Original Gold: The Classic that Every Cider Lover Needs to Try

Original Gold is Portland Cider’s flagship all-apple semi-sweet cider, and most recently awarded the International Cider Classic Championship in 2024. Previously known as Sorta Sweet hard cider.

Every great cider house has a story, and for Portland Cider Co., that story begins with Original Gold—a cider that helped define the company’s identity and continues to capture the hearts (and taste buds) of cider fans today, a dozen years after its first pour.

Some of our longtime fans will remember that Original Gold was originally known as Sorta Sweet. And since its inception, this classic cider has been quietly winning awards and gaining loyal fans since the very beginning. Now sporting a fresh name that reflects both its heritage and its hard-earned hardware, Original Gold is once again claiming its spot as a true flagship.

Back in the early 2000s, our founders, Jeff and Lynda Parrish, were on a mission to find the kind of cider they actually wanted to drink—dry, crisp, and clean, in the English style. But those ciders weren’t easy to come by in the Pacific Northwest. So, Jeff took matters into his own hands, making semi-annual pilgrimages to a cidery in British Columbia. That wasn’t really a sustainable solution to the problem, though. Eventually, Lynda and Jeff decided that it might be worth a try just to make it themselves.

Co-founder and President, Jeff Parrish during Portland Cider’s inaugural apple pressing in 2012.

By 2010, the couple was producing about 60 gallons of cider per year out of their home. With encouragement from friends and a growing circle of fans, they took a leap of faith, leaving their corporate jobs to start Portland Cider Co. And their very first two ciders are still around today: Kinda Dry, and what was then called Sorta Sweet—a slightly juicier, lower-ABV cider that would go on to become their most-awarded product.

Over the years, Sorta Sweet racked up more than a dozen gold medals from regional, national, and international cider competitions. But with so many new, ultra-sweet ciders hitting the market, its name started to feel misleading. Compared to those, Sorta Sweet really was only “sorta” sweet.

When it came time for a reintroduction, the new name was obvious: Original Gold. A nod to its place in the company’s origin story—and to its well-deserved collection of gold medals.

Original Gold is crafted with 100% Northwest apples and a short, simple ingredient list. The result is a crisp, medium-dry cider with just the right amount of sweetness and a clean, refreshing apple finish. It’s a cider that’s approachable for those new to craft cider, yet refined enough for the pickier palates.

Jeff Parrish describes OG the best: “It tastes like biting into a fresh, juicy apple.” It also happens to be a perfect food pairing cider—especially with spicy dishes. The Thai Beef at the Clackamas Taproom is a top contender.

You're invited to help Portland Cider Co. celebrate its 12th anniversary this year, and raise a pint of Original Gold, the most-awarded cider around! It isn’t just a great cider—it’s part of our cidery’s DNA, and a symbol of everything the company stands for: quality, community, and a love of honest, apple-forward cider.

Here’s to the cider that started it all—and to many more years of raised glasses! 🍎🥂