People have been enjoying cider for thousands of years. From the ancient Egyptians of North Africa to the Celts in Britain, it was consumed throughout much of the old world before finding its way to America in the 1600s with the colonists. In the early years of settlement, times were tough for the colonists and if it not for cider, times would have been even tougher. Cider provided a safe alternative to water, which at the time, was riddled with viruses and bacteria. Cider also provided the colonists with much needed nutrients during the long winter months when food rations were low. This early reliance on cider helped fuel the widespread cultivation of apples and the development of new varieties in the United States.
Today, there are about 2,500 different varieties of apples grown commercially in the U.S. Washington is by far the largest producer of apples and in 2019 the state grew a whopping 7.5 billion pounds. Oregon produced about 1.4% of the total U.S. apple crop or 150,000,000 pounds of apples in 2019, most of which were grown here locally in the Hood River Valley.
There are upwards of 20 commercial apple orchards in the Hood River Valley, and many more if you consider the hobby farmers and backyard orchardists. So, what do you do with all of those apples? Well, you do what the colonists did…You make cider! The Slopeswell Cider Co., located in Hood River, Oregon, is doing just that and they are doing it really, really well.
Slopeswell Cider Co. is located in the Heights neighborhood of Hood River, uphill from the downtown area that most visitors are familiar with. Slopeswell Cider Co. is jointly owned by a team of locals who pride themselves on handcrafted, quality ciders and beers. John is the cidermaker, Casey is the brewer, Chip handles wholesale, JT tends to the tasting room, and Kristyn…well, she does the rest.
Slopeswell Cider Co., which started off as a hobby for John and Chip, has quickly grown into a favorite local hangout and serious cidery/brewery. On any given day, Slopeswell is serving upwards of ten different ciders and a handful of German-style craft beers (Casey studied brewing in Germany after all) and they are all fantastic. Slopeswell prides themselves in quality, craft beverages that are fabulous yet unpretentious. There is no air of exclusivity here and that is obvious the minute you enter their tasting room. It’s comfortable, inviting, and full of friendly folks and approachable beverages.
Although it’s hard to choose, I’d have to say that my favorite ciders right now are Crowded Table, Basilisk and Countervail. Crowded Table is their limited-edition heirloom and wild fermented cider. It’s a blend of Kingston Black, Bramley’s Seedling, Rootstock and organic Jonagold apples. It has a rich, baked apple flavor with a hint of sweetness and touch of acidity that is round and full-bodied when it hits your palate. This great sipper is excellent with savory foods. I also love Basilisk, which is fermented with saison yeast and back-sweetened with honey from bees on the Hermiston watermelon farms. Basilisk is loaded with floral notes and aromatics and is on the dry end of the spectrum. It’s great on its own and requires nothing more than a quiet spot to enjoy it with a few good friends. My favorite of favorites however, is definitely Countervail. Countervail is the yin-yang of ciders; a unique combination of Keel cider, an easy drinking cider fermented with a champagne yeast, and its untamed cousin, Homestead, a cider that is wild fermented right in the orchard. It is a masterfully blended cider, perfectly balanced and really refreshing. I’d drink it with any fine meal, but for now you’ll have to wait for this limited edition cider to return in the fall.
Given their trajectory, I’m really excited to see what the future has in store for Slopeswell. They are currently expanding their tasting room in Hood River, which will double their capacity and accommodate families and more room for socially-distanced seating. They also have their eyes on a really cool property in The Dalles for a larger production facility to brew Working Hands beer and a second tasting room, so get ready for that long-term plan!
If you are someone who thinks you don’t like cider, I challenge you to give Slopeswell a shot. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill sickly-sweet soda pop cider. This is high-end craft cider that could compete with any sparkling wine or champagne out there.
While the tasting room currently has restricted hours and seating, you can order your cider and beer online for pick-up or curbside delivery. And, if you aren’t a gorge local, you can have your order shipped directly to your door. Check out the details on Slopeswell’s website at https://slopeswell.com/. They sell their cider at Whole Foods Markets, New Seasons and various bottle shops in the Portland area too.
Slopeswell Cider Co. and Working Hands Fermentation is located in the Hood River Heights at 1012 12th Street, Hood River, Oregon. Support local business by getting your growler or 6-pack today. It’s a great time to toast to good health and celebrate the time-honored American tradition of enjoying a good pint of cider. Cheers!
