Cherry Rhubarb

We made this cider on a whim in 2014: we were standing in front of the newly-expanded rhubarb patch, wondering if we could make a delicious rhubarb cider. The answer was "no." Then we remembered the cherry syrup we had in the freezer as a result of 2013's bumper crop that Gretchen got tired of pitting. You know how that turned out. We love to share this cider with folks who think it'll be just another too-sweet fruit cider. Instead, they get a delicately-flavored cider that tastes of apples, tart cherries and rhubarb that's definitely not too sweet.

Perennial

Perennial is made from heirloom apples, usually not University of Minnesota-developed varieties. The result is very subtle tannins and lower acid than our other ciders made from bona fide Minnesota varieties. A few extra bubbles make Perennial a brunch favorite and an excellent mixer. 

Northern Spy

Northern Spy is a single-variety cider made from just Northern Spy apples. It's one of the first we made back in 2010 when we bought the orchard and one of the first we sold in 2012. Northern Spy is loved for its assertive acidity, long finish, bright apple flavor, and its ability to pair with any cuisine. Our Thanksgiving table isn't complete without it.

No Fair

We got the idea to make this cider when we were planting trees in April 2020 — the year of the pandemic. At the time we had a strong hunch the State Fair would be cancelled and though it’s not fun to stay at home and not go to school and not socialize with friends and not see our parents and grandparents, at the same time, a pandemic is larger than all of that so, yeah – no fair. 

We pitched the idea to Sam Falbo, our friend who’s responsible for all of our labels, and he came up some pretty bittersweet and perfect imagery.

As for the flavor of a cider we wanted to be drinking around State Fair time, black tea and lemon was the first flavor combo that came to mind. A good number of our cider flavor ideas are spurred by our favorite beverages in life and so this one comes from fond childhood memories of instant iced tea.

Wassail

Wassail is made from a blend of Minnesota-grown apples, aged on oak to attenuate its acid, and then blended with a spiced apple brandy. In the past we've used others' brandy but now that we have our distillery license, we're proud to use our own.

Borealis Winter Reserve

Borealis Winter Reserve is ice cider, made from Minnesota apples and Minnesota winters. Cold weather -- freezing cold weather -- is essential for making ice cider. And Minnesota apples, with their high acid content, are crucial to making an ice cider that's not cloyingly sweet. We concentrate juice through freezing weather and then ferment that concentrate. The residual sweetness ends up at the level of fresh-pressed cider with an ABV of around 13.5%.

After we had made Borealis Winter Reserve for a number of years, we pondered the idea of barrel-aging it. Mike loves the flavor of a new oak barrel – woody with a wallop of vanilla – so we ordered a new oak barrel from Black Swan Cooperage in Park Rapids, Minnesota. Black Swan made the barrel from Minnesota-grown oak, so this ice cider is even more intensely Minnesota than the original version. 

After fermentation and clarification, we aged the ice cider in this barrel for an additional six months and it turned out exactly as we hoped: oaky and vanilla-y. The oak also attenuates the acid so this barrel-aged version of Borealis Winter Reserve comes off sweeter than the original version.

Roundabout

Roundabout is our batch-numbered label, which we use for teeny tiny or experimental batches. Not sure what's in a Roundabout you have at home or a Roundabout on the shelf? Take a look.