Today Hard Cider News
Dexter Cider Mill Is Michigan’s Oldest Continuously Operating Cider Mill(October 28) The venerable old Dexter Cider Mill, the state’s longest continuously-operating cider mill, is now in its 137th season. Throngs of people annually visit the cider mill, overlooking the banks of the Huron River, to pick up some fresh apple cider and apple spice doughnuts, which are made fresh daily on the site. Complete Story
Cleveland Hard Cider and Doughnut Fest Coming in October (September 28) – This exciting event takes place in October, and it promises to be a blast. Part bar crawl, part deliciousness, this event combines the best of Cleveland businesses in one epic night of fun. Complete Story.
The World’s Best Hard Cider—According To The International Beer And Cider Awards(August 19) – Hard cider has deep roots in American history. It was one of the most popular drinks during the 1700s and 1800s—in fact, folk hero Johnny Appleseed was said to be spreading his apple seeds around for drinking rather than eating purposes, as many of the varieties he planted wouldn’t necessarily have tasted good. Complete Story
Wild State Cider’s Dogfest offering a big chance to adopt a dog(July 19) – Saturday, the first annual Dogfest will take place at Wild State Cider, featuring 5 different animal shelters. Dogfest invites the community to swing by with their dogs to celebrate the dog days of summer, the party is taking place from 12:00pm-4:00pm. Complete Story
Fuji to Hood brings together Japanese, and American cultures — and 25 beer, cider collaborations(July 18) – This year’s Fuji to Hood will feature 22 breweries and three cideries traveling from Japan to pair up with 25 Oregon collaborators, and it will expand beyond beer and cider to include U.S. sake producer and importer SakeOne, Japanese and American owned Oregon winery Shiba Wichern Cellars, and Stone Barn Brandyworks of Southeast Portland. Complete Story
The Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard is gearing up for its 168th season starting Friday, May 10th(May 9) – The Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard is gearing up for its 168th season starting Friday, May 10. Nestled in the heart of Fly Creek, the historic mill is renowned for its signature products—from apple cider to extra-sharp New York State cheddar and creamy mill-made fudge. As visitors return to experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of the season, they can also experience the mill’s tasting room. Complete Story
Brewers and cider-makers celebrate industry awards(May 2)International beer brewers and cider-makers came together for The International Brewing & Cider Awards this week. Complete Story
Brewing giant Heineken fells orchard to sell land(May 1)The UK’s largest cider maker has chopped down a huge orchard, sparking fears for wildlife as it is a natural bird habitat. Heineken, which owns Bulmers cider, has levelled the orchard – the size of 140 football pitches – on the Offa’s Dyke path in Monmouthshire. Complete Story
Nine Pin Cider expands with Empire State Development Grant(May 1) – A local business is celebrating a major expansion. Nine Pin Cider Works, New York’s first farm cidery, opened its new and improved tasting room. The expansion project comes from a $50,000 Empire State Development grant. State leaders said the project is helping to grow New York’s craft beverage industry. Complete Story
Celebrate Big Hill Ciderworks’ 10th Anniversary this Saturday(April 24) – GARDNERS, Pa. — Celebrate Big Hill Ciderworks’ 10th Anniversary this Saturday in Cumberland County. Join the taphouse for a day filled with live music, an orchard tour led by Troy, a food truck, and plenty of signature ciders. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Complete Story
Sip Sip Hurray— It’s almost Cider Week!(April 24) – Nine days—9 -whole- days—of celebrating ciders in West Michigan—and we’re almost there! The summer sippable will be featured by the Michigan Cider Association May 10-18 during Cider Week, a partnership with Experience Grand Rapids to offer public events, tap takeovers, and Michigan Cider Fest. Complete Story
Blake’s Hard Cider launches in Oregon following Avid Cider acquisition(April 24) – When Michigan’s Blake’s Hard Cider purchased Bend, Oregon’s Avid Cider (formerly Atlas Cider) in 2022 it seemed inevitable we would see Blake’s ciders in Oregon at some point. It’s taken a few years, but that projection is becoming a reality as Blake’s Hard Cider is now producing their best-selling lineup of sweet fruit-forward flavors in Bend and launching them across the pacific northwest for the first time. Complete Story
Nine Pin Ciderworks Celebrating a Decade(March 4) – Nine Pin’s Ciderworks opened its doors officially in February 2014, but was born two years earlier when Co-founder Alejandro del Peral initially had the idea to build a cidery focused on New York’s agriculture and using all locally grown apples and fruit from within the state’s borders. Complete Story
Visit Ethic Cider’s new tasting barn to learn about modern farming in Sebastopol, California(February 21) Ethic Cider is a cidery located in Sebastopol – a pleasant burg in Sonoma County famed for its Gravenstein apples – that practices regenerative agriculture or techniques that improve soil health and climate resilience. The ground is barely tilled and instead carpeted with cover crops. Complete Story
Heartwood Ciders wants to build a cidery, tasting room, kitchen room, and parking lot near Traverse City, Michigan(February 5) – If approved, Heartwood Ciders would join Leelanau’s thriving community of hard cideries. Already, the county is home to three cider-focused producers and tasting rooms – Tandem Ciders, Two K Farms, and Suttons Bay Ciders, all located in Suttons Bay – while several other Leelanau wineries, such as Green Bird Organic Cellars and Bel Lago Vineyard, also dabble in cider production. Complete Story
Torrey Cidery opens a new taproom, and becomes the only bar in Wayne County near Salt Lake City(February 4) – Torrence and Marc have a newly opened taproom where revelers can warm up. The space is cozy, with a small electric fireplace and a bar made from reclaimed barn wood. “But the main focus is the big patio outside, which, come spring, is going to be where the action will be — we’ll have a lot more seating out there,” Torrence said. Complete Story
Northwood Cider Company’s 2nd Annual Wassail Celebration on January 20th(January 18) – Mark your calendars! We’re thrilled to invite you to our 2nd Annual Wassail Celebration on Saturday, 1/20. What’s Wassail, you ask? This ancient tradition, dating back to pagan times, is a heartfelt blessing for the apple trees, ensuring a bountiful harvest in the upcoming season—a bountiful apple season means more good ciders for you to enjoy! Join us as we honor this age-old ritual with a modern twist! Food: Pretzelfuls Live Music: Traditional Wassail Tunes Raise a Glass: Harvest Cider & Special Wassail Cocktail Blessing of the Trees Costume Contest – Crowning the Wassail Queen – More Info
Bay Area sommelier pivoted from grapes to apples, then took Sincere Cider on the road(January 17) -Folks have called Bex Pezzullo a modern-day Johnny Appleseed — with good reason. The Bay Area hospitality industry veteran and sommelier happened to be launching an apple-centric venture at a challenging time, right before the pandemic hit in 2020. – Complete Story
Wild State Cider hosts ‘Intro to Curling Day’ event in Duluth(January 13) – In Duluth’s Lincoln Park many locals gathered for the opportunity to learn the sport of curling. Wild State Cider hosted a free “Intro to Curling Day”. The event gave participants a chance to practice curling outdoors with leaders of the Duluth Curling Club before possibly booking a lane or joining a league. The event was held from noon to 4 p.m. with hot cider and bonfires warming up everyone from expert to beginner. – Complete Story
Finnriver Farm & Cidery Taps Into Tumwater Market(September 19) – Finnriver Farm & Cidery has announced the opening of Finnriver Tumwater Taproom, a new location serving 16 taps including an array of farm-crafted ciders and nonalcoholic options. The new taproom will commemorate its grand opening with an autumn equinox celebration at 5 p.m. on Sept. 22. The taproom’s business hours are Wednesday-Sunday. Complete Story
Just in Time for Autumn: An Overview of Milwaukee’s Hard Cider Scene(September 19) – With the autumn chill rapidly approaching, there’s no better way to get in the spirit of the season than to experience one of the many local cideries the Milwaukee area has to offer. With a wide range of products, flavor profiles, hard cider options, and more, each cidery offers a distinctive experience crafted from a place of passion for all things cider. Whether you’re looking for barrel-aged red wine, hard cider made from the fruit of local orchards, or the perfect place to spend a fall afternoon, look no further than these five cidery/wineries. Complete Story
Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery opens pizza garden(September 18) – NEW SCOTLAND — Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery now offers pizza in an outdoor area. The expansion includes a wood-fired pizza oven and outdoor seating for its “pizza garden,” with an enclosed event space set to open next year for weddings and corporate events. The pizza garden serves mushroom and sausage pizzas, each with locally sourced ingredients. Website: https://www.indianladderfarms.com/cidery-brewery/
The Best Cidery in Victoria, as voted by you(September 16) – Embark on a cider-fueled adventure as we unveil the best cideries in Victoria, where the lush landscapes of this picturesque region provide the perfect backdrop for indulging in locally crafted ciders. Victoria’s cider scene caters to all palettes, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Complete Story
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