A Guide to Maine Cider

Buoyed by an interest in local food, gluten-free eating, and the ongoing enthusiasm for heirloom apples, the last few years have seen significant growth in Maine cider industry. There are currently 27 cider makers in Maine with several other producers under development (see list below).

Northern New England and upstate New York have a great climate for growing apples. There is currently a scarcity of specialty cider fruit but that’s being addressed by cider makers like Portersfield, Cornish and Whaleback that are planting new orchards, and in the meantime are harvesting apples from wild trees and old orchards from as far away as Canada.

A big step forward in the retail side of the business took place in 2019 with the launch two dedicated cider bars – Perennial in Belfast and Anoche in Portland – opened for business. It’s rare to find a restaurant in Portland that doesn’t have at least one cider on their menu.

This page was created as a resource for Maine cider enthusiasts to the producers, cider bars, bottle shops and events that are part of the emergent cider community in Maine.

Maine Cider Makers List
Here’s a list of cider producers in Maine that are in business—see the bottom of the list for ones under development.

Absolem Cider Company
Absolem launched in December 2021. There two initial ciders are Underveil, a wild fermented cider made from 95% Harrison apples and aged for 9 months in Sauternes casks, and Rose Red which was made with barbera wine.
instagram | facebook | website

After Harvest Cider Company
After Harvest was founded in 2017. They use a “blend of traditional cider variety apples” from Kelly Orchard, and have produced 7 ciders: Farmouse Brett, Galena,  Nottingham, Regal Lager,  Royal Blue, Staghorn, Wild. Their production facility is located in Acton, Maine.
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Allagash Brewing Company
Allagsh was founded in 1994 and launched their cider program August 4, 2022. Their initial cider used a mix of “Cortland, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, Goldrush, Crimson Crisp, Northern Spy, Roxbury Russet, Hudson’s Golden Gem, and Esopus Spitzenburg” and is fermented with a Pét-nat yeast strain and a yeast strain harvested from their spontaneously fermented Coolship beers and then aged in oak barrels. 6.1% ABV. A notable cider-adjacent product is the Allagash Coolship Pomme which initially launched in 2021.
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Apres
Apres is a hard seltzer and cider producer located in East Bayside Portland. They started producing their first cider, Cultivar, in August 2021 which is described as a 6.9% abv American semi-dry cider that is “unfiltered + fermented from a Honeycrisp apple mix blended in part with bourbon oak for delicate notes of vanilla honey sweetness. Light gold in color with gentle haze, this release is medium bodied with top notes of citrusy florals balanced by earthy tannins, and a clean finish”.
148 Anderson St, Portland, Maine 04101 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Ayuh Cidah
Ayuh Cidah is a new cider producer that got underway in 2019. They produce their cider using fruit from Morrison Hill Orchard.
Morrison Hill Orchard, 272 Morrison Hill Rd, Farmington, Maine (map)
instagram | facebook

Blue Lobster Urban Winery
Blue Lobster is best known for their line of canned wine, but in the fall of 2019 they fermented their first batch of cider. Tight Lines Cider was released in November 2020. Blue Lobster describes it as “not your typical American hard cider — much more like a British-style. We have bottled it in 750mL bottles using the Col Fondo method which produces nice Champagne-like bubbles and is often the method used for producing Prosecco”. Tight Lines was produced with Macintosh and Macoun apples.
219 Anderson St, Portland, ME 04101 (map)
instagram | facebook | website

Cornish Cider Company
Cornish was founded in 2017  by Jacqueline & Jared Carr. Their primary cider is Common Fruit, and also release a small batch series named Odd Fruit. They also make an excellent ice cider. Cornish is open by appointment only, call (207) 415-4607.
135 High Rd, Cornish, Maine 04020 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Deer Isle Cider Company
Deer Isle Cider in Stonington produces a sparkling cider pressed from foraged fruit from the from trees in Deer Isle and further afield in Maine. The cider is bottle conditioned. It’s available from a number of retail locations on Deer Isle and in Central Maine.

Fogtown Brewing Company
While primarily a brewery Fogtown also produces a traditional cider, and Dooryard Cider a co-fermentation that is “a mixed vintage New York Riesling co-fermented with wild apples from the Finger Lakes region, blended with Maine Heirloom cider apples; hand-pressed & conditioned in French oak barrels on wild Maine blueberries”.
25 Pine St, Ellsworth, ME 04065 (map)
website | facebook | instagram | untappd

Freedom’s Edge Cider Company
Freedom’s Edge Cider launched in 2020. Their cider is available on draft at bars in Waterville, Augusta and Portland. There current year’s cider is a blend of ” McIntosh, Cortland, Gala, Northern Spy, Fameuse, Liberty, Baldwin, Dabinett, Newtown Pippin, Spartan, along with some wild seedlings.”. Freedom’s Edge was profiled in the Waterville Morning Sentinel.
website | instagram | untappd

High Ridge Farm
High Ridge was founded by Andrew White and Kate Lafleur on a 35-acre farm in Montville. Their 2017 batch of Feet on the Ground is currently available. It’s wild fermented and pressed from apples harvested on their farm and others nearby. The cider was barrel-aged for one year prior to bottling. In the summer and fall of 2019 they held weekly cider dinners at the farm.
117 Choate Rd, Montville, Maine 04941 (map)
facebook | website | untappd

Mason’s Brewing Co.
Mason’s began producing cider in 2021. In addition to their dry unfiltered apple cider they also produce blueberry and cranberry varieties.
15 Hardy St. Brewer, Maine 04412 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Norumbega Cidery
Norumbega was founded in 2013. They’re located on a 17-acre property in New Gloucester. Current production includes the Classic Dry, Cyser, Spice and Berry Medley varieties.
380 Woodman Rd, New Gloucester, Maine 04260 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Orchard Girls Cidery
Orchard Girls was founded by Marie Daigle and Daniel Gassett in 2019. They press Macintosh, Spencer, Macron, and Clapps apples to produce 8 ciders: Amoreena, Iðunn, La Dame Roûge, Chantico, Pomona, Charlotte, Gabby, Roseleigh.
375 Main Street, Kingfield, Maine 04947 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Oyster River Winegrowers
Oyster River is a natural winery and cidery located in the Midcoast. Winemaker Brian Smith produces three ciders Wildman, Hoboken Station and Dry Cider. The winery was founded in 2010 and the first vintage of cider dates to 2012. They are distributed in Maine by Devenish Wines.
929 Oyster River Rd, Warren, Maine 04864 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Portersfield Cider
Portersfield was founded in 2015 by author, orchardist and cider maker David Buchanan. Portersfield forages wild Maine and heirloom apples to produce two primary ciders—Aronia and Traditional Dry— as well as a small batch series. Their small batch Ridlon 16/2 was a 2019 Good Food Award recipient. You can often find Portersfield at the weekend Portland Farmers’ Market in Deering Oaks Park.
255 Elmwood Road, Pownal, Maine (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Ricker Hill Hard Cider
Ricker Hill Orchard dates back to 1803. The business began commercially producing cider in present century in 2014. Ricker Hill has three options in their present line-up: Maniac Gold, Maniac Mac and Maniac Gold with Cranberry.
11 Ricker Hill Rd, Turner, Maine 04282 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Rocky Ground Cider, Newburgh
Abbey Verrier and Angus Deighan began planting their orchard in 2013 as part of a college class assignment. From that initial beginning they’ve gone on to be one of the more interesting an high quality producers of Maine cider. Their orchard in Newburgh along with foraged wild apples are used to produce 7 regular varieties of still and sparkling cider along with a small batch series entitled  Flora and Fauna. Their 2016 and 2017 vintages are currently available.
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Sea Hag Cider, Rockport
Sea Hag Cider Company launched in November of 2023. The produce a range of dry, off-dry and semi-sweet ciders produced will apples sourced from Randall’s Orchard in Standish, Maine.
315 Commercial St, Rockport, Maine 04856 (map)
instagram | facebook | untappd

Sidereal Farm Brewery, Vassalboro
Sidereal is an integrated farm, brewery, cidery, coffee roastery and kitchen. The business launched in 2022 and ciders started becoming available the following year. Their initial release was Pomme Blanche, a stainless steel aged blend of Cox Orange Pippin 50% Suncrisp 30% and a mix of black oxford and russets making up the balance.
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

 Stone Tree Farm & Cidery, Unity
Stone Tree Farm & Cidery was founded in 2020 by Brian Erickson and Frank Haferland. Erickson has over 10 years experience in making cider and is a certified Cider Maker through the Cider Institute of North America. Stone Tree produces 5 varieties of ciders as well as a range of wine.
317 Albion St, Unity, Maine 04988 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Sweetgrass Winery & Distillery
Best known for the small batch Back River Gin, but also produce fruit-based wines including a bottle conditioned  sparkling cider pressed from “Stark, Wolfe River, Golden Russets, Northern Spy, Golden Delicious, Tolman Sweets, Macon, Spartan, Red Delicious, Empire and Baldwin” varieties. Their winery/distillery is located in Union but that have tasting rooms in Portland and Kennebunk.
324 Fore Street Portland, Maine 04101 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

The Sow’s Ear Winery
Sow’s Ear is located in Brookville on the Blue Hill peninsula north of Belfast. They produce a methode champenoise sparkling cider with apples sourced from the Sow’s Ear orchard and local wild trees. The cider is barrel-fermented with wild yeast. Sow’s Ear is Maine oldest cidery. Owner Tom Hoey began making cider in 1983 and launched his company commercially in 1991.
303 Coastal Road, Brooksville, Maine 04617 (map)
untappd

Tin Top Cider Company
Launched in September 2021, Tin Top is one of Maine’s newest cider producers. The company was founded by Jon and Jenny Villeneuve who currently produce five varieties of cider including a whiskey barrel-aged one called Flow and a straight dry cider called Summit.
16 S Old Sheepscot Rd, Alna, Maine 04535 (map)
instagram | facebook | website

Urban Farm Fermentory
UFF produces a traditional dry cider, along with ones made with hop, blueberries, and seaweed. Owner Eli Cayer and his team also produces kombuchas, juns, beers, and meads. UFF is located in the ‘Yeast Bayside’ neighborhood of Portland.
200 Anderson St, Portland, Maine 04101 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

Whaleback Farm Cider
Whaleback was founded by Gene Cartwright and is located on his farm and orchard in Lincolnville. Whaleback has produced 10 varieties of cider including ciders blended with peaches, plums, grapes, elderberries and aronia. The apples and other fruit are grown on their orchard on the coast of Maine. Their ciders are fermented with natural yeast and barrel-aged before bottling. Their newest cider is Forager’s Blend pressed from wild foraged apples.
facebook | website | untappd

Winterport Winery
Winterport was founded in 2001 by Michael and Joan Anderson. They produced a number of pear and apple-based ciders as well as fruit wines.
279 South Main St, Winterport, ME 04496 (map)
instagram | facebook | website | untappd

There are also several cider makers in various stages of development. Follow them on instagram and facebook to keep track of their progress:

Bars

  • Anoche – Anoche is a cider bar and restaurant located on Washington Avenue in Portland. Owner Erika Colby is a 10-year alum and co-owner of Novare Res. She and her team serve a line-up of draft and bottled ciders from the US and Europe, Basque-inspired dishes, and gin-based cocktails.

Bottle Shops
This markets and wine shops have especially good selection of ciders from Maine and away:

Cider Events
There aren’t yet any cider events in Maine on the scale of Maine Beer Week or Portland Wine Week. However, some related events worth checking out are:

Further Reading
For more information on Maine cider and cider makers see these articles in the Maine Sunday Telegram, Down East and Press Herald, from the Maine Farmland Trust.