6 North American Cider Companies Worth Checking Out
If you've only had major-brand, mass-produced cider, you can be forgiven for being underwhelmed, but just know that you've been missing out. There are many great producers in the United States and Canada taking advantage of the excellent growing conditions to produce delicious cider from incredible fruit, employing modern techniques to extract as much flavor as possible from distinct varieties of apples and other ingredients. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
6 Producers of Refreshing Cider
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Eve's Cidery | Van Etten, NY |
| West Avenue Cider Company | Freelton, ON |
| Foggy Ridge Cider | Dugspur, VA |
| Redbyrd Orchard Cider | Trumansburg, NY |
| Stem Ciders | Denver & Lafayette, CO |
| Albemarle CiderWorks | North Garden, VA |
What Goes Into the Beverages of Albemarle CiderWorks
Resources Making It Easier To Go Gluten Free
| Name | What It Offers |
|---|---|
| Bread SRSLY | San Francisco's first gluten-free sourdough bread company |
| Celiac Community Foundation of Northern California | Provides evidence-based support to those with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento region |
| Vegetarian Mamma | A blog run by Cindy Gordon, who offers easy-to-make, gluten-free, vegetarian, and allergy-friendly recipes |
| Nima | The world’s first portable food sensor, which detects gluten and peanut in food, delivering results in minutes |
| National Celiac Association | Represents and serves individuals with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities through education and empowerment |
| Dishing Delish | A 100% gluten-free food blog created by Jacqui Donnelly |
Get to Know Redbyrd Orchard Cider
Groups That Support Farmers & Agriculture
| Organization | Headquarters Location | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Farm Rescue | Horace, ND | Help family farms and ranches bridge crises so they have an opportunity to continue viable operations |
| Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association | Columbus, OH | Support family farmers and sustainable local food systems |
| Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association | Calgary, Alberta | Develop policy solutions that strengthen the profitability and sustainability of farming and the agricultural industry |
| Farming First | Brussels, Belgium | Identify and promote the many ways in which sustainable agricultural development can be advanced worldwide |
| Cultivate Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | Grow food, farms, and community in support of a sustainable and healthy local food system for all |
How Hard Cider is Made
In Depth
Cider is gaining popularity, and for good reason. This refreshing, traditional beverage made with fermented fruit is an alternative to beer, and suitable for those who are gluten intolerant. Listed in no particular order, the following are some producers worth checking out if you're interested in discovering this beloved drink.
Up first at #1 on our list, Eve's Cidery is a small family farm producing naturally fermented ciders from their own organically-grown fruit, wild-foraged apples and pears. Eve's Cidery is located in the hills of Van Etten, at the intersection of the Finger Lakes and the Northern Appalachian Plateau in Upstate New York.
Interested visitors can schedule a private, in-depth tasting at the farm. During your visit, a host will pour a range of ciders, discuss farming and production methods, and will give a tour of the working cidery. For those unable to visit, Eve's offers a subscription service that includes first access to new releases, five single varietals, three wild foraged blends and two library selections.
During your visit, a host will pour a range of ciders, discuss farming and production methods, and will give a tour of the working cidery.
Moving on to #2, West Avenue Cider is a Canadian company that marries authenticity and tradition with urban-inspired flavors. This producer offers year-round staples and innovative barrel-aged and cask-conditioned brews, as well as some non-alcoholic options. New editions are released every month, and are available at the West Avenue Cider House as well as at bars and restaurants around Ontario.
As small-batch producers, this company pays close attention to the quality of the fruit that goes into their ciders. They use fresh, local ingredients and employ a slow fermentation process to ensure that every batch is characteristic of the orchard's terroir. Because heirloom apples are rare in Canada, West Avenue has planted thousands of trees in their orchard to ensure that the heritage ciders remain as authentic as possible.
Next up at #3, Foggy Ridge Cider began in 1997 at an apple orchard in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains. Founder Diane Flynt specializes in growing unique apple varieties such as Dabinett, Foxwhelp, Graniwinkle, Tremlett's Bitter, Kingston Black, and PommeGris, which are known for their bitter, complex flavor profiles. Producing a carefully crafted drink using high quality fruit has always been the goal at this cidery.
Founder Diane Flynt specializes in growing unique apple varieties such as Dabinett, Foxwhelp, Graniwinkle, Tremlett's Bitter, Kingston Black, and PommeGris, which are known for their bitter, complex flavor profiles.
For more than a decade, Foggy Ridge has crafted traditional apples into fine cider using the skill and expertise of modern fermentation. Each season is different, and thus produces a beverage that varies in flavor from year to year. In 2018, the company began selling its fruit to other makers throughout the region so as to encourage other producers to make their own versions of orchard-centric cider.
At #4 on our list, Redbyrd Orchard Cider is a small, certified biodynamic, family-run cidery nestled in the rolling hills of the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York. Redbyrd Orchard specializes in growing heirloom, wild seedling, and heritage apples that produce a range of distinct, uniquely flavored, hand-crafted ciders.
Founders Eric Shatt and Deva Maas began clearing the woods behind their farmhouse to plant what would become their first cider orchard in 2003. Using their knowledge of the wine making and grape growing traditions of the Finger Lakes region, the duo began producing cider for the public in 2010.
Using their knowledge of the wine making and grape growing traditions of the Finger Lakes region, the duo began producing cider for the public in 2010.
Onto #5, Stem Ciders is a craft cidery headquartered in Lafayette, Colorado. It was founded in 2013 by Eric Foster and Phil Kao, two entrepreneurs with a deep appreciation for artisan crafts and a strong commitment to reviving the cider-making heritage. Stem is founded on three main principles: quality, style, and tradition.
This company sources its fruit from Colorado, Michigan, and the Pacific Northwest, which lends a clean, bright, and dry flavor to the finished product. From the first batch of cider produced in 2011, now known as Real Dry Apple Cider, to seasonal offerings and monthly experiments, the team at Stem is passionate about producing a beverage that brings flavor and tradition to the forefront.
Lastly, at #6 on our list, Vintage Virginia Apples was founded in 2000 by the Shelton family. This family-run orchard grows a variety of tree fruits that are becoming increasingly rare. Many of these are older varieties that have fallen into obscurity or just do not fit the needs of today's commercial marketing and distribution systems.
This family-run orchard grows a variety of tree fruits that are becoming increasingly rare.
The orchard's cidery, Albemarle CiderWorks, was started in July of 2009 with the release of three distinctive ciders: Jupiter's Legacy, Ragged Mountain, and Royal Pippin. Since then, this company has introduced many single varietals and blends, including their first Special Reserve. Albemarle CiderWorks aims to continue finding inspiration from the 2,500 varieties of apples found in the United States, and currently offers tastings at their Tasting Room in North Garden, Virginia.
