The Love Story at the Core of Portland Cider Co.

Before Portland Cider founders Lynda and Jeff Parrish first considered turning their cidermaking hobby into a business, they took a trip to visit Somerset, England, where Lynda was born and raised. People have been making cider in this little corner of the world for more than two thousand years, and the cidermaking traditions have been passed down through the generations. By traveling around and tasting the local ciders, the couple learned more about what they wanted their own cider to taste like, and they headed home to Portland to refine their own cidermaking skills—and eventually founded Portland Cider Co.!

Part of their vision was to marry English cider tradition with Pacific Northwest apples—a reflection of Jeff and Lynda themselves joining to create something even better together. But the apples grown in the Pacific Northwest are primarily sweet apples. The traditional cider apples used in England—bitter, astringent, and not grown for fresh eating—were simply not available here. So, using some of the world’s juiciest apples grown right here in the PNW, the Parrishes crafted their own unique products and introduced countless people to the amazing beverage that is cider. 

In 2022, with more than a decade of cidermaking experience behind them, Lynda and Jeff returned to Somerset. They sought out some of the region’s best cideries and met the makers at local legends like Sheppy’s Cider, Gwatkin Cider and Oliver’s Cider & Perry. They returned to Portland with the recognition that their own palates had changed over time, and a fresh appreciation for the dry, tannic cider that can be crafted from true cider apples.

Fortunately, there are now a few small orchards near Portland that are growing cider apples. For our own English Pub Cider, we use a blend of true cider apple varieties from Idyll Acres in the Willamette Valley to create the most authentic West Country cider—and it’s been a favorite of our own cidermakers since our first batch. 

Today, cider continues to grow its fan base in the U.S.— especially in the Pacific Northwest! And along with Portland Cider, our local cider fans’ tastes have evolved, as well. Imperial ciders and dry ciders are much more popular now than a decade ago, a sign of palates that prefer more complexity and pure cider flavor. 

Every can and keg that comes out of our Clackamas cidery is a tribute to the marriage of English and American—traditional cider with Pacific Northwest apples. And just as any marriage grows and changes, Portland Cider’s selection has evolved over the years to reflect the changing tastes of cider drinkers in the Pacific Northwest. We can’t wait to show you what’s next… But while you wait, stop in and enjoy a Proper Pint of English Pub Cider with us!