This year, Blake’s Hard Cider (BHC) is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The Armada, Mich.-based craft cidery has plenty of plans to honor the anniversary, including new releases, an expanded distribution footprint and a new production facility.
“Blake’s Hard Cider was founded a decade ago on my family’s farm, it’s incredible to witness the continued growth thanks to our team’s hard work, inventiveness and commitment to creating something special,” Andrew Blake, founder of BHC, said in a statement. “There are no cutting corners in farming, and that’s been our approach in producing great cider and entering new markets, and we’re proud of where we’ve come and are excited to see what’s to come.”
Earlier this month, BHC unveiled a Cherry Limeade hard cider. The flavor was inspired by the popular Slushie flavor combo and blends juicy cherries and tangy lime flavors, the company says. Cherry Limeade is set to be available throughout the distribution footprint of BHC the week of March 12.
On May 1, BHC is releasing Strawberry Zen. The hard cider delivers the taste of farm fresh strawberries with a hint of cucumber to mellow out the sweetness, BHC says. With an ABV of 6%, Cherry Limeade and Strawberry Zen will be available in six-pack of 12-ounce cans.
There also are plans to up the BHC footprint. BHC is already distributed in more than half the country, but new markets planned for this year include Texas, Alabama, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The company is opening a 17,000-square foot production facility in Wolcott, N.Y., which will start operations in April. The facility is connected to an 800-acre orchard and processing plant, allowing the company to purchase its apples and raw juice to produce beverages.
“Our investment in upstate New York, with its rich apple-growing tradition, furthers our commitment to sustainable agriculture and processing, as well as optimizing our supply chain as we continue to grow [and] expand sales nationally,” Blake said.
BHC is planning a 10-year celebration party for this summer at Blake’s Farms.