San Diego–based mostly Coronado Brewing Firm is launching California’s first USDA-certified natural canned cider line. The brand new model, Coronado Onerous Cider, will launch its first two flavors, Good & Dry and Tremendous Fruit Cider, of their tasting rooms and throughout choose San Diego retailers beginning the primary week in December earlier than rolling out all through California in early 2022.
Coronado’s chief industrial officer, Clinton Smith, says diversification of the brewery’s output past beer and exhausting seltzer is each in response to altering client habits in addition to a continued improve in demand for natural consumables.
“Lots of our staff finds cider to be artisan—it is tried and true,” says Smith, explaining that though exhausting cider’s present share of the beverage market is far smaller than craft beer, it’s been part of the US’ craft legacy for tons of of years. “It’s not some new factor that’s probably a brand new fad. It’s been round.”
Smith says analysis and growth for the brand new model have been within the works for round two years: longer than they initially anticipated, with loads of pandemic-related bumps alongside the way in which. After getting Coronado’s cider facility formally licensed USDA Natural in early 2021 and procuring a constant provide of natural juice, the subsequent step was figuring out the flagship flavors.
At 6 p.c ABV, Smith says Good & Dry is their extra conventional cider: a dry, effervescent expression of fruit that finishes crisp and clear with none sulfites or added sugar. Tremendous Fruit Cider is a semisweet cider bolstered by acai and blueberries that is available in at 5.5 p.c ABV. All of their ciders are gluten-free, vegan, and freed from preservatives to make sure compliance.
Launching with simply two flavors was intentional, in line with Smith. “We need to ensure that folks actually perceive how severe we’re about this”—particularly longtime Coronado followers who could or could not already be searching for options to beer. “However we acknowledge there are cider drinkers who’re very captivated with it. To achieve success, we have now to get that cider drinker and go all in. We will’t simply be a brewery who slaps our emblem on a cider.”
Head brewer Mark Theisen, together with former cider maker and craft beverage guide Brent Miles, is spearheading the brand new model. With Theisen’s in depth expertise in Coronado’s brewhouse coupled with Miles’s background in producing and launching new cider manufacturers, “We’re now at a degree the place we really feel we are able to produce among the finest cider not simply within the state, however nationally,” Smith claims. “When you’ve had an opportunity to attempt our beers and also you loved them, I’m very assured you’ll be proud of the cider we produce. And should you haven’t tried our beers and identical to good cider, give us a shot. We put so much into this.”
Sustain with Coronado Onerous Cider information at coronadobrewing.com.
Beth Demmon is a contract author, journalist, and BJCP beer decide from San Diego. She acquired the North American Guild of Beer Writers 2019 Range in Beer Writing grant and is the beer columnist at San Diego Journal.