Portland Cider Celebrates 10 Years With Return of Award-winning Cider
This April marks 10 years since Portland Cider Company founders Lynda and Jeff Parrish sold their first bottle of cider, and the company is celebrating a decade in business throughout the month of April. The ciderbration kicks off on April 1 with the return of Portland Cider’s original flagship and most-awarded product, Sorta Sweet, under a new name: Original Gold.
Ten years ago, Portland Cider Co. was a two-person operation with a small Oregon City storefront. Today, the company operates three taprooms across the Portland Metro Area, employs close to 30 people, distributes cider in four Western states, and has earned its place as Oregon’s second-largest cidery. The company has seen steady growth over the last decade, and credits its retail cider sales for keeping the doors open through the worst of the pandemic.
“The fact that we’re able to celebrate a decade of Portland CIder Co. is really thanks to the support of our community,” said co-owner Jeff Parrish. “We are so grateful to our friends, family and fans for their consistent support, and we hope everyone will stop by this month and raise a glass with us. Cheers to the past ten, and to the next ten…or twenty!”
The company will kick off “Ten Days of Ciderbrations” on April 1 and 2 at Portland Cider House on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard in Portland, which is celebrating its own 8th anniversary this weekend. Other cider-centric events will round out the ten-day celebration, including bingo night, a cupcake and cider pairing, and a single varietal cider night, and will culminate with the Hillsboro Hops’ pre-opening game party on April 10. The Hops are also celebrating their 10th season, and as a team sponsor, Portland Cider is offering its Squeeze Play cider exclusively at Ron Tonkin Field during Hops games. A full list of the month’s celebratory events can be found at PortlandCider.com/10years.
Portland Cider has much to look forward to in the year ahead. The Clackamas Pub, which is currently closed for renovations, will be reopening at the beginning of May as a full-service restaurant helmed by Chef Vinnie Manna. A variety of creative new ciders are in the works, and the company is eagerly looking forward to warm-weather outdoor events and festivals.
“As we look back at how far we’ve come over the last decade, we’re more excited than ever about what lies ahead,” said co-owner Lynda Parrish. “We can’t wait to reveal the changes we’ve made at our Clackamas Pub, and we’re planning a summertime bash to celebrate. Our new chef Vinny is passionate about bringing our quality-first cider together with a food menu that matches that expectation, to create a wonderful experience all around from the food to the space. We have a stellar team with us here, and between our employees and our cider fans, the sky is the limit over the next several years.”
The anniversary is appropriately timed with the revival of the company’s original flagship cider, with Original Gold available on tap and in 16-ounce cans beginning April 1. Original Gold, formerly known as Sorta Sweet, has won nine gold medals in regional, national and international competitions. Made with 100% Northwest apples, it is a classic American cider with a medium-dry finish, juicy apple freshness, and moderate sweetness. Portland Cider’s proud to have Original Gold return to its year-round flagship lineup; the cider can be found on tap at establishments around Portland and in 16-ounce cans at fine retailers in Oregon, Washington, Northern California and Colorado.
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About Portland Cider Company
Portland Cider Company was founded in 2013 to bring hand-crafted, award winning cider to the Northwest. The company recognizes Portland and her bold spirit as the inspiration behind their innovative ciders, and promises the cleanest, tastiest, and most enjoyable cider-drinking experience the city has to offer. Including the new Westside Pub, Portland Cider has three taproom locations in the Portland Metro Area, where they encourage all to visit, sample, and expect more from the cider they drink.