is kind of a piece of Stone Tree history. The name ‘Stone Tree’ comes from Frank’s (Co-owner, Frank Haferland) and my background. So, he was studying geology and earth science at the University of Maine while I was doing my Master’s in forestry. So, my family has a big forestry background. And my father actually found this skull for us and gave it to us as a present for our opening day. And it was always a good conversation starter. And it was a way that we could tell a story about where we came from,” said Erickson. Complete Story
Idaho leads cider sales, with options ripe for the picking(April 25) – When Meriwether Cider releases its seasonal huckleberry cider each year, a snaking Black Friday-like line forms out the Garden City tasting room door. Demand is hot, and local huckleberry availability limits production. The fruit is foraged by whoever feels like it, with people dropping off their harvest to the cidery. But huckleberries are smaller than commercial blueberries, and with 3 pounds of fruit needed per gallon of cider, the cidery can only make about 30 gallons each year. Complete Story
Angry Orchard Introduces a New Way to Rosé Ahead of Summer with New Blueberry Rosé Hard Cider(April 24) As the weather heats up, Angry Orchard, the leading U.S. cider maker¹, is turning up the fruit and flavor by launching a brand-new Blueberry Rosé Hard Cider. An evolution of the fan-favorite Angry Orchard Rosé Hard Cider, Blueberry Rosé breaks from the tried and true by combining the crisp, juicy flavors of Rosé with real blueberries to deliver a fruity twist on the classic. Complete Story
Nine Pin re-releasing specialty spring cider, “CIDER SANGRIA”(March 30) – Nine Pin Ciderworks will be re-releasing their spring specialty cider, “Cider Sangria,” for the turn of the season. You can enjoy the specialty cider in bars across New York, restaurants, and retailers that carry Nine Pin products, as well as Nine Pin’s very own testing room located at 929 Broadway in Albany. Complete Story
First Look at Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider’s new SE Portland Taproom(March 29) – Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider has opened a new inner southeast Portland taproom next to the new Farmhouse Carts at 2415 SE 35th Place. The location may seem familiar as it was not only formerly the SE Wine Collective, but appeared in our most anticipated new and upcoming Oregon breweries and taprooms of 2023 when we expected it to be the new home of Logsdon Farmhouse Ales. Complete Story
Settle Down with Old Settlers Cider: Owner Walter Alderman Talks Cidery’s Journey, Growth, and Future(March 25) – Walt Alderman and Old Settlers Cider are bringing the taste of all-natural, hard apple cider to western New Hampshire. Alderman’s hard cider journey began in the 2010s. “Seven or eight years ago, I had been actively looking to start a business with a local resource,” he said. “I dabbled in firewood and maple syrup for a while. Then, I saw the orchard and thought this is something I want to build a business around.” Complete Story
Grand National Champion and Medal Winners Announced the 2020 U.S. Open Cider Championship(November 15) – In the eighth annual U.S. Open Cider Championship, Cideries, wineries, and breweries from Washington State to France entered over 290 ciders representing 25 different styles for the 2022 U.S. Open Cider Championship. Complete Story
These 10 cideries were just voted as the best in the United States(November 14) – The popularity of cider as a beer alternative has exploded in the United States in recent years. According to Statista, there were more than 800 cider makers in the country. With so many new makers on the map, we set out to find the absolute best. After a panel of experts selected the nominees, readers voted for their favorites. Here are the 10 best cideries across the nation. Complete Story
Scrumpy’s craft cidery is built on fruit science and apple pickings(November 6) – When Jennifer Seiwald returned to school after 25 years working in banking and finance, she took an organic chemistry class to polish off her science prerequisites before applying to medical school. While Seiwald got an A in the class, it was over a glass of beer with friends that she decided she was too old to begin a medical career. Complete Story
Thornbury Craft Cider in Ontario Is Getting A Magical Patio & You Can Dine In A Twinkly Snow Globe(October 17th) – Patio season does not need to end when the temperature drops. Soon, you’ll be able to dine in a cozy snow globe at an Ontario cider house. Thornbury Craft Co. is bringing back its patio snow globes in November so you can sip cider outside without the chill. Complete Story
Pierced Ciderworks urges Fort Pierce to allow live amplified music in Edgartown, Florida(September 6) – The clash between a Fort Pierce cidery and its neighbors over the Edgartown noise ordinance is expected to continue at the next City Commission meeting. Pierced Ciderworks, the Treasure Coast’s first and only cidery, is urging its supporters to show up and speak out during the public comment period at the end of the meeting that’s scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, said owner Jon Nolli. Complete Story
It’s cider sipping season from Dexter to northern Michigan(September 3) – As summer makes way for fall and the leaves begin to change colors, cider mills across the state start to welcome visitors back for apple picking and more. After all, nothing says fall more than apple cider and cinnamon doughnuts. This apple season there should be plenty of cider. Michigan’s apple crop is a bushel buster with nearly 30 million bushels expected. From Gala apples to the beloved Honey Crisp, Michigan is flush with apple varieties that make terrific cider. Complete Story
Raise A Glass For #AppleDonorFest: Exchange Apples For Planet Friendly Cider(August 31) -Hawkes, London’s first urban cidery turning unloved, ‘wonky’, or surplus apples into delicious real-apple cider, continues its annual drive to turn vast amounts of otherwise ‘waste’ apples into planet-friendly cidery goodness with its inaugural #AppleDonorFest, 8-11 September, at the Hawkes Cidery & Taproom. Complete Story
Nano Urban Cidery, Sunken Paddle offers craft ciders in Oshkosh(August 24) -There’s a new ‘nano cidery’ in Oshkosh offering big flavors. Spencer and Doug give Local 5 Live viewers a closer look at the Sunken Paddle Ciderworks including what it is, how they got started and why locally sourced ingredients is so important. Right now, Sunken Paddle Ciderworks is open on Saturdays from Noon – 5 pm. You can stay in the loop about special events on their Facebook page and find a store locator online at sunkenpaddle.com. They are located at 544 W. 17th Avenue in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
East Bower Cider, Raleigh’s first cidery is set to open in new development near Atlantic Avenue(August 20) – A sip of cider can be a trip to the cool shady spots beneath the apple trees, where you’ll sometimes fine the fallen fruit sending up a scent past ripe and overripe, a bit sweet and a little boozy. The new East Bower Cider Co. aims to offer that shady delight, but a lot less rustic, debuting this month as Raleigh’s first cidery. Complete Story
Coronado Brewing Company Unveils New Hard Cider, New Leadership, Notable Sales Growth(August 17) – Things are heating up this summer at Coronado Brewing Company (CBC) as the award-winning San Diego craft beer company announces several key business updates: a launch of its hard cider brand, two strategic leadership hires, and remarkable sales growth during the first two quarters of 2022. Complete Story
THC drink to be released by Minneapolis Cider Company(July 31) – Minneapolis Cider Company is rolling out a drink called “Trail Magic.” According to the business, the drink is made with non-alcoholic cider mixed with 3 milligrams of Delta 9 THC. It will also come in two different flavors — pineapple and mixed berry. Complete Story
American Cider Association launches Virginia Cider Trail(July 12) – Virginia has a growing reputation for high-quality wine and craft beer produced in the state. And now you can add cider to the list. There are more than 50 cideries in the Commonwealth, ranking Virginia sixth among the states. This week, the American Cider Association debuted the new digital Virginia Cider Trail. Michelle McGrath is the Executive Director of the American Cider Association. Complete Story
The Reason Hard Cider Almost Disappeared In The US(July 4) – Thankfully, cider has reemerged from its long hibernation, and sales are booming: Market Data Forecast predicts the industry’s market value will nearly quadruple by 2027. And while we’re happy to have cider back in its boozy place of honor in the American culinary landscape, what drove it to near extinction in the first place? Complete Story
Golden State Cider bought by Chris Jackson of Seismic Brewing Co.(June 1) – After being raised in a wine family and venturing into the beer business, Chris Jackson has added a new drink category to the mix: hard cider. Jackson, a proprietor of Jackson Family Wines of Santa Rosa, and his wife, Ariel, announced Wednesday they purchased Golden State Cider of Healdsburg from founders Jolie Devoto and Hunter Wade. That duo started the cidery 10 years ago by using apples from the Devoto orchard in Sebastopol. Complete Story
Scion Cider: Bringing Education and Cider to All(April 8) – Outside of the traditional categories of alcohol—beer, wine and spirits—exists a drink that overlaps all three—cider. New local cider bar Scion Cider focuses on bringing cider education to the public eye. “We want to teach people about apples, how they grow, how cider is made, as well as the traditions and the history. We really want people to engage with that,” says Owner Rio Connelly. Complete Story
Cider Summit, Oregon’s largest Cider Festival returns(April 4) – Cider Summit Portland, the area’s largest cider tasting festival, will be held in Portland June 10 and Jun 11 at The Fields Park, 1099 NW Overton St. in Portland’s Pearl District. This year, Cider Summit returns to an in-person celebration in Portland after two years of virtual events. Attendees will enjoy a tasting selection of 150+ hard ciders from the industry’s leading cidermakers, many of whom will be on hand to guide guests through the available lineup. Complete Story
Little City Cider Co. aims for big things in Bennington(March 28) – BENNINGTON — Greg Videtto has a vision for how things will look, a few weeks from now, at his Little City Cider Co. at 139 Shields Drive. Outside, patrons will buy eats from food trucks and sit at picnic tables. And those of legal age will be quaffing hard ciders purchased from the cidery, whose inner workings won’t be camouflaged behind walls. “When they come in, the feeling is they’re kind of part of what’s going on,” Videtto said recently. “You can see the fermenters. They’re right there in your face.” Complete Story
EsoTerra Ciderworks’ new Durango tasting room shares a bit of Southwest Colorado history in every glass of hard cider(February 2) – Durango’s new cidery tasting room, EsoTerra Ciderworks, serves up Southwest Colorado history in every hard cider it pours. Owners Elizabeth Philbrick and Jared Scott have worked for the past couple of years to revive the historic apple industry of Montezuma County. “We’re here to find historic varietals of apples that are specific to the flavor of the Southwest,” Philbrick said. Complete Story
SIXTH SENSE FOR CIDER: 6th Avenue Cidery Complements Flourishing Local Food Scene(January 6) – A new cidery in downtown Menomonie aims to be the perfect spot to stop on a night out on the town. Owners Tanya Husby and Penny Burstad are the gal-pal duo behind the new 6th Avenue Cidery, which is slated to open on Jan. 26. “You aren’t coming here for a burger and fries,” Burstad said. “You aren’t coming here for a pizza. Because we have so much of that that’s covered so well in our community.” Complete Story
This Spiced Mulled Cider Has A Secret Ingredient To Support Winter Immunity(January 1) – Spiced mulled cider is a delicious winter treat—and it’s easier to whip up than you might think. This recipe builds upon store-bought apple cider with six delicious functional herbs and spices that have been used for centuries to support winter wellness. It only takes one hour for this seasonal drink to simmer in the background while you make dinner, tidy up, or sit back and relax. Complete Story
Coronado Brewing Launches a New Line of Organic Hard Cider(December 2) – San Diego–based Coronado Brewing Company is launching California’s first USDA-certified organic canned cider line. The new brand, Coronado Hard Cider, will release its first two flavors, Nice & Dry and Super Fruit Cider, in their tasting rooms and across select San Diego retailers starting the first week in December before rolling out throughout California in early 2022. Complete Story
Top 10 ciders to drink before cider season ends(November 24) – Here are the best hard ciders you can find in the market as you look for festive drinks this autumn. From pairing it with brunch favorites to using one to top off your favorite cocktail, ciders are some of the most versatile drinks out there. As cider season comes to an end, make the most of these fruity, zesty, and tangy ciders that can be enjoyed all day long. Complete Story
Portland International Cider Cup 2021 Winners Announced(November 20) – The Northwest Cider Association announced the 2021 winners of the Portland International Cider Cup (PICC) awards competition at a ceremony held last night at Swift Cider in NE Portland. NWCA recognized 45 medal winning ciders across an array of categories, ranging from Modern Dry to Traditional Perries. Complete Story
5 cider pairings for your Thanksgiving feast(November 20) – Whether your meals are traditional or exotic, there’s a cider that’s right for the occasion. No matter what your Thanksgiving celebration looks like, there’s a cider to match. Check out this ciders for your Minnesota Thanksgiving: Complete Story
Apple Barn’s apple cider a hit during the fall season(November 19) – SEVIERVILLE, Tennessee – For over 40 years, The Apple Barn and Cider Mill has grown a variety of different apples to make their own delicious apple cider. Each fall, the Apple Barn makes fresh, unpasteurized apple cider. The family-owned business has become a tourist destination for people all around the world. The Apple Barn not only boasts delicious apple cider, but also includes a general store, a candy shop, a winery, two restaurants and much more. Website
Where to Find Apple Cider in Metro Detroit(October 6) – Metro Detroiters don’t need to travel far for a fun cider mill outing. The Franklin Cider Mill, for example, has been operating for more than a century. Visitors can watch the cider being pressed as well as purchase cider, apples, and a range of other products including donuts, which the mill has been making from the same German spice donut recipe for 80 years. Complete Story
Where to get great apple cider donuts, hard cider and other fall treats around Delaware(October 5) – Like an apple tree, we all need good friends. What’s a better way to celebrate a good friendship than by meeting up to enjoy some favorite fall activities? Gathering at firepits, taking a hayride, going apple picking, carving jack-o-lanterns, all are a great way to spend time together. And so is going on a hunt for the best apple cider donuts and apple cider you can find. Complete Story
No bad apples: Company crowdsources apples across Hudson Valley for hard cider(September 28) – “It’s super exciting, like treasure hunting,” enthuses Martin Bernstein, explaining the thrill of the chase, foraging for wild apples that are the crucial ingredient in hard cider produced by his aptly-named company, Abandoned Hard Cider. The company, founded in 2017, uses fruit found in abandoned orchards, backyards, roadsides, and trails to ferment the epitome of a beverage with a local terroir. Complete Story
East End Hard Ciders Offer Refreshment and Cheer for Fall(September 21) – The East End is now well established as home to some fabulous wines in the Hamptons and on the North Fork, but heads have also begun turning for our fantastic hard ciders. At its core, hard cider is made from fermented apple juice, but regional winemakers and brewers have been infusing it with all sorts of wonderfully innovative ingredients, applying their craft and getting some incredible results over the past decade. Complete Story
Buskey Soft-Serve Hard Cider Is Autumn’s Answer to Frosé(September 16) – Will Correll, founder and CEO of Buskey Cider, was first inspired to create his super-popular, autumnal alternative to frosé, a soft-serve hard cider, when he read an article on the Below Zero machine, a $5,500 device that uses a binding agent to turn booze into “ice cream.” But it’s technically not ice cream, as there’s no dairy. Complete Story
Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP) – While the 1,561 total entries in the 2021 competition fell just shy of GLINTCAP’s record-breaking 1,584 total entries in 2019, this competition did set a record this year in Commercial Division with 1,231 entries. Complete Results
4 Twin Cities cider taprooms at the core of the hard cider movement(September 16) Sociable Cider Werks broke new ground in 2013 with the opening of the state’s first cider taproom, in northeast Minneapolis. It was also an innovator with its introduction of Graf — a gluten-free cider-beer hybrid. Complete Story
Family Traditions Inspire Tin Top Cider (September 14) – Jon and Jenny Villeneuve will officially open Tin Top Cider Co. on South Old Sheepscot Road in Alna on Friday, Sept. 3, after years of preparation, a change in the town’s law, and a nearly lifelong hobby of making cider. Jon traces the family tradition back to his grandfather, who would make hard cider in two rum barrels at his home in Bedford, N.H. It wasn’t until his father took on the craft that Jon was able to taste some of the hard cider, which made an impression on the college student. Complete Story
Bushwick Kitchen Partners with Angry Orchard Hard Cider to Create Three New Sizzling Hot Sauces(September 8) – A duo you never knew you needed, Angry Orchard and Bushwick Kitchen announced today the launch of three new Angry Orchard inspired hot sauces that will create a flavor explosion in your mouth: Crisp Apple Jalapeno, Peach Mango Scotch Bonnet and Strawberry Jalapeno. Each flavor is based on a cider in Angry Orchard’s deliciously fruity and refreshingly crisp offerings – Crisp Apple, Peach Mango, and Strawberry. Complete Story
Michigan hard cidermakers win nearly 200 medals at Great Lakes International Cider & Perry Competition(September 6) – Michigan was the most awarded state, nabbing 194 medals. One Mitten cidery, Uncle John’s in St. Johns, was named the best midsize cidermaker of the year. It was also the third most awarded cider maker in the entire competition, winning 22 medals. Complete Story
