Citizen Cider
Citizen Cider is a Burlington, Vermont-based vertically integrated craft cidery that presses ~13 million pounds of apples per year into hard cider, non-alcoholic sparkling cider (All Times), and light beer (Hey Bub), selling wholesale through regional distributors in 14+ Eastern US states, direct-to-consumer via its Press House Pub and online shop, and offering B2B co-packing services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBurlington, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Citizen Cider does
Citizen Cider is a vertically integrated craft beverage producer headquartered and operating from a single Burlington, Vermont campus at 180 Flynn Ave, Building 2. The company presses approximately 13 million pounds of apples annually (~24,000 gallons per week, ~1,200 gallons per hour) sourced from 14 partner orchards across Vermont and New York, feeding an in-house production stack that includes rotary can filling with dissolved oxygen control (12oz/16oz/19.2oz formats), in-line tunnel pasteurization, multi-stage filtration (centrifuge, cross-flow, lenticular, sterile), temperature-controlled fermentation, inline carbonation, nitrogen sparging, and a TTB-certified laboratory running HACCP-compliant ABV, sulfite, CO2, DO, malic acid, sugar, pH, turbidity, and microbial assays. A proprietary 'Stop Ferm' filtration-based process balances native apple sweetness against fermentation-derived sourness, and dedicated tank segregation plus A2LA third-party testing supports FDA gluten-free verification (<20 ppm) across the cider portfolio.
The product portfolio spans year-round Core Ciders (Unified Press, The Dirty Mayor, Wit's Up, Juicy Haze, Mimosa Crush), the seasonal Baker's Dozen series (Apple Pie, Cider Donut), a Limited Series innovation line (Wintry Mix, Cherry Crush), the All Times non-alcoholic sparkling cider sub-brand, and the Hey Bub light beer sub-brand. Citizen Cider monetizes through three channels: (1) wholesale product distribution via ~20+ named regional beverage distributors covering all New England states plus NY, NJ, Philadelphia, MD, DC, VA, NC & SC; (2) direct-to-consumer sales through its shopcider e-commerce storefront and The Press House Pub, a family-friendly on-premise restaurant/retail venue at the Burlington production site; and (3) B2B co-packing and contract manufacturing services for cider, beer, spirits-based RTDs, wine-based, and non-alcoholic brands (canning, kegging, pasteurization, QA/lab, fermentation, filtration, pressing, logistics). Founded around 2013 (firmographic data shows 2010) by Bryan Holmes, Justin Heilenbach, and Kris Nelson, with CFO Samantha Quinn, the company operates with 101-250 employees.
Citizen Cider firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Citizen Cider
- Legal name
- Citizen Cider
- Website
- https://citizencider.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Citizen Cider is a Burlington, Vermont-based vertically integrated craft cidery that presses ~13 million pounds of apples per year into hard cider, non-alcoholic sparkling cider (All Times), and light beer (Hey Bub), selling wholesale through regional distributors in 14+ Eastern US states, direct-to-consumer via its Press House Pub and online shop, and offering B2B co-packing services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Citizen Cider industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Hard Cider
- NAICS
- Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cider & Perry Producers & Brands (CRADAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cider & Perry Production (AFAFAAAD), Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms (THAFALAI), DTC Beverage Delivery (Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic) (AFAIANAK), Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks) (CRADAHAB)
Keywords
Where Citizen Cider is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Citizen Cider business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Cider, seltzer, RTD, and beer product sales: Core hard cider lineup (Unified Press, The Dirty Mayor, Wit's Up, Juicy Haze, Mimosa Crush, Baker's Dozen series, Limited Series), All Times non-alcoholic sparkling ciders, Hey Bub light beer, and cider-based RTDs sold via distributors, the company's online shop, and on-premise at The Press House Pub. One-time purchase unit pricing at retail, sold in 12oz/16oz/19.2oz cans, 750ml bottles, and kegs.
- Co-packing and contract manufacturing services: B2B fee-for-service co-packing covering cider, beer, spirits-based RTDs, wine-based, and non-alcoholic products, including packaging (canning, kegging, labeling, pasteurization, carbonation), QA/lab testing, recipe development, fermentation/filtration, pressing, and logistics/procurement with warehousing and custom transportation.
- Press House Pub on-premise revenue: On-premise food and beverage sales at The Press House Pub (cocktails, cider cocktails, sloshies, beer, cider flights, food menu, kids menu) plus pub-exclusive retail merchandise and gift cards. Includes private event bookings for birthdays, work events, and similar.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retail cider/seltzer/beer units (cans, 4-packs, 6-packs, 9-packs, 750ml bottles, kegs) sold via shopcider and distributors |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Press House Pub: 10% discount for teachers, first responders, and military (with ID); gift cards available |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Co-packing services: quote-based / not publicly disclosed |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Citizen Cider product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Citizen Cider is a vertically integrated craft cidery that presses locally sourced Vermont and New York apples at its Burlington, VT facility and produces a portfolio of hard ciders (Unified Press, The Dirty Mayor, Wit's Up, Juicy Haze, Mimosa Crush), seasonal and limited-series ciders, the All Times non-alcoholic sparkling cider line, and the Hey Bub light beer. Beyond its own brands, the company operates The Press House Pub (a taproom, restaurant, and retail store on-site at the production facility) and provides B2B co-packing and contract manufacturing services for cider, beer, RTDs, wine-based, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Product overview
Citizen Cider operates a vertically integrated hard cider platform anchored at its Burlington, VT pressing and production facility, with a portfolio spanning year-round Core Ciders (Unified Press, The Dirty Mayor, Wit's Up, Juicy Haze, Mimosa Crush), the seasonal Baker's Dozen Series (Apple Pie and Cider Donut), the limited-edition innovation series (Wintry Mix, Cherry Crush), the All Times non-alcoholic sparkling cider sub-brand, and the Hey Bub light beer sub-brand. The platform is rounded out by two non-product extensions: B2B Co-Packing Services covering cider, beer, RTDs, wine-based, and non-alcoholic beverages, and the on-site Press House Pub, which combines a restaurant, retail store, and viewing access to the apple-pressing operation. Distribution runs across all New England states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, DC, Virginia, and the Carolinas via regional distributor partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- All Times: Non-alcoholic sparkling ciders, sweet but not sweetened, made with 100% locally sourced apples; marketed at alltimescider.com.
- Hey Bub
Products and services
- Unified Press
Quantifiable outcome
- ~13 million pounds of apples pressed per year from 14 VT/NY orchards
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Citizen Cider
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Citizen Cider technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Citizen Cider partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
27 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Farrell Distributing Corp.flagshipRegional beverage distributor serving Vermont, distributing Citizen Cider products across the state via on- and off-premise retail accounts. Listed on the company's official cider locator distribution network.
- National DistributorscoreRegional beverage distributor serving Maine, listed on Citizen Cider's distribution network on the official cider locator page.
- Valley BeveragecoreMaine-based beverage distributor listed as a Citizen Cider distribution partner on the company's cider locator.
- Maine DistributorscoreMaine beverage distributor serving Citizen Cider retail and on-premise accounts, listed on the official cider locator.
- Bellavance Beverage Co.flagshipNew Hampshire-based distributor serving as the Citizen Cider distribution partner for the state, listed on the company's cider locator.
- New Hampshire DistributingcoreSecondary New Hampshire distributor of Citizen Cider products, listed on the cider locator.
- Atlantic Beverage DistributorsflagshipMassachusetts-based distributor carrying Citizen Cider across the state, listed on the company's official cider locator distribution network.
- Star DistributorscoreConnecticut beverage distributor distributing Citizen Cider products across the state via retail and on-premise accounts.
- F&F DistributorscoreSecondary Connecticut distributor handling Citizen Cider products, listed on the cider locator.
- A GallocoreConnecticut beverage distributor of Citizen Cider products, listed on the company's official cider locator.
- Penn Beer Co.flagshipPennsylvania-based distributor serving as a Citizen Cider distribution partner for the state, listed on the cider locator.
- Sarene Craft DistributorscorePennsylvania-based craft beverage distributor handling Citizen Cider products, listed on the official cider locator.
- Haw River Wine Man Inc.flagshipDistributor covering North and South Carolina for Citizen Cider, listed on the company's cider locator distribution network.
- Breakthru Beverage GroupflagshipMaryland-based beverage distributor serving as the Citizen Cider distribution partner for the state, listed on the official cider locator.
- Hop & Wine BeverageflagshipVirginia and DC distributor of Citizen Cider products, listed on the official cider locator.
- High Grade BeverageflagshipNew Jersey-based distributor handling Citizen Cider products across the state, listed on the cider locator.
- Kohler DistributingcoreSecondary New Jersey distributor of Citizen Cider products, listed on the official cider locator.
- Konrad Beverage CompanycoreNew Jersey-based distributor serving as a Citizen Cider distribution partner, listed on the cider locator.
- Richie & Page DistributingcoreNew Jersey-based beverage distributor handling Citizen Cider products, listed on the company's cider locator.
- Saratoga Eagle Distributing Co.flagshipNew York-based distributor covering Upstate/Capital Region for Citizen Cider products, listed on the official cider locator.
- Saratoga Eagle SouthcoreAffiliated/sister operation of Saratoga Eagle Distributing covering southern territories of New York for Citizen Cider.
- A.L. GeorgecoreNew York-based beverage distributor carrying Citizen Cider products, listed on the company's official cider locator.
- Lake BeveragecoreNew York-based beverage distributor handling Citizen Cider products, listed on the official cider locator.
- Vermont Lake Monsters (baseball team)coreOfficial summer-long partnership: Citizen Cider (Unified Press and Mimosa Crush) is served at Centennial Field throughout the Vermont Lake Monsters season, with cross-promotion via Instagram at the home opener.
- 14 partner orchards across Vermont and New YorkflagshipCitizen Cider sources ~13 million pounds of apples annually from 14 different orchards throughout Vermont and New York, supporting local agriculture and supplying the Burlington, VT pressing facility (1,200 gallons/hour, 24,000 gallons/week). Specific orchard names are not publicly disclosed.
- Vermont-based brewery co-pack clientcoreUnnamed Vermont brewery that became one of Citizen Cider's first co-packing clients in 2022, prompting the company to install brewing equipment and ultimately launch its own Hey Bub light beer brand. Listed only as a co-pack relationship, not a named customer.
- CSC InvestigationsminorThird-party workplace investigation firm engaged in October 2023 to independently audit Citizen Cider's employment practices and policies, including interviews with current and past employees; results reported in November and December 2023 public statements.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Citizen Cider competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bold Rock Hard Cider: Virginia/North Carolina-based craft hard cider producer with a national distribution footprint, regional taprooms, and a similar orchard-to-can narrative. One of Citizen Cider's closest direct competitors in Eastern US craft cider.
- 2 Towns Ciderhouse: Oregon craft cidery with a comparable diversified portfolio (core ciders, seasonal, limited releases, hopped and fruit-forward expressions) and national wholesale distribution. Closely comparable craft cider peer with similar SKU breadth and craft positioning.
- Downeast Cider House: Massachusetts-based craft cider maker with a comparable unfiltered, fruit-forward portfolio (Original, Hazy, Cranberry, etc.) and East Coast distribution. Direct competitor in the same craft cider category serving overlapping regional accounts.
- Woodchuck Hard Cider: Vermont-based pioneer craft cider brand (Vermont Hard Cider Company), historically one of the largest US cider producers. Direct regional competitor sharing the Vermont craft cider identity with overlapping distribution in the Northeast.
- Blake's Hard Cider: Michigan craft cidery with a vertically integrated orchard-to-can model (Blake's Orchard), on-premise tasting room, and national distribution. Closely comparable vertically integrated craft cider peer.
- Stem Ciders: Colorado craft cidery with an attached cidery/taproom, gluten-free verified production protocols, and a focused craft positioning. Comparable smaller craft peer with similar production transparency narrative and taproom model.
Broad incumbents
- Angry Orchard (Boston Beer Company): National mass-market hard cider brand owned by Boston Beer Company, the largest US craft brewer. The dominant incumbent in the US cider category against which all craft cidery peers, including Citizen Cider, compete for shelf space and on-premise taps.
- Harpoon Brewery: Established New England craft brewery with a comparable Burlington/Vermont regional identity, on-premise taproom, and broader product portfolio including seasonal and non-alcoholic options. Adjacent regional craft beverage peer serving overlapping accounts.
Emerging players
- Athletic Brewing Company: US leader in non-alcoholic craft beer, with national distribution and a strong runner/athletic brand identity. Comparable to Citizen Cider's All Times sub-brand as a non-alcoholic craft beverage competitor chasing the same sober-curious consumer occasion.
Regional players
- Portland Cider Company: Oregon/Washington craft cidery with a comparable craft-focused portfolio and taproom model. Comparable peer in craft cider with similar product breadth, but primarily serves the Pacific Northwest rather than the Eastern US.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Citizen Cider social profiles
Digital presenceCitizen Cider compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Citizen Cider financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Citizen Cider leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Citizen Cider subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Citizen Cider funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Citizen Cider M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Citizen Cider
What does Citizen Cider do?
Citizen Cider is a vertically integrated craft cidery that presses locally sourced Vermont and New York apples at its Burlington, VT facility and produces a portfolio of hard ciders (Unified Press, The Dirty Mayor, Wit's Up, Juicy Haze, Mimosa Crush), seasonal and limited-series ciders, the All Times non-alcoholic sparkling cider line, and the Hey Bub light beer. Beyond its own brands, the company operates The Press House Pub (a taproom, restaurant, and retail store on-site at the production facility) and provides B2B co-packing and contract manufacturing services for cider, beer, RTDs, wine-based, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Is Citizen Cider a public or private company?
Citizen Cider is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Citizen Cider founded?
Citizen Cider was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Citizen Cider based?
Citizen Cider is headquartered in Burlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Citizen Cider make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Cider, seltzer, RTD, and beer product sales are the primary driver. The others are co-packing and contract manufacturing services and press House Pub on-premise revenue.
Who are Citizen Cider's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bold Rock Hard Cider, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Downeast Cider House, Woodchuck Hard Cider, Blake's Hard Cider and Stem Ciders. Broad incumbents are Angry Orchard (Boston Beer Company) and Harpoon Brewery. Athletic Brewing Company is listed as an emerging player. Portland Cider Company is listed as a regional player.
Does Citizen Cider have an API?
No public API is recorded for Citizen Cider.
What industry is Citizen Cider in?
Citizen Cider's product category is Craft Hard Cider. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAE, Cider & Perry Producers & Brands, with a secondary code of AFAFAAAD, Cider & Perry Production. Its NAICS code is 3121 and its SIC code is 2080.