Farnum Hill Ciders
Farnum Hill Ciders is a family-owned New Hampshire cidery that produces dry, complex alcoholic ciders from specialized cider apple varieties, selling through farm-direct Growler Days, online shipping, and regional wholesale distributors across eight U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersLebanon, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Farnum Hill Ciders does
Farnum Hill Ciders is a family-owned cidery and orchard operator headquartered at 98 Poverty Lane, Lebanon, New Hampshire, producing and selling dry, complex alcoholic ciders fermented from specialized cider apple varieties. The company operates under the Poverty Lane Orchards umbrella, which has been cultivating apples since 1965, and is co-owned and operated by Louisa Spencer and Stephen Wood; Wood was also a co-founder of the US Association of Cidermakers (later the American Cider Association) in 2013. Core products include Farnum Hill Extra Dry (7.5% ABV sparkling), Extra Dry Still (7.5% ABV non-carbonated), Farmhouse (6.5% ABV canned), and Kingston Black Reserve (8.5% ABV premium single-variety), plus farm-only Dooryard Batch growler fills and a wholesale Home Cidermaker Juice SKU.
The production method is a classical single-fermentation approach using bittersweet and bitter-sharp cider apple varieties (Dabinett, Ellis Bitter, Yarlington Mill, Kingston Black, Major Foxwhelp, Wickson, Esopus Spitzenberg), with no malolactic, secondary, or acetic fermentation steps; Extra Dry products are fermented to zero residual sugar. Distribution is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer through Growler Days at the farm ($10/half-gallon refills, $3.50 new growlers) and online direct shipping, plus wholesale through five regional specialty distributors (Vermont Wine Merchants, Skurnik Wines, Easterly Wines, AJ Maka, Paysage Brands) reaching 8 U.S. states (NH, VT, MA, ME, NY, NJ, CT, IL, CA). The company self-describes as a 'mom-and-pop' operation with 11-50 employees and 'small, period' market presence, with no external funding and no disclosed revenue.
Farnum Hill Ciders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Farnum Hill Ciders
- Legal name
- Farnum Hill Ciders
- Website
- https://farnumhillciders.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Farnum Hill Ciders is a family-owned New Hampshire cidery that produces dry, complex alcoholic ciders from specialized cider apple varieties, selling through farm-direct Growler Days, online shipping, and regional wholesale distributors across eight U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Farnum Hill Ciders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Cider
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212), Apple Orchards (111331)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cider & Perry Production (AFAFAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cider & Perry Producers & Brands (CRADAIAE), Cider & Orchard Fruit Production (Apples/pears for cider & processing) (AFAGACAJ), Alcoholic Beverage Blending, Bottling & Private Label (Non-Distilling) (AFAFAAAH)
Keywords
Where Farnum Hill Ciders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lebanon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Farnum Hill Ciders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Farm Sales: Direct sales to consumers visiting the farm during Growler Days (monthly events, $10/half-gallon refills) and online orders shipped directly to customers. Includes 'Dooryard' batch ciders only available at the farm.
- Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale to retailers, restaurants, and bars through regional distributors in VT, NY, NJ, CT, CA, ME, IL, and NH liquor stores. Products include Extra Dry (bottles), Farmhouse (cans), Extra Dry Still (bottles), and Kingston Black Reserve.
- Growler Program: Refillable half-gallon jug sales at farm events. Refills $10 each, new growlers $3.50. Seasonal program running November through August with monthly Growler Days.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Growler Day Refills |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | New Growlers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Extra Dry - 7.5% ABV |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Farmhouse - 6.5% ABV |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kingston Black Reserve - 8.5% ABV |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
Farnum Hill Ciders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Farnum Hill Ciders produces and sells dry, complex alcoholic ciders fermented from specialized cider apple varieties grown on-site at Poverty Lane Orchards in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The company offers a core lineup of Extra Dry (sparkling and still, 7.5% ABV), Farmhouse (canned, 6.5% ABV), and Kingston Black Reserve (single-variety premium, 8.5% ABV), plus limited farm-only Dooryard batch growler fills and raw cider apple juice for home cidermakers. Products reach consumers through direct farm sales, online direct shipping, NH liquor stores, food co-ops, restaurants, and regional wholesale distributors across roughly eight U.S. states.
Product overview
Farnum Hill Ciders is a mom-and-pop orchard and cidery owned and operated by Louisa Spencer and Stephen Wood, growing apples since 1965. The company produces dry alcoholic ciders fermented from specific cider apple varieties (Dabinett, Ellis Bitter, Yarlington Mill, Wickson, Esopus Spitzenberg, Kingston Black, and more). Their core product lineup includes Extra Dry (7.5% ABV sparkling), Extra Dry Still (7.5% ABV non-carbonated), Farmhouse (6.5% ABV barely off-dry in cans), and Kingston Black Reserve (8.5% ABV premium single-variety). Additional offerings include Dooryard Batch growler fills sold directly at the farm and raw cider apple juice for home cidermakers. Products are sold online, at the farm, and through retail stores across multiple U.S. states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Farnum Hill Extra Dry A totally dry sparkling cider at 7.5% ABV with complex fruit and earth aromas, featuring a palate-cleansing balance of fruit, astringency, and acid. Zero sugar content with rampant fruit notes. Sold in bottles through retail and wholesale channels.
- Farnum Hill Extra Dry Still A totally dry non-carbonated cider at 7.5% ABV with fresh acidity from sharp apples such as Wickson or Esopus Spitzenberg. Available in bagnum format (1.5 Liter).
- Farnum Hill Farmhouse A barely off-dry cider at 6.5% ABV with pale gold color, light bubbles, and hints of sweetness amid tart, bitter, and fruity elements including citrus, pineapple, and bittersweet apple. Lower alcohol and more rustic than Extra Dry. Available in 12-oz four-pack cans with 4-6 grams sugar per liter dosage.
- Kingston Black Reserve An 8.5% ABV premium single-variety cider made entirely from Kingston Black apples. Known for rich flavors of cantaloupe, bitter orange, candle-wax, florals and mysterious hormonal notes, framed by razor-like acid and broad, tea-like tannins. Limited production, sold out at the farm with approximately 40 bottles remaining in NH liquor stores.
- Dooryard Batch Growlers Small-batch ciders available only at the farm through growler fills. These are the only still (non-bubbly) ciders offered, available during monthly Growler Days events with $10 per half-gallon refills.
- Home Cidermaker Juice Raw cider apple juice sold to home cidermakers for DIY fermentation. Pressed from a blend of cider apples offering complexity, tannic structure, and refreshing flavor.
Quantifiable outcome
- Zero sugar content in Extra Dry and Extra Dry Still ciders (vs 23.4g per serving in mass-market ciders)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Farnum Hill Ciders
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Farnum Hill Ciders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Farnum Hill Ciders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Vermont Wine MerchantscorePrimary distributor for Farnum Hill products in Vermont. Manages relationships with 40+ retailers and restaurants across Vermont including 802 Wine & Spirits, City Market, and numerous local establishments.
- Skurnik WinescoreDistributes FHC in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and California. NY presence includes Astor Wines, Gramercy Wines, and 50+ locations. CT includes 15+ retailers. CA includes Bay Area and LA locations.
- Easterly WinescoreLongtime Maine distributor for Farnum Hill. Led to steep rise in Maine wholesale orders. Created informal promotional video about Farnum Hill Ciders history and products.
- AJ Maka DistributorscoreIllinois distributor for Farnum Hill. Products available through Binny's Beverage Depot chain, Hopleaf bar, Beer Temple, Begyle Brewing, and Whole Foods locations.
- Paysage BrandsminorChicago-based sales representatives for Farnum Hill products, working alongside AJ Maka distributor.
- Ruby WinesminorFormer Massachusetts distributor. No longer distributes Farnum Hill after merging and becoming much larger - Farnum Hill is described as 'small-house maker' no longer compatible with Ruby's scale.
- Countryside Farm and Nursery (Raul and Mary Godinez)minorProfessional grafters who conducted grafting workshop at Farnum Hill teaching attractant tree pest control methods to regional growers. Grafters from Virginia who teach multi-variety grafting techniques.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Farnum Hill Ciders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Woodchuck Hard Cider: Established Vermont cider brand (now part of Vermont Hard Cider Company) with broad national distribution across mainstream and craft channels. Larger incumbent competing for the same shelf and consumer occasion as Farnum Hill.
- Angry Orchard: Largest US craft cider brand, owned by Boston Beer Company, with national distribution and ongoing innovation into drier styles. Sets the competitive ceiling Farnum Hill must differentiate beneath.
Direct peers
- 2 Towns Ciderhouse: Oregon craft cidery producing a wide range of dry and off-dry ciders with strong regional distribution. Comparable as a multi-state craft cider brand with broader scale but similar product portfolio.
- Buskey Cider: Virginia-based craft cidery producing dry, food-friendly ciders with a tasting room and regional wholesale distribution. Comparable small-scale craft cidery operator focused on traditional, dry styles.
- Shacksbury Cider: Vermont craft cidery focused on dry, terroir-driven ciders using wild/native fermentation and often single-varietal bottlings. Overlaps with Farnum Hill's dry, food-friendly positioning and New England craft distribution.
- Tieton Cider Works: Washington-state grower-cidery producing dry, complex ciders from estate-grown cider apple varieties. Direct functional peer in vertically integrated cider apple cultivation and dry-style production.
- Stem Ciders: Colorado craft cidery emphasizing dry, terroir-driven ciders made from dessert and cider apple varieties, with a tasting-room and restaurant program. Comparable in dry-cider focus and farm-to-glass positioning, though in a different region.
- Citizen Cider: Vermont-based craft cidery with a broad lineup including dry and off-dry styles, strong New England restaurant and retail presence. Comparable as a craft cider brand operating in the same regional on-premise accounts as Farnum Hill.
- Stormalong Cider: Massachusetts craft cidery producing traditional-method, dry, food-friendly ciders. Direct geographic and stylistic peer, often appearing alongside Farnum Hill in MA wine shops and restaurants.
- Eve's Cidery: Small Finger Lakes (NY) cidery making dry, complex ciders from estate-grown heirloom and bittersweet cider apple varieties on a family orchard. Closest philosophical and product analog to Farnum Hill in scale, technique, and orchard-to-bottle model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Farnum Hill Ciders social profiles
Digital presenceFarnum Hill Ciders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Farnum Hill Ciders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Farnum Hill Ciders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Farnum Hill Ciders 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 Farnum Hill Ciders
What does Farnum Hill Ciders do?
Farnum Hill Ciders produces and sells dry, complex alcoholic ciders fermented from specialized cider apple varieties grown on-site at Poverty Lane Orchards in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The company offers a core lineup of Extra Dry (sparkling and still, 7.5% ABV), Farmhouse (canned, 6.5% ABV), and Kingston Black Reserve (single-variety premium, 8.5% ABV), plus limited farm-only Dooryard batch growler fills and raw cider apple juice for home cidermakers. Products reach consumers through direct farm sales, online direct shipping, NH liquor stores, food co-ops, restaurants, and regional wholesale distributors across roughly eight U.S. states.
Is Farnum Hill Ciders a public or private company?
Farnum Hill Ciders is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Farnum Hill Ciders founded?
Farnum Hill Ciders was founded in 1965. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Farnum Hill Ciders based?
Farnum Hill Ciders is headquartered in Lebanon, United States, in the North America region.
How does Farnum Hill Ciders make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct Farm Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution and growler Program.
Who are Farnum Hill Ciders's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Woodchuck Hard Cider and Angry Orchard. Direct peers are 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Buskey Cider, Shacksbury Cider, Tieton Cider Works, Stem Ciders, Citizen Cider, Stormalong Cider and Eve's Cidery.
Does Farnum Hill Ciders have an API?
No public API is recorded for Farnum Hill Ciders.
What industry is Farnum Hill Ciders in?
Farnum Hill Ciders's product category is Craft Cider. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAD, Cider & Perry Production, with a secondary code of CRADAIAE, Cider & Perry Producers & Brands. Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 2080.