Schilling Hard Cider

What Schilling Hard Cider does

Schilling Hard Cider is a privately held craft cider producer founded in 2013 in Seattle, Washington by Colin Schilling and Mark Kornei, and headquartered with its production facility in Auburn, WA. The company produces a broad portfolio of fresh-pressed hard ciders organized into the Legends of Cider (5.2%-6.9% ABV sessionable) and Excelsior Imperial (8.4%-11% ABV) series, plus sub-brands including Big Zesty Hard Lemonade (8.4% ABV), Party Cats hard punch (12% ABV), Sip Society membership dry cider, Vida Mate yerba-mate beverages, and a non-alcoholic Ground Control cider. Notable operational technology includes a proprietary heat-recycling canning line achieving 80-85% energy savings, 100% direct-printed cans for full recyclability, and a fully electric 18-vehicle sales fleet (eight GM Bolts and ten Tesla Model 3s), making it the first alcohol company with a 100% EV-powered sales fleet.

Schilling generates revenue through packaged product sales, taproom direct-to-consumer operations, and online ordering. Distribution combines company-owned retail (Seattle Cider House in Fremont and Portland Cider House on Division Street, the latter offering a fully gluten-free kitchen and 33 rotating drafts) with a wholesale network spanning Columbia Distributing, Hayden Beverage, Republic National Distributing Company, and High Country Beverage across 13 U.S. states. Customer segments include craft-beverage enthusiasts, sustainability-conscious consumers, and gluten-free consumers, with the Portland location explicitly positioned as celiac-safe.

The business is founder-owned with no disclosed institutional funding, no parent company, and no M&A activity in the input data. Sustainability is central to brand positioning: Schilling partners with Tradewater for carbon offsets, holds Climate Neutral certification on select SKUs, runs the annual 'Keep It Wild' conservation campaign (over $200,000 raised across 8 nonprofit partners and 13 states since 2022), and was the first West Coast cidery to package exclusively in cans and kegs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for ciders; branded merchandise (Keep It Wild apparel, MiiR camp cups) is sold through a dedicated online store at fixed unit prices ($25-$34).

Name

Schilling Hard Cider

Legal name

Schilling Cider

Website

https://schillingcider.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schilling Hard Cider is a Seattle-area craft cider producer (founded 2013) selling fresh-pressed ciders, hard lemonades, hard punches, and non-alcoholic cider through its own taprooms in Seattle and Portland, a four-distributor wholesale network spanning 13 U.S. states, and direct online ordering, with sustainability as a core brand pillar.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Hard Cider

akta.pro primary industry

Cider & Perry Production (AFAFAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cider & Perry Producers & Brands (CRADAIAE), Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms (THAFALAI)

Keywords

• Craft hard cider
• Imperial cider
• Hard lemonade
• Hard punch
• Craft beverages

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Cider Product Sales: Sale of packaged hard cider products through retail channels, taprooms, and online orders. Product portfolio includes multiple series: Legends of Cider (5.2% sessionable), Excelsior Imperial (8.4%+ high ABV), Hard Lemonade (8.4%), Party Cats (12% hard punch), and specialty seasonal releases.
2. Cider House Taproom: Direct sales at company-owned taproom locations offering draft cider, flights, food (gluten-free kitchen at Portland), and packaged product take-away. Seattle Cider House hosts nation's largest craft cider selection; Portland location offers 33 rotating draft ciders.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including Keep It Wild apparel, MiiR camp cups, and other branded items through the online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Schilling Hard Cider is a craft cider producer that manufactures and sells a portfolio of hard ciders, hard lemonades, hard punches, and a non-alcoholic cider using fresh-pressed Pacific Northwest apples and European heirloom cider apples. The company also operates two company-owned cider house taprooms in Seattle and Portland, sells merchandise online, and distributes packaged product through regional distributor partners across multiple U.S. states.

Product overview

Schilling Hard Cider is a craft cider company founded in 2013 in Seattle, Washington, producing a diverse portfolio of hard ciders, hard lemonades, and hard punches. The product lineup is organized into several distinct series: Legends of Cider (5.2%-6.9% ABV ciders including Local Legend, Moon Berries, Dryabolical, Strawbeary Rhube Awakening, Yuzu Peach, Dreamsicle, Polar Plunge, and Chaider), Excelsior Imperial Ciders (8.4%-11% high-ABV imperials including Imperial Apple, Imperial Mango, Imperial Hyper-Dry, Imperial Blackberry, Imperial Cherry, Imperial Passionfruit Pineapple, Imperial Apple Pie, MAXcelsior, and non-alcoholic Ground Control), Schilling Hard Lemonade/Big Zesty (8.4% ABV hard lemonades in multiple flavors), Party Cats (12% ABV hard punches), and Sip Society (7.5% dry ciders). The company also operates two cider house taprooms in Seattle and Portland. All products use fresh-pressed apples and locally sourced ingredients, with sustainability initiatives including a 100% EV sales fleet and climate-neutral certified products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sip Society: A membership program for discerning cider drinkers featuring dry craft cider with no sugar added, including Heirloom Apple and Elderberry Pear variants.
• Excelsior
• Legends of Cider
• Big Zesty's Hard Lemonade
• Party Cats
• Vida Mate

Products and services

• Legends of Cider A core craft cider series of year-round and seasonal fruited ciders at 5.2%-6.9% ABV made with fresh-pressed apples and locally sourced ingredients, targeted at craft beverage enthusiasts seeking flavor-forward, sessionable ciders.
• Excelsior Imperial Ciders A high-ABV (8.4% to 11%) imperial cider line made with European heirloom cider apples and Pacific Northwest apples, sold in cans and kegs to consumers seeking stronger, bolder cider experiences.
• MAXcelsior Super Imperial Apple An 11% ABV super imperial hard cider in a 19.2oz can featuring heirloom apples, marketed as the boldest expression of the Excelsior line.
• Yuzu Peach A 6.5% ABV seasonal hard cider featuring tart yuzu and juicy peach with fresh-pressed Pacific Northwest apples, light floral notes, and a crisp finish.
• Imperial Hyper-Dry An 8.4% ABV dry imperial cider with no added sugar, made with fresh-pressed PNW apples and heirloom bittersharps.
• Ground Control

Quantifiable outcome

• 80-85% energy savings from heat-recycling canning line
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington WildcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Nonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in Washington state. Schilling donates 5% of sales from qualifying products to support wild space preservation.
• Oregon WildcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Nonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in Oregon. Supports protection and restoration of wildlands, wildlife, and waters.
• Western Resource AdvocatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Nonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in Colorado. Works to advance progress while protecting biodiversity and engaging policymakers.
• The Wildlands ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Nonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in California. Works to protect the beauty and biodiversity of nature and connect people to wild places.
• WildEarth GuardianscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Nonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign covering Idaho, Montana, and Arizona. Tackles difficult conservation challenges in the America West.
• Alliance for the Great LakescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Nonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign covering Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Protects, conserves, and restores the Great Lakes.
• Alaska Conservation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Nonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in Alaska. Dedicated solely to conservation and protecting intact wild ecosystems.
• Blue Ridge Parkway FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Nonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in North Carolina and Virginia. Supports initiatives along the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway route.
• TradewatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Mission-based B-corp carbon offset partner since 2021. Helps identify and invest in high-quality projects that permanently prevent potent greenhouse gases from releasing into the atmosphere.
• Kinglet TeaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortland tea company collaborated with Schilling to create a custom proprietary Chai Tea blend for the Chaider product.
• Columbia DistributingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner for Keep It Wild campaign helping distribute donations and product across the Pacific Northwest.
• Hayden BeveragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner for Keep It Wild campaign.
• Republic National Distributing CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner for Keep It Wild campaign.
• High Country BeveragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor partner for Keep It Wild campaign.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Crispin Cider Co. Craft-style hard cider brand historically under AB InBev/Mike's Hard portfolio. Comparable product profile including dry ciders and pear varieties, with broad national retail distribution that competes for the same shelf space as Schilling.
• Angry Orchard: Largest U.S. hard cider brand owned by Boston Beer Company; produces a broad national cider portfolio. Direct competitive overlap with Schilling in packaged hard cider retail, but operates at national scale and as a subsidiary of a larger beverage conglomerate.
• Woodchuck Hard Cider: Vermont-based cider brand (formerly independent, now under Tilray) with national distribution. Comparable packaged cider portfolio at retail; competes in same channels as Schilling but with significantly broader geographic reach and corporate backing.

Emerging players

• Atlas Cider Co. Smaller emerging craft cidery focused on sessionable, off-dry ciders. Less scaled than Schilling but operates in a comparable craft niche with overlapping consumer segment and PNW/West Coast distribution ambitions.
• Cider Corps: Veteran-owned craft cidery with taproom operations and multi-state distribution. Comparable craft DTC model and brand-led growth approach, though smaller and more geographically constrained than Schilling.

Direct peers

• Stem Ciders: Colorado craft cidery with taproom locations and a focus on dry, heritage-apple ciders. Comparable craft positioning and taproom-led DTC model, though operating in the Mountain West region rather than PNW.
• Seattle Cider Company: Direct Seattle-based craft cider competitor with similar dry/semi-sweet cider lineup and taproom presence. Most local overlap given same city footprint and comparable craft/premium positioning.
• 2 Towns Ciderhouse: Oregon-based craft cidery with extensive year-round and seasonal cider lineup plus a taproom in Corvallis. Strongest direct competitor in the PNW market with comparable product breadth (imperials, fruited ciders, NA) and similar craft positioning.
• Bold Rock Hard Cider: Mid-Atlantic craft cider producer with taproom operations and multi-state distribution. Closely comparable to Schilling on craft cider positioning, DTC taprooms, and multi-state retail footprint, though regionally concentrated in the Southeast/Mid-Atlantic.
• Portland Cider Company: Portland-based craft cidery with multiple taproom locations and a cider club. Direct geographic overlap with Schilling's Portland Cider House and similar product portfolio including fruited and imperial ciders.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SchillingHouse
• Facebookfacebook.com/SchillingCider
• Instagraminstagram.com/schillingcider
• TikToktiktok.com/@schillingcider

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schilling Hard Cider