Hard Cider Finds a Home in West VirginiaWhen most people think of hard cider and mead, West Virginia is not typically the first state that comes to mind but Josh Bennett and Will Lewis, owners of Hawk Knob Cider, have set out to change that. Josh and Will met in college at West Virginia University while taking a horticulture class. The two worked on and crafted their beverage line up and Hawk Knob was born. Hawk Knob is not only West Virginia’s first cidery but also West Virginia’s first meadery that specializes in dry meads. Hawk Knob Cidery opened its doors in December 2015. Hawk Knob produces four main hard ciders and one mead, which is not yet released but is close to being ready, as well as various seasonal offerings. While the mead is not yet ready for consumption, Hawk Knob did say that they were planning on releasing five varieties of its mead including original, a rose petal-infused, a blueberry, an elderberry, and merging their products together to make a cyser. All of Hawk Knob ciders are made using 100% locally sourced Greenbrier Valley Apples. The ciders include:
Currently, Hawk Knob uses only locally sourced West Virginia based ingredients; they have put great effort in making this a priority. Right now Hawk Knob is running on a special farm winery license which requires them to grow at least 25% of their crop to make their cider and they must get at least 50% of their product from a West Virginia farm. The owners took the guidelines in stride and decided to make their entire product from West Virginia crops. The freshness is evident in their product as is their care for the beverages they craft. The license also limits their distribution methods so they are only self distributing for now with 750ml bottles and 22oz bombers available to purchase locally. Be sure to check out Hawk Knob Cider online at HawkKnob.com or visit them at 2245 Blue Sulphur Pike, Lewisburg, WV 24901. Photo courtesy of Hawk Knob Cider. Contributed by: Eric dos Reis, Staff Writer of Hard Cider News Citizen Cider Adds Non-Alcoholic Offering
Upon looking at many of the soft drinks their children were consuming, Citizen Cider wanted to come up with a healthier option. Using much of the knowledge they gained from years of cider making, they concocted a beverage that not only tasted good but also contained no added sugar. One thing that made Citizen Cider so popular is the fact that they are made using no additives - this includes no additional sugar or sulfites. They wanted to maintain this with the sweet cider but had to overcome the challenge of making sure it did not turn out bitter as it was aiming to replace a soft drink, which are most commonly sweet. They went through many batches until finally creating the perfect formula. The cider they created was one they felt comfortable allowing their children to drink at lunch time because they knew it had been made pure. Citizen Sweet is a sparkling cider made from 100% juice. In an effort to keep their cider all natural, Citizen stood clear of using any sort of concentrate. The cider is freshly pressed using a variety of apples which are also the basis of many of Citizens alcoholic varieties but with more of a focus on the sweeter spectrum. This is a light, crisp, sweet cider which feels refreshing on a warm day or any day where alcohol is not in order; also, for those who prefer it less sweet it can be watered down to taste by adding ice. Citizen now truly has a cider for everyone, especially our designated drivers! The cider can be found on tap at many local establishments and is also sold in six packs and 750ml bottles. For now the cider is only sold locally using the local Burlington (VT) area as a test market but Citizen is set to ramp up production and distribution as the cider’s response and popularity increases. Check out Citizen Hard Cider at CitizenCider.com or by visit their tasting room at 316 Pine Street, Suite 114, in beautiful Burlington, Vermont. Photo courtesy of Citizen Cider. Contributed by: Eric dos Reis, Staff Writer of Hard Cider News Northwest Cider Association Reports 2015 as Record Year for Industry GrowthThe Northwest Cider Association, a trade organization that represents more than 70 cider makers throughout British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, recently completed a membership survey to gain regional insight into the nation’s fastest-growing beverage category. The results uncovered a variety of trends relating to cider varieties and distribution, bust most notably, regarding growth. In less than two years, more than 33 cider establishments – including tap rooms, cideries and tasting rooms – have opened throughout the Northwest. With 10 opening in 2014 and 23 in 2015, the year showed unprecedented expansion in this area. This growth trajectory isn’t slowing, as there are five tasting room openings already anticipated in the first half of 2016. Survey findings provided insight into trends relating to styles, products and distribution. Additional highlights include:
“We’re seeing a true sense of cooperation as several cideries are expanding to offer various other Northwest ciders on tap and even sell their cider in their onsite bottle shops,” notes Northwest Cider Association’s Executive Director Sherrye Wyatt. “Whether you are looking for an intimate tasting room in the heart of an orchard, an urban tap house hopping with college students, or charming neighborhood ciderhouse with local professionals, you will find them all throughout the Northwest.” Year over year, the association’s membership has grown from 52 cideries to 70, marking consistent growth since its 31 cidermakers in 2013. The national cider spotlight will focus on the Northwest this February 2-6, when the US Cider Association’s CiderCon visits Portland, Oregon. This cider extravaganza is developed for both cider experts and cider curious, and includes tastings, workshops, after hours events and much more. Visit CiderConference.com for more information. Finnriver Farm & Cider Joins the B Corp MovementFinnriver Farm & Cidery, located in the Chimacum Valley on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, is very pleased to announce its certification as a B Corporation, making it the first winery and cidery in Washington State to achieve Certified B Corps status. B Corporations lead the global movement of “people using business as a force for good,” and make a commitment to work for the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. To become a Certified B Corporation, Finnriver undertook the B Impact Assessment, evaluating their company impact in the categories of environment, employment, customers, community and governance; they also revised incorporation documents to reflect Finnriver’s commitment to making a positive social and environmental impact; and they signed the B Corp Declaration of Interdependence required of all B Corps which states,
Becoming a Certified B Corporation reinforces Finnriver’s mission to “serve the land with cider” through organic agriculture, farmland preservation, renewable energies, habitat restoration, and community outreach, education and celebration. Finnriver is also engaged in innovative, community financing thanks to visionary local investors committed to rural economic revival. “We’re very gratified to be part of the B Corp movement,” said Crystie Kisler, co-founder of Finnriver along with her husband Keith Kisler and business partner Eric Jorgensen. “In order to align our principles with our process and our products, we wanted to undergo a more thorough self-assessment and measure ourselves according to a respected standard. Through B Corps certification, we were able to learn more about ourselves and about how we can continue to grow a company that is good for our crew, our community and the earth.”
Crystie Kisler states, “We started Finnriver because we wanted to create a viable, organic farm-based business that would help revive the local food/farm community and help restore people’s connection to the land that sustains us. The cidery then evolved from our quest to diversify and create more economic stability for the farm. Now the farm and cidery are on interconnected paths and both are working hard to grow good things for this community. We feel we are still getting started and that there is so much good work ahead!” Finnriver’s full B Impact Report is availability to the public by clicking here. Learn more about Finnriver by visiting Finnriver.com. Photo courtesy of Finnriver. Three Cider Bar Picks to Start Your New YearThe rising popularity in hard cider has created a demand for more quality craft hard ciders. While the growing number of new ciders increase, their availability and difficulty to find remains incapable of keeping up with its growth. With customers unable to try many of the newest upcoming ciders on the market, the need for bars that specialize solely in cider are in demand. For avid cider drinkers, the three bars on this list are absolute must go destinations that Hard Cider News recommends you visit this year:
Woodchuck Hard Cider Releases Campfire Pancakes For Next 'Out on a Limb' Cider
Campfire Pancakes brings you Woodchuck’s small batch hard cider with an infusion of smoked apple pomace from Vermont Smoke & Cure. Topped off with a dash of Vermont Maple Syrup straight from the Green Mountains, this cider brings forward a delightfully smoky and sweet taste. The floral cider has strong smoked apples notes and real maple syrup aroma. It has a smoky character in taste that is followed by layers of maple. The medium carbonation, light body, dark amber cider that is Campfire Pancakes has an ABV of 5.5% and is available in limited quantities nationwide through April for a suggested retail six-pack price of $10.99. “It was great working with local companies to produce yet another innovative batch of cider that we know our fans will love,” said Cider Maker John Matson. “I kept getting hungry as it was blended and bottled, and the whole cidery smelled like a pancake breakfast,” chimed in fellow Cider Maker Ben E. Calvi. Please visit Woodchuck.com for additional information. Photo courtesy of Woodchuck Hard Cider.
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Citizen Cider, the same ones who brought you ciders such as Citizen Dry and the limited release barrel-aged cider have just released a brand new cider, Citizen Sweet! This cider is completely different than anything the company has ever put out before; this cider is totally alcohol free! With cider’s soaring popularity and the new rise in health conscious products, Citizen wanted to have an offering for those who enjoy cider but did not want to worry about the alcohol when they visited the tasting room, and the company also wanted to cater to those who would rather drink a natural product over sodas littered with sugar and chemicals. They set out to do just that and created a “soft” cider.
B Corporations voluntarily meet higher standards of transparency, accountability, and performance and, unlike traditional corporations; Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions not only on their shareholders, but also on their stakeholders (i.e. employees, suppliers, community, and the environment). B Corp certified can be compared to Fair Trade, LEED or Organic certification, but represents a comprehensive commitment to harness the full power of the business to solve social, environmental and economic problems. Other Washington State Certified B Corporations include Sleeping Lady Resort, Grounds for Change, Culinary Collective and Starvation Alley Farms.
Finnriver currently grows an array of organic produce and grains, and also produces a nationally distributed line of farm crafted hard ciders and fruit wines made from organic fruit. Finnriver is in the process of relocating their production facilities and public “cider garden” to a centrally-located 50-acre historic dairy farm at the Chimacum crossroads, and is collaborating with other agricultural entrepreneurs, economic development partners and conservation organizations. Community partners include the Organic Seed Alliance, Essential Blooms, Jefferson Land Trust, North Olympic Salmon Coalition, WSU Sustainable Seed Systems, the PT CoLab and the North Olympic Development Council. The Finnriver Orchard will be a rural gathering place offering fresh, local food and live music, along with educational tours and group events; a working farm growing organic apples, grains and mixed produce; and a food/drink production and processing hub. Finnriver is also working with Power Trip Energy in Port Townsend and received a USDA REAP grant (Rural Energy Assistance Program) to install a large solar energy system at the new facilities. Finnriver’s goal is to establish a model farm and cidery where rural economic development, ecological restoration and organic agriculture can all converge and thrive.
Mullers Cider House 
Bittersweet Cider Bar 
The Northman Cider Bar 
Woodchuck Hard Cider announced the release of Campfire Pancakes this month, the latest cider to join the ‘Out on a Limb’ series of ciders. ‘Out on a Limb’ is the company’s rotating six-pack that features some of Woodchuck’s most creative cider varieties. Campfire Pancakes is the company’s seventh installment in the innovative series.
