Malaika Tyson is one half of the running a blog duo Cider Soms, which was began as a method to introduce wine-lovers to the world of cider. Created alongside together with her husband Sean, the “Soms” weblog seeks to uncover and clarify the complexities of ciders in a enjoyable manner.
Hannah Ferguson is a house winemaker and former assistant brewer in Ohio. When she opens her cidery later in 2021, her firm would be the first black, female-owned cidery in Ohio. After studying a press launch about Hannah leasing area from Penguin Metropolis Beer in Youngstown, OH to open DOPE Cider Home & Vineyard, I used to be excited to study extra about her journey.
(The questions and solutions have been edited for brevity and readability.)
Cider Tradition: How did you get your begin?
Hannah Ferguson: I’ve been a house winemaker for about 10 years, and I’ve all the time loved craft beer. So whereas I knew the right way to make wine, I didn’t have any thought the right way to make beer. An assistant brewer place opened up at Fashionable Strategies Brewery, and I labored with them for about two-and-a-half years. I’m the one black feminine skilled brewer in Ohio. However my ardour has all the time been wine and cider. Over the summer season of 2020, I collaborated with Sundog Cellars Ciderhouse & Vineyard, and a portion of the proceeds went to my LLC, DOPEbrands, to assist me open my enterprise.
How did you resolve on the identify DOPE?
It’s an acronym that stands for Dwelling On Constructive Vitality. After I first began DOPEbrands, I used to be doing occasions, making an attempt to deliver open mic nights, poetry, spoken phrase and the prefer to folks of their 30s. I knew that no matter my enterprise could be, it must be dope, and the identify caught. I wished the identify to have a that means, and my brother got here up with the acronym.
Dwelling On Constructive Vitality is the vibe that my circle of mates and I give off. Cities have quite a lot of issues happening, and other people all the time have one thing adverse to say about Youngstown, however we have now quite a lot of constructive issues occurring that I wish to present in what I’m doing.
Why did you resolve to begin making cider?
I began researching cidermaking, and I found making cider is similar as making wine, and that in Ohio, cidermaking falls underneath the wine license. Sundog Cellars additionally began as solely a vineyard. They modified their marketing strategy to begin specializing in cider as a result of the beverage is quicker to supply than wine, and it is rather widespread proper now. So whereas Sundog nonetheless makes wine, cider is their moneymaker. For me, beginning with wine would take no less than six months to supply, and it could even be depending on the season for getting grape juice. My curiosity in making cider was additionally bolstered after I did the cider collaboration and researched what number of black-owned cideries there are. [Editor’s note: not very many.]
Are you able to inform me concerning the collaboration cider?
We bought the juice from Hays Orchard in Columbiana, OH. After fermentation, the bottom was just below 8% ABV. I wished to present it a Miami Vice really feel with a strawberry pina colada combine. A farm in Michigan makes a thick, concentrated strawberry puree that we added into the cider and gave it a gorgeous coloration. We used different flavorings for the coconut and the pineapple. Coconut is a tough taste to boost, so we drank quite a bit to get the fitting style. This experimentation is one thing that I feel is quite a lot of enjoyable, in comparison with making beer.
How lengthy have you ever been curious about opening up a cider home and vineyard?
It’s been about three years. A part of it has been looking for a location. In Ohio, you’ll be able to’t get any licensing except you have got a location. And after you have a location, you need to begin paying your payments earlier than you begin making any cash. As a small enterprise, it’s already difficult to get capital, and when I discovered a few places, there have been some points.
Nevertheless, when you’d requested me 5 or 10 years in the past if I’d flip my passion right into a enterprise, I’d have stated no. I used to be completely happy being the one who brings cool items to the celebration. However I wish to see extra folks of coloration on this area and making cider. Additionally, seeing what number of craft breweries had been began by homebrewers let me know that I may deliver this enterprise to fruition as a house winemaker.
Is that how your partnership with Penguin Metropolis Beer took place?
Sure. Penguin Metropolis Beer came upon what I used to be making an attempt to do via phrase of mouth, they usually reached out to me in the future. Penguin Metropolis Beer had simply bought the ~33,000-square-foot Republic Warehouse in downtown Youngstown. They may use the vast majority of the warehouse area, however there’s additionally a 1,500-square-foot workplace constructing hooked up to the warehouse that we’re going to use for my manufacturing services and taproom. I’m excited to interrupt into the business!
What type of ciders would be the first you intend to make?
I’m leaning in the direction of the fashionable type, it’s aligned with my palate, and the ciders I usually drink are inclined to have adjunct flavors. Nevertheless, I wish to hold it blended up and never simply have one type and make ciders that entice totally different folks and hold the board rotating. I do wish to have flagship ciders. I consider that I’ll have eight faucets, so ideally, I’d have 4 flagship ciders and 4 rotating ciders.
Do you additionally plan to can your cider?
Sure, it’s one of many first issues I plan to take action that I can attain quite a lot of markets and distribute additional than my surrounding space. A cool factor about partnering with Penguin Metropolis Beer is that they have already got a canning line, and they’re prepared to help me with getting the ciders into cans. Though the doorways aren’t open, lots of people are asking me already for cider. It’s good, and I hope it continues.
What do you think about the keys to your success up to now?
The friendships and collaborations I made, beginning within the beer business. And never giving up, despite the fact that I’ve had quite a lot of letdowns previously three years. There have been many instances after I was able to stop and return into the workforce; I used to work in larger and secondary schooling.
Whereas everybody’s story is totally different, it’s laborious not having the ability to see individuals who appear to be me or that I may relate to succeeding within the business. Nevertheless, it’s by no means too late to seek out your true ardour, and that drives me.
What’s going to your taproom be like when it opens?
I’ve all the time wished a coffeehouse really feel with a contented hour vibe. I prefer to go to espresso outlets, however generally I wish to get an Irish espresso. The taproom will probably be welcoming for somebody who desires to come back in and browse a guide or go online to their laptop. Very snug, laidback and comforting. It’s a bonus that I’m subsequent to Penguin Metropolis Beer, as they’ll have restaurant hubs with totally different smaller eating places on the within. They can even have a full liquor license plus beer. We can even share a tremendous outside patio area.
When do you intend to open?
We hope for September 2021. There are quite a lot of renovations, and we have to get the gear in. I ordered the gear in early March, and that takes a couple of weeks to get in. Our largest concern is the licensing within the state. They’re very behind within the course of, and it’s unhappy, as quite a lot of companies want this licensing to open or transfer. I’m hoping they catch up actually quickly in order that we will open on time.
What non-cider beverage is in your glass most days?
Proper now, I’m consuming an Aldi sangria. I like it! It’s one of the best $4 wine you should purchase. Often, if I’m not consuming cider, it’s craft beer. I get pleasure from Rhinegeist Brewery. They make cider and beer and have some cool flavors.
To study extra about DOPE Cider Home & Vineyard, and to maintain up with Ferguson’s progress towards opening the cidery, take a look at the model’s web site, Fb and Instagram pages.
- Images: DOPE Cider Home and Vineyard
