An apple a day is coming easier and easier with new cideries opening up across North America. From the East to West Coasts, north to south and everywhere in between, cidermakers are thriving in the industry and everyone wants in. Taste what’s available near you with these five new West Coast cideries.
Western Cider Co. | Missoula, MT
With plans to open in March, Western Cider Co. will be the first ever cidery to come to Missoula. It all started back in 2010 when owner Michael Billingsley became infatuated with apples and planted 2,500 cider apple trees south of Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley two years later. Planting more trees with each passing year, Western Cider is making 2017 the year to showcase its product. The company’s five-year endeavor has been nothing short of easy, but come March it will be Western Cider’s time to shine.
Runcible Cider | Mosier, OR
Located in the rocky terrain of the Columbia River Gorge, Runcible Cider is a small family business that prides itself on everything local. The idea came about when owners Kelly McCune and Rob Miller had been traveling to the Gorge from their home in Southern California for years. Now the cidery has 500 traditional cider apple trees and plans to increase that number with each passing year. Runcible ciders in the works are a flagship cider, a farmhouse-style sipper, a cherry blend, a “rough-and-ready” offering and an aged cider that will be made with patience.
Tumalo Cider Co. | Bend, OR
Central Oregon local Kelly Roark went from at-home garage brewer to full-blown cidermaker using the help of local resources. He began filling up trashcans with apples growing throughout Bend, pressing them with friends and creating a distinct cider that was loved around the community. Roark met Jeff Bennett, a local entrepreneur, and the two created Tumalo Cider with the help of contractors and businesses around Bend. Focusing on small batch specialty ciders, Tumalo’s two current offerings are a complex dry and semi-sweet.
Bivouac Ciderworks | San Diego, CA
Located in the heart of the North Park neighborhood, Bivouac Ciderworks will be San Diego’s first artisan cidery and taproom. Southern California has seen a rapid growth in the cider market, but San Diegans lack their own cider haven. Bivouac is hoping to change the local cider market by growing collaboratively, inspiring the community and creating a superior product through innovation. Channeling help from local brewers around the San Diego area, Bivouac is learning and expanding in hopes of opening their taproom in April. The future is looking bright for Bivouac as they recently raised over $44,000 through Kickstarter to help build their future taproom.
Schilling Cider House | Portland, OR
America’s largest known cider taproom will be opening in Portland’s Goat Blocks this spring, brought to the PNW by Seattle’s Schilling Hard Cider. The taproom will feature roughly 50 taps with 40 guest taps and 10 in-house ciders, more than 300 bottle selections from across the globe and a gluten-free menu that pairs with various selections. Along with the plethora of cider options, Schilling Portland will feature beer-hall-style tables, an outdoor patio with a built-in fire pit and plenty of room to kick back, relax and enjoy the world’s apple bounty.
