Seattle Cider Cans Coming To Illinois

and Wirtz Beverage have announced a new partnership to bring Seattle Cider’s unique selection of craft ciders to Illinois, beginning August 15. Seattle’s first cidery since Prohibition, Seattle Cider is known for its handcrafted collection of flavorful ciders while Wirtz Beverage is regarded as a leading wholesale distributor of beer, wine and spirits. The agreement between the two company’s comes as alcoholic cider sales continue to boom across the U.S.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Wirtz Beverage to bring a new type of cider to the cider lovers of Illinois,” said Joel VandenBrink, founder of Seattle Cider Company. “You’ll taste something different when you try our ciders. We’ve created flavorful, small-batch ciders with limited sweetness using all natural ingredients and fresh pressed Washington apples, making for a truly unique product.”

Established in August 2013 by Joel VandenBrink, Seattle Cider’s products break the mold of overly sweet cider, bringing the natural flavors of Washington apples to the forefront. Made from a custom blend of local apples and flavorful additions – such as fresh berries, peppers and more – Seattle Cider’s products are handcrafted with all natural ingredients and never made from concentrate. Their unique taste has earned Seattle Cider a number of awards and accolades including gold and silver medals in the Pacific Northwest Cider Awards, in addition to many loyal drinkers. Currently, the in-demand, naturally gluten-free ciders are available in Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

“Cider is experiencing a major comeback and it’s very exciting to see,” said Jeff Roth, VP Alliance Craft Beer Division at Wirtz Beverage Illinois. “It bridges the gap between beer and wine, so it’s no wonder cider is popular amongst many drinkers. Seattle Cider is putting out some really innovative things and really doing their part to bolster the category as well as consumer options.”

As sales continue to climb, industry predications expect cider will soon claim 3-5 percent of overall beer sales. Last year in the U.S., alcoholic cider was a nearly $1.32 billion industry. When Seattle Cider launches in Illinois with Wirtz Beverage, it will be available statewide at restaurants, bars and retail stores with a variety of products available in 16-ounce cans, 22-ounce bottles and on draft, including:

Dry: One of the driest ciders on the market, the golden glow of the unique unfiltered cider lends way to notes of lilac, blood orange and green apple on the nose. Pleasantly acidic, flavors of nectarine, under ripe peach and tart cherry hit the palate with no residual sweetness. 0 brix, 6.5% ABV, 16-ounce can.

Semi-Sweet: A light, crisp cider with just a touch of sweetness, this cider is honey in color with notes of bergamot orange, lemon and apple. A refreshing cider, it reveals hints of citrus and cinnamon on the palate. 3 brix, 6.5% ABV, 16-ounce can.

PNW Berry: This summer seasonal cider is crafted with locally-grown raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Softly tart with a flavor of young raspberries at the start and softly sweet on the finish, it’s a cider that is both refreshing and full-flavored. 1.8 brix, 6.9% ABV, 22-ounce bottle.

Pumpkin Spice: This semi-sweet cider is copper in color and perfect for cooler weather as the cidery’s fall seasonal. Fermented with pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves, it offers hints of the season’s favorite spices followed by just a touch of pumpkin. 3 brix, 6.9% ABV, 22-ounce bottle.

Three Pepper: A small-batch, limited-edition cider, the Three Pepper features an aroma of fresh, green jalapeños. Paired with a unique flavor profile, it combines the taste of poblano, habanero and jalapeño peppers, giving this cider a kick followed by a subtly sweet finish. 3.2 brix, 6.9% ABV, 22-ounce bottle.

Wirtz Beverage Illinois will support the launch of the Seattle Cider portfolio with activations in the on- and off-premise, including samplings, trainings and events.