This cider information was written for Cider Tradition by contributor Alexsis Cassady, a Licensed Pommelier primarily based in Portland, Oregon, and the individual behind the Cider Minded Instagram account and weblog.
Welcome to Portland! Able to get your cider on? CiderCon 2024 is simply across the nook, occurring from January 16-19, 2024. Whether or not that is the primary time you’re stepping off the airplane in PDX, or if you happen to’ve visited earlier than, this information is right here that will help you discover the colourful native Portland cider scene (and maybe decide if you happen to want a rental automotive!).
Portland is nestled inside the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Classically famend for wine and beer, the variety of cideries within the Willamette Valley are on rise. Many breweries and wineries are additionally venturing to make their very own ciders, as properly.
You’ll discover ciders impressed by the French, English, Welsh, German and Spanish traditions, in addition to trendy ciders profiting from the big variety of apples grown within the Pacific Northwest.
As a resident of Portland and an avid cider fan I’ve put collectively this listing that will help you plan a tremendous expertise visiting Portland and its plethora of cideries. And, a pleasant tip from a neighborhood: Depart your umbrella at dwelling, as carrying an umbrella is a positive signal you’re not native. As an alternative, deliver your finest rain jacket, and prepare for a good time.
Portland Cideries
With Portland within the identify and three places throughout Portland correct, it’s no shock that the local people drives Portland Cider Firm. Native collaborations embrace sizzling sauce manufacturers, tea makers, and group apple drives that create its annual Neighborhood Cider, which elevate cash for Companions for a Starvation-Free Oregon. Portland Cider Co. continues to innovate their branding and restaurant places to create
areas for folks to come back collectively.
8925 SE Jannsen Rd., Clackamas, OR; (503) 744-4213; 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR; (971) 888-5054; 4005 SW Orbit St., Beaverton, OR; (503) 626-6246.
The Schilling Portland Cider Home has the nation’s largest collection of draft ciders, boasting 50 ciders to select from, together with a totally gluten-free menu, and spacious tables to assemble round. The Portland Cider Home pours Schilling Ciders, native Pacific Northwest ciders and the occasional international cider. Order a flight to take pleasure in as a lot of the menu as attainable or, if you happen to time it good, bask in its summertime slushie or wintertime mulled Chaider.
930 SE tenth Ave., Portland, OR; (971) 352-6109.
Based by two pals in 2015, the identify of this cidery highlights Portland’s favourite chicken: the Swift. Swift Cider is thought for its broad number of ciders, together with each conventional and unconventional choices. You may at all times discover a distinctive beverage to strive, comparable to gummy bear cider and pickle cider, and rumor has it that it was one of many earlier manufacturers to embrace hopped cider.
100 NE Farragut St UNIT 101, Portland, OR; (503) 719-3402.
This brewery turned part-time cidery has three places: two in Portland and one in Hood River. Occupied with sustainable brewing and cider practices? Look no additional. Its manufacturing facility flaunts 25,000 sq. toes of photo voltaic panels, and is pioneering a refillable bottle idea in Oregon. This yr, Double Mountain opened its latest location in Portland’s Overlook neighborhood. Whilst you’re there, take a stroll over to any Greeley Avenue park for excellent views of Portland’s Fremont Bridge.
700 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, OR; (503) 206-4405; 4336 SE Woodstock Blvd., Portland, OR; (503) 206-5495; 8 4th St., Hood River, OR; (541) 387-0042.
Portland Cider Bars
This hideaway within the Pearl is my favourite spot to start a night downtown. Surrounded by breweries, eating places and retailers — together with the well-known Powell’s Books — this cider taproom is in a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. Inside, the menu sports activities a rotating menu of 32 ciders from throughout the US. Seize a board recreation, decide your flight (or pint) and stick round some time.
1230 NW Hoyt St., Portland, OR; (503) 765-5655.
That is certainly the place to be for cider lovers. Half taproom, half bottle room, The Place is the place cider lovers collect and the place cider makers host launches and exhibit new ciders. With an eclectic assortment of ciders from across the globe, you’ll find many distinctive and hard-to-source manufacturers right here. The Place is sort of a second dwelling, that includes cozy furnishings, loads of indoor crops, and other people obsessed with cider.
1212-D SE Powell Blvd., Portland, OR; (971) 415-0770.
Portland Suburbs
Positioned in Forest Grove, you’ll find these two cider manufacturers, with distinctively totally different types, beneath one roof! Bull Run Cider, named for the Bull Run Watershed, the place the cidery’s orchard is planted, creates ciders with a mission of being pristine, pure and wild. In the meantime, Seven Seeds Seidr embraces Welsh lore and makes cider in a conventional Welsh fashion.
2225 Cedar St., Forest Grove, OR; (301) 785-4742.
It’s only a fast jump over the Columbia River to Vancouver, Washington’s downtown district for a style of Locust Cider. Originating in Washington, Locust has now expanded to 12 Washington taprooms, in addition to two in Colorado and one in Texas. This contemporary cidery goals to honor custom whereas exploring new taste mixtures, comparable to smoked blueberry and date and brown sugar cider.
700 Washington St., Suite 103, Vancouver, WA; (360) 984-6963.
This hidden gem is among the few in Portland’s southern suburbs. Tucked away within the Ale & Cider Home within the cozy neighborhood of West Linn, this venue is far bigger than initially meets the attention. The entrance bar is a country pub, serving beers in addition to ciders; proceed by means of an unsuspecting hallway to search out the place the fermentation occurs; then, proceed on to find one other massive, outdoorsy bar room.
1720 Willamette Falls Dr., West Linn, OR; (503) 305-6273.
Keen to Journey a Little Farther?
After 40 years of orchard expertise on the Oregon Heritage Farms, this family-owned cidery was launched down the highway on a brand new 19-acre plot of land. Its taproom opened in Fall 2022, and a constructing that was as soon as a barn is now a wonderful cabin-feel taproom with views of rolling inexperienced hills. Oh, and did I point out there’s a small practice that runs by means of the property?
18055 SW Seiffert Rd., Sherwood, OR; (503) 746-5105.
This small cidery and vineyard in Yamhill County, Oregon (about an hour outdoors of Portland) is owned by Kim Hamblin and Dan Rinke, and is thought for its pure cider, perry and wine made with foraged, natural and biodynamic fruit. Located beside an epic mountain vary, the all-outdoor tasting room at Artwork + Science presents unbelievable views and pours of the model’s progressive drinks, like co-ferments and pét-nats. The tasting room is simply open throughout the summer time and fall, however you may contact them to make an appointment throughout different instances of the yr.
22900 Pittman Rd., Sheridan, OR; (503) 560-0673.
Chances are high you recognize the identify, however have you learnt Bauman Cider’s origin story? Bauman’s Century Farm was first homesteaded in 1895 and began producing cider within the early 1900s for household and pals. In 2016, fifth-generation farmer Christine Walter took the leap into cider manufacturing and based Bauman’s Cider Co., stringing collectively strategies realized from each her household and people in trendy cider making to create the model as we all know it at this time.
12989 Howell Prairie Rd. NE, Gervais, OR; (503) 502-0848.
It is a Pacific Northwest staple! McMenamins crafts its personal cider, beer, wine and spirits at their Edgefield venue, and is beloved for artistic menu gadgets, like Cajun tots. The 74-acre venue was initially in-built 1911 as a “county poor farm” and was later restored right into a resort-style getaway, full with a full music venue and golf course. Seize a drink and wander the property (or deliver your golf golf equipment!) to see their gardens and distinctive restoration.
<2126 SW Halsey St., Troutdale, OR; (503) 669-8610.
Launched to market in June 2022, RAW Cider Firm has rapidly gained consideration with its French-inspired up to date fashion. Aiming to construct a bridge between the cider and wine world, many practices used within the crafting of RAW Cider overlap with wine making. RAW Cider Firm has been making the rounds at Pacific Northwest cider occasions, festivals and cheese pairing pop-ups all through Portland. Its extremely anticipated new taproom is predicted to open in 2024.
17530 NE McDougall Rd., Dayton, OR; no telephone.
Two brothers-in-law, one from England and one from the States, got here collectively to determine Stone Circle Cider. Named after Stonehenge, Stone Circle Cider honors the cider making strategies of Southwest England, and grows conventional cider apples to exemplify English fashion cider. Its charming tasting room additionally hosts seasonal equinox and solstice occasions.
36797 SE Kemp Rd., Estacada, OR; (503) 826-7385.
Get pleasure from your cider adventures in Portland, Oregon and the encircling areas!
- Photographs: Courtesy of their respective companies
