Few things are more delightful than a crisp, chilled cider. The Pacific Northwest’s amazing bounty of fresh apples mean we have access to some of the world’s finest ciders while still close to home. This holiday season don’t skip the cider, order online from The Cider Barrel and keep sprits bright.
Opened in June 2020, The Cider Barrel is located in festive downtown Olympia. Working within COVID-19 guidelines, they rotate 6 varieties on tap and offer more than 125 canned options to enjoy from their pub or packaged up to go. Owner Troy Kirby is tirelessly juggling both the new location and added online orders to keep fresh cider flowing.
“We have been thriving as a tap house with retail operations and in the last month, have really seen our online presence by shoppers explode,” shares Kirby. “While we thought that online would do something, we didn’t expect to get so many orders local, in state, and national from people seeking out different cider options.”
To order online, simply visit the website and place your order. At checkout add TTALK into the discount code for 10% off. “People can order online, pick-up or do delivery within a county-wide radius,” says Kirby. “We also offer shipping out to several states; our process makes it easy to get the shipment out within two to three business days. We have 125+ cider options and growing online. You can even do mix and match six-packs of 12-ounce cans using our custom system for $16 online.”
Want to try different flavors before placing your order? Their downtown location is open at 25% capacity during this phase of Coronavirus restrictions. Kirby and his team offer several regional exclusives like Republic of Cider (Seattle), Soundbite (Everett), Bull Run (Portland), Slake (Portland), Independent Cider (Dryden), Channel Marker (Seattle), and 12 Bridge (Oregon City).
Ciders are not new to the industry but still only capture a small percentage of the total market. That fact, however, is changing fast. Restauranteur reports show that “Despite only having a 1% share of the total alcoholic beverage market in the United States, the hard cider category has exponentially grown 10 times its size in the last 10 years.”
This growth is fueled by entrepreneurs like Kirby. “One of my biggest issues with cider is that when you go into a bar, there’s usually one option on tap and it’s the sweetest ever, and I prefer dry. I wanted to have a cider offering which was closer to a wine shop, where you have several different types available and you had the ability to go through a process of deciding based on your individual tastes.”
Because of its low alcohol content—typically between 1.2 and 8.5%—ciders are allowed for many with dietary or lifestyle restrictions. “We continue to increase our options, especially for folks seeking gluten-free and KETO alcohol options,” says Kirby, and this brings in more customers all the time.
As we all know, perhaps the best part of buying local is the ability to meet amazing folks with tremendous niche knowledge. And wisdom is yet another service Kirby is happy to offer. “The retail side of the store has been great, we have already built a following of folks coming in and getting their six-packs to go,” he says, “and also buying gift cards for friends and family. We also have packaged some great deals together in order to make for a great tasting experience. We have the ability to add cider makers to Zoom calls—we are doing this with the Gateway Rotary Club on December 20—they are committing to buying 10 to 15 packages from their group’s Zoom social, so we are getting some of those cider makers to come onto the Zoom call and talk about their product during their tastings. We can add this option for any group in the area looking to have a fun, bigger experience if they are buying several packages for a group Zoom function.”
Follow The Cider Barrel on Facebook for updates, videos, festivities, hours and reviews. Then zip over to their website and fill a virtual cart with holiday delights sure to keep the 21+ crowd happy. Don’t forget to add the TTALK coupon code as a Christmas bonus.
Benjamin Franklin once advised that “It’s indeed bad to eat apples, it’s better to turn them all into cider.” In Washington State we’re blessed with plenty and can enjoy their freshness both ways. Visit The Cider Barrel today, online or in-person, to experience our state fruit in all its glory.
