Rounding Up Cider Clubs and CSAs

Wine clubs have been a significant support of small (or not so so small) wineries for years. They bring steady business, which is especially important in an area that may only have winery traffic during a tourist season. I asked myself the other day, if cideries are taking part in this tradition. It seems like a great idea to me for both the businesses and cider enthusiasts.

I found a few cider clubs even two cideries that use the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model. What perhaps is the most surprising to me is the relatively wide variety of ways these different clubs work. So, I’m rounding up a few here. I’m sure I’ve not found them all though. Feel free to show me more in the comments.

Tieton Works Cider Club

The Tieton Works Cider Club, Washington

The company describes their club saying, “The Tieton Cider Works Cider Club provides a unique opportunity to be among the first to taste new releases and special offerings including any Small Batch Releases for Members only. Cider shipments are automatically sent to your home or office at a discount, four times per year, December, March, June and September.” The shipments are thematic including themes like holidays, cocktails, and food pairings. The price is listed as 29-38 before taxes and shipping and includes a year round discount on additional cider purchases. Find out more here: http://www.tietonciderworks.com/tieton/ciders/the-tieton-cider-works-cider-club.html

Bellwether Ciders

Bellwether Cidery Case Club, New York

Perhaps the simplest of all of the clubs, Bellwether offers a discount club for all customers who buy a case of their ciders,”They say commitment can be scary. We think commitment can save you some money! When you purchase a full case (12 bottles) of cider at one time, you are automatically entered into our Case Club! Once you are a member, you will enjoy a 20% discount on all future case purchases. Just buy at least one case every 12 months to stay active!” Scroll down on their main page to read all about it: http://www.cidery.com/

Blue Mountain Cider Club

Blue Mountain Cider Club, Oregon

This cidery succinctly describes their club’s key features, “Cider club members receive discounts, first access to tasting room-only ciders and invites to club-only events.” Members get two cider deliveries a year and can join the club at either 4 or 6 bottles per shipment. The selections highlight new releases or special limited run ciders available only to club members. Tasting privileges, events, and an ongoing discount are further perks offered to those who join. I could not easily see the price on the information page, but you can read more there: http://secure.drinkcider.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=4

Redbyrd Workman Cider

Redbyrd Spring Cider Share, New York

This is a considerably more local operation, but nonetheless it is a really interesting way for Finger Lakes Region cider fans and this cidermaker to come together, “How cool would it be if there were dry cider waiting for you at your weekly vegetable CSA pick-up? Sign up for Good Life Farm’s Spring CSA and you can easily add a Redbyrd Orchard Cider Share.” Shareholders choose between Workman’s Dry Cider or the Workman’s Semi-Dry and could purchase by the half case, case, weekly bottle, or six litter keg with prices ranging from $65 to $122. Though the cider share is long over for the year, you can read about it here: http://redbyrdorchardcider.com/2013/02/06/37/

Foggy Ridge Cider

Foggy Ridge Cider Club, Virginia

This cider makes the”Foggy Ridge Cider Club Members enjoy four (4) 3, 6 or 12 bottle shipments delivered directly to you every year. Cider shipments are carefully selected by the cidermaker and include special products and vintages not always available to other customers. Shipment prices vary, but the average shipment cost over the course of the year is $100 (after discount, before tax and shipping). Each shipment will automatically be charged to the credit card provided as well as shipping and applicable state taxes.” Members also have access to an ongoing discount on all future cider purchases, two tickets to all Foggy Ridge events from May through October,
free tastings in tasting room, and a Virginia Wine app as well as invitations to exclusive Cider Club events, the ability to buy limited releases, early access to new ciders, and recipes and recommendations in each delivery. You can learn more about the club on their website: http://store.foggyridgecider.com/foggy-ridge-cider-club-p5.aspx

Finnriver Cider

Finnriver Cidery, Washington

Finnriver offers 10 different cider clubs with different levels of commitment. They say, “Enjoy year-round discounts and special releases by joining a Finnriver club. There are a handful of choices to review and it takes just a few steps to sign up!” I found the array pleasandly dizzying and too intricate to reword in its entirety here, but you can find out about all 10 clubs here: http://www.vineyard2door.com/web/clubs_browse.cfm?CFID=4125294&CFTOKEN=53957001

Whether or not you decide to check out a cider club for yourself, I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing what a few cideries are doing to help their customers enjoy their cider year round.

Kick starter & Cider

So, it looks like Kickstarter is quickly become an ally to cider fans and would-be cider makers both in the United States and abroad. Here’s a quick round up, so you can catch what’s been happening in the world of cider on Kickstarter. I’ll start with current campaigns and then include those that have come and gone in recent months. Check these out soon before the time to support them has passed.

Cider Riot! A New Cidery out of Portland, Oregon

Check it out at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1123952348/cider-riot

Here’s what Abram Goldman-Armstrong says about his project, “Converting my garage into an urban cidery to share my passion for making complex, flavorful and delicious dry ciders.” He posted most recently about a cider and cheese pairing event that sounded amazing. I can only hope if the project funds, he’ll be doing more of those in the future, and maybe even share those ciders with us cider lovers outside of the pacific northwest.

Victor’s Drinks, an at home cider making kit out of London, England

Here’s the link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1785992079/victors-drinks

Cecilia Broadbent describes her project as, “Victor’s is bringing a new way of home drinking to the world. Not from a can, from you. Welcome to your very own home made cider.” Interesting idea.

And recently these projects funded successfully!

Homestead Hard Cider, Reviving a Massachusetts Tradition,  starting a new cidery in MA

You can see their project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/homesteadhardcider/homestead-hard-cider-reviving-a-massachusetts-trad

This is how Homestead Hard Cider enthusiastically sells their idea, “We have the recipes, the cider house, and the local apples for our 100% natural apple cider, now we need your help!!! #HomesteadCider.” The idea must have resonated with people because they surpassed their goal by more than 1k! Congrats!

Rebuild Historic Cider House at Greenmarket Farm Breezy Hill

Read more: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1634698602/rebuild-historic-cider-house-at-greenmarket-farm-b

Elizabeth Ryan, accomplished cider maker, gathered significant help towards her goal saying, “Let’s finish the cider house at Breezy Hill Orchard and start making artisan hard ciders and meads in it again!” I cannot wait to follow up on this ambitious project in the months and years to come.

Bishop Cider Co, -Craft Hard Cider. First Cidery in North TX

Bishop Cider company more than doubled their target amount in hopes to start their cidery. They say this about their very successful project, “BCC is a cidery in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas, Texas making hard cider. Visit us at BishopCider.com or Facebook.com/BishopCider.”

Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider Public Taproom

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1001364452/reverend-nats-hard-cider-public-taproom

Nat West introduces his project simply, “We make and sell hard cider across the northwest but don’t (yet) have a public taproom for our customers. That’s where you come in!” His modesty aside, I’ve been hearing great things about his ciders.

Cider in the News, Int’l July Edition

As July begins, a host of cider news are appearing all over the world. Here are a few I found interesting. Please feel free to add more in the comments section.

From All about Cider “The Great Australian Concentrate Debate”

Do you remember those old ‘Your Mumma’s So’ jokes? You know the one’s like: Your Mumma’s so fat she has to iron her pants in the drive way, or Your Mumma’s so dumb, she got stabbed at a shoot out. Well the one I fancy quite a lot of recent is: Your Mumma’s so dumb, she couldn’t stop staring at the juice bottle because it said ‘concentrate’. For some weird reason, this particular joke continually sticks in my mind. I can’t help picture some goon staring at a cider bottle going “huh, I don’t get it – why do I need to concentrate?” for hours on end.

Drums of Apple Concentrate arriving from China

The word concentrate is getting thrown around pretty profusely as of late, and I’ll be first to admit I’m a culprit. Well what is it? For the masses who don’t know what it is, chances are you have consumed it in large proportions already. Major brands like Strongbow, 5 Seeds and Bulmers are made entirely of the thick, luscious and highly processed liquid. In very simple terms, apple concentrate is produced by removing large portions of water from freshly processed juice. What you are left with is a thick, luscious and very sweet substance, bordering on cordial. This form of apple juice is perfect for storage and can be rehydrated when and if required. A cider can be wholly made from concentrate, or can be back sweetened with it to a desired residual sugar for fuller mouth feel. Seems like a fairly innocuous process if you think about it, with no real damage done. What’s the harm in using concentrate which overall is cheaper, more convenient and able to produce larger volumes? Hell, I’ve added generous amounts of concentrate to wine over my time with no questions asked. So what’s the issue? Read More

Pete Brown has an article in The Morning Advertiser “The Paradox of Premium Fruit Ciders”

The PMA’s feature on cider the other week reminded me of a conversation I had recently with one of the most talented bar managers I’ve ever met.

She runs a craft-beer bar, and whenever someone comes in and asks for a fruit cider, she wants to say (but doesn’t, because she’s very good): “Yes, we’ve got some lovely ciders made out of APPLES. They’re a fruit, you know?” Read more…

ABC Rural hosts an article by Sarina Locke “Cider consumption Doubles in Five Years”

Demand for cider in Australia has doubled over the past five years, with the local industry now worth $306 million a year.

A study by business analysts IBIS World has found 160 boutique cider makers have sprung up around Australia, competing with Fosters and Lion brewers, who are the large players. Read more…

“On the Trail of Cider House Jewels” by John Sunyer in the UK Financial Times

A new initiative offers the English equivalent of the French wine route. Read the article…