Distillery Lane Ciderworks

Farewell from Distillery Lane Ciderworks: A Toast to 25 Cider-ful Years

It is with a bittersweet blend of gratitude and pragmatism that we announce the upcoming closing of Distillery Lane Ciderworks. After 25 years of nurturing apple trees, pressing and fermenting cider, and sharing our passion with all of you, it’s time to raise our final glass and head off to new adventures.

We began this journey in 1998, plating roots with the dream of growing specialty cider apples and crafting great ciders. We committed to a “sell what we grow” philosophy, pouring our hearts (and sweat!) into every sip. Over the years, we welcomed more than 10,000 visitors to our farm store, shared our bounty with hundreds of restaurants and stores across the Mid-Atlantic, and toasted with countless volunteers and cider enthusiasts.

The past few years have been challenging. Like many, we faced the brunt of the pandemic; navigating its lasting effects tested our resilience. Then, Mother Nature thew us a curveball in 2023, with record heat and a challenging microclimate. We experiences a localized drought that ruined more than half of our 2023 fruit crop. It solidified our decision to gracefully step back.

However, this isn’t the end of the story! We’re in talks with other cideries to secure the 2024 apple harvest, ensuring our cider apples live on in future batches. Also, we’re excited to announce the launch of our beverage analysis lab, offering expertise to breweries, cideries, wineries, and beyond. To make way for new beginnings, we’ll be hosting with www.rasmus.com an online auction in Spring 2024, offering farm and cidery equipment to new caretakers.

A special toast goes to our incredible team, from cider maestro Tim (with us since day one!) to Oscar, Ismael, Bret, Cion, Lukas, and everyone who made Distillery Lane Ciderworks a reality. Your passion for apples and cider was the secret ingredient in every batch.  We also want to thank our many long-time customers who supported us by “buying local,” with a shout-out to Red Bear Brewing (best beer in D.C.!), Lost and Found (best go-to local bar!), Freestate, Woodberry Kitchen, Brass Tap Baltimore, Milkhouse Brewery, and Firestone’s Market.

As we close this chapter, our hearts brim with immense gratitude for the friendships, laughter, and cider-soaked memories we’ve shared. To our customers, volunteers, and family who’ve been with us on this incredible journey, thank you. Your visits, purchases, and kind words were the fuel that kept the cider press turning, and for that, we are eternally grateful. You’ve made every harvest, every pressing, and every sip truly special.

So, raise a glass (or two!) with us as we bid farewell. We may be hanging up our cider-making aprons, but the spirit of Distillery Lane Ciderworks will live on in our shared memories.

Cheers,

Rob, Patty and the whole Distillery Lane Ciderworks Team

P.S. Stay tuned on our website for updates about the 2024 harvest, lab launch, and online auction! And BTW, contact us if you’re interested in purchasing bulk 2023 cider or 2024 apples.