Credit: via Instagram

Portland’s Cider Scene

Hard cider has joined the ranks of beverages made — and obsessed over — in Portland.

Updated Sept. 22, 2023 1 min read

While Portland is known for having 70+ breweries, amazing wines from the nearby Willamette Valley and a host of craft distilleries, the latest beverage trend in town is hard cider.

Cider-making draws from techniques typically used in brewing and winemaking, such as oak barrels.

Since the tart beverage is made from fermented apples, Oregon cider makers have plenty of raw material from the apple-growing regions of the state and neighboring Washington. Cider-making draws from techniques typically used in brewing and winemaking, such as using oak barrels to age the brew or adding hops to increase its bitterness, making it a perfect fit for Portland.

Some Portland companies push the traditional boundaries, using gin or whiskey barrels to age some of their products, along with other unorthodox techniques. Others, such as Portland Cider Company, focus on traditional semi-sweet and dry options.

Schilling Cider House

This Pacific Northwest cidery (hailing from Seattle) opened its Portland tap house in 2017 with 50 ciders on tap focused on their house made ciders and other small indie-makers. They also boast a completely gluten-free kitchen.
Cider Bite

Featuring 32 hard ciders on tap and bottles from the region and beyond, take a growler (or bottle) to-go or stick around and enjoy shareable plates and snacks.
Swift Cider

Named after Portland's favorite bird, this award-winning craft cidery tasting room is only open the last Friday of every month, but they are easy enough to find any day on cider taps around town.

In addition to these new makers, cider from other Oregon makers, such as Peak Light, Wandering Aengus, EZ Orchards, and Blue Mountain, can be found on tap and in bottles throughout the city. It is common to see several ciders offered alongside numerous craft beers at many of the city’s taprooms and bottle shops, including favorites like Apex and Saraveza, Belmont Station, The Place, or Imperial Bottle Shop.

Food