Schilling Hard Cider
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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).
Schilling Hard Cider firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Schilling Hard Cider industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Schilling Hard Cider is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Schilling Hard Cider business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including Keep It Wild apparel, MiiR camp cups, and other branded items through the online store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Keep It Wild Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Schilling Hard Cider product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Schilling Hard Cider
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Schilling Hard Cider technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Schilling Hard Cider partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Washington WildcoreNonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in Washington state. Schilling donates 5% of sales from qualifying products to support wild space preservation.
- Oregon WildcoreNonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in Oregon. Supports protection and restoration of wildlands, wildlife, and waters.
- Western Resource AdvocatescoreNonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in Colorado. Works to advance progress while protecting biodiversity and engaging policymakers.
- The Wildlands ConservancycoreNonprofit 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 GuardianscoreNonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign covering Idaho, Montana, and Arizona. Tackles difficult conservation challenges in the America West.
- Alliance for the Great LakescoreNonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign covering Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Protects, conserves, and restores the Great Lakes.
- Alaska Conservation FoundationcoreNonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in Alaska. Dedicated solely to conservation and protecting intact wild ecosystems.
- Blue Ridge Parkway FoundationcoreNonprofit partner for Keep It Wild 2026 campaign in North Carolina and Virginia. Supports initiatives along the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway route.
- TradewatercoreMission-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 TeaminorPortland tea company collaborated with Schilling to create a custom proprietary Chai Tea blend for the Chaider product.
- Columbia DistributingcoreDistributor partner for Keep It Wild campaign helping distribute donations and product across the Pacific Northwest.
- Hayden BeveragecoreDistributor partner for Keep It Wild campaign.
- Republic National Distributing CompanycoreDistributor partner for Keep It Wild campaign.
- High Country BeveragecoreDistributor partner for Keep It Wild campaign.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Schilling Hard Cider competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Schilling Hard Cider social profiles
Digital presenceSchilling Hard Cider compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Schilling Hard Cider financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Schilling Hard Cider leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Schilling Hard Cider funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Schilling Hard 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 Schilling Hard Cider
What does Schilling Hard Cider do?
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.
Is Schilling Hard Cider a public or private company?
Schilling Hard Cider is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Schilling Hard Cider founded?
Schilling Hard Cider was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Schilling Hard Cider based?
Schilling Hard Cider is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Schilling Hard Cider make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Cider Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are cider House Taproom and merchandise Sales.
Who are Schilling Hard Cider's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Crispin Cider Co., Angry Orchard and Woodchuck Hard Cider. Emerging players are Atlas Cider Co. and Cider Corps. Direct peers are Stem Ciders, Seattle Cider Company, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Bold Rock Hard Cider and Portland Cider Company.
Does Schilling Hard Cider have an API?
No public API is recorded for Schilling Hard Cider.
What industry is Schilling Hard Cider in?
Schilling Hard Cider's product category is Craft Hard Cider. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAD, Cider & Perry Production, with a secondary code of CRADAIAE, Cider & Perry Producers & Brands.