Leominster, MA – Stormalong Cider opened a new production facility in May constructed inside the New England Apple Products building in Leominster, MA. The new capacity will allow Stormalong to ferment and package cider in 100 BBL batches.
Founded in 2014, Stormalong Cider has operated out of a converted barn in Sherborn, MA on its home farm. The company currently sells 2 core products in cans; its flagship “Legendary Dry”, which features a blend of tannic bittersweet and heirloom apples, and “Dry Hop”, a crisp cider dry-hopped with Citra leaf hop via their custom hop cannon. In addition, Stormalong produces a “rare apple” series of ciders highlighting specific heirloom apple varieties, as well as a barrel aged series in collaboration with Bully Boy Distillers of Boston.
“To us, apple selection and blends are paramount. We have a small orchard where we grow some of the hard-to-find varieties, and we also have relationships with specific growers in New England to source these apples,” said ShannonEdgar, founder and cider maker. “We are fortunate in New England to have some of these heirloom varieties still in the ground, and hope to educate consumers and the industry about the importance of these cultivars in making a high quality cider”
The new production space inLeominster is conveniently positioned adjacent to a large scale rack and cloth apple press operated by New England Apple Products to produce their high quality non-alcoholic fresh cider. This apple press is capable of squeezing 20,000 gallons of cider a day. “It’s definitely nice to not have to truck juice around in tankers and have control over what happens at the press. We buy or grow all the apples we use and are extremely picky about every step of the process. We don’t just order bulk juice from a supplier. Being able to use the pressing, trucking, and storage capabilities of New England Apple Products for our fresh fruit benefits us substantially,” says Shannon. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled forJuly 10th at Stormalong’s new facility which will be attended by LeominsterMayor Dean Mazzarella and other city officials.
Stormalong’s newest cider,“Mass Appeal”, is ready for canning and will be distributed in Massachusetts through Atlantic Beverage in July. “MassAppeal” is an easy-drinking cider with a perfect balance of tart and sweet. The classic Macintosh flavor is prominent, reminiscent of fresh New England farm stand cider, while GoldenDelicious apples add a tropical layer to the finish. Stormalong’s ciders are all gluten free and made with the finest quality locally grown apples, never from concentrate.
About Stormalong Cider
We are an orchard based cidery producing a wide range of ciders focused on apple quality and character. Our flagship cider, “Legendary Dry”, uses a blend on bittersweet and heirloom apple varieties full of tannins and rich acidity. We ferment and age our ciders with traditional techniques showcasing the unique characteristics of these diverse apples. For more information on Stormalong Cider please visit www.stormalong.com.