Farnum Hill Ciders

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.

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

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

• Craft alcoholic cider
• Cider apple varieties
• Dry fermented cider
• Orchard-based cidery
• New England cider

Headquarters

HQ city

Lebanon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vermont Wine MerchantscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary 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 WinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes 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 WinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLongtime 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 DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIllinois distributor for Farnum Hill. Products available through Binny's Beverage Depot chain, Hopleaf bar, Beer Temple, Begyle Brewing, and Whole Foods locations.
• Paysage BrandsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChicago-based sales representatives for Farnum Hill products, working alongside AJ Maka distributor.
• Ruby WinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFormer 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional 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

Broad 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

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• Instagraminstagram.com/farnumhillciders?igsh=Z3czdnljbTdjOG9r&utm_source=qr
• Xx.com/farnumhillcider

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 Farnum Hill Ciders