Portland Cider Co. Releases Two New Ciders For its 8th Anniversary and Women’s History Month

CLACKAMAS, Ore.—March 1, 2021—Portland Cider Co. is commemorating its 8th anniversary this month with the release of two new ciders: 8th Anniversary Cider and Bloody Hell, a release created by Portland Cider’s five female team members in honor of Women’s History Month.

8th Anniversary Cider is fermented from a blend of culinary Northwest apples and cider apples aged for more than two years in neutral oak barrels on elderflower, then blended with peach and raspberry fruits. In the spirit of celebration, the medium-sweet cider offers an extra bit of carbonation. Offering floral notes of cherry blossom and honey with a touch of champagne, the cider comes in 5.1% ABV. A very limited cider, it is available exclusively on draft at Portland Cider Co.’s two taprooms.

Bloody Hell is a juicy and zesty blood orange cider with a hint of habanero pepper for a sweet heat finish. A limited-release modern cider that comes in at 5.6% ABV, Bloody Hell is available in 19.2oz cans and on draft at the pubs. It was originally developed in 2019 for SheBrew, a festival that brings together a community of female brewers in Portland. The cider’s name was chosen as a nod to Portland Cider Co.’s co-owner, Lynda Parrish, who hails from Somerset, England.

“Bloody Hell is a mild British expletive that’s commonly used throughout the country to underscore a feeling,” said Parrish. “In this case, it’s a playful way to tie together this slightly spicy cider with my English roots. We believe that after one taste of this new cider, our fans will be saying ‘Bloody Hell, that’s brilliant!’”

The cider’s release date was timed to coincide with Women’s History Month, as Parrish is one of a handful of women leading a company in the cider industry. In the fall of 2020, she received the Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Clackamas Chamber of Commerce as part of its yearly Women in Leadership & Management Awards.

“Lynda leads by example and is a role model to the whole team, as well as the greater community,” said Deron Davenport, Head Cidermaker for Portland Cider Co. “She likes to shine the spotlight on her employees and she guides us to success with a gentle hand, patience, and a lot of support. She hires people who share her strong work ethic and willingness to learn on the job and frequently invests in team members’ ongoing education surrounding alcohol production.”

Both new products are available as part of the Portland Cider Club, a quarterly subscription service that delivers a dozen curated Portland Cider products in 19.2-ounce proper pint cans direct to consumers. The first shipment of 2021 will go out mid-March and includes 8th Anniversary Cider, Bloody Hell, and seven other Portland Cider releases, including a sneak peek at its upcoming seasonal Razzberry.

Portland Cider Co. was founded on the belief that good cider comes from good fruit, honest practices, attention to detail, and passion for the product. According to co-owner Jeff Parrish, “Eight years is a long time for a small business to survive, and it’s still surreal to us how something that started as a hobby has developed into the company it is today. We grew Portland Cider Co. from a guest room closet to a tiny taproom to a successful regional brand by cultivating something we both love. From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank our fans for supporting us these past eight years; we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.”