Julian Hard Cider

What Julian Hard Cider does

Julian Hard Cider is a veteran-owned craft hard cider producer founded in 2009 and headquartered in Julian, California. The company produces a 12-cider portfolio built on 100% fresh-pressed apple juice from hand-picked apples with no added sugar, split between six core flagship SKUs (Harvest Apple, Cherry Bomb, Black and Blue, Apple Pie, Pearanormal, and Apricot at 6.5–6.99% ABV) and six rotating specialty SKUs (Caramel Apple, Orchard Mule, Applerita, Cafe Juliano, Cool Cucumber, and Passion Fruit Tamarindo at 5.5–6% ABV). Production runs out of two facilities — the flagship operation in Julian, CA and a second site in Milton-Freewater, OR — with specialty small-batch ciders produced at Apple Lane Orchard's on-site facility through a co-ownership and supply partnership with co-owners Keith and Priscilla Webb.

Name

Julian Hard Cider

Legal name

Julian Hard Cider

Website

https://julianhardcider.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Julian Hard Cider is a veteran-owned craft hard cider producer founded in 2009 in Julian, California, selling a 12-cider portfolio through its on-site tasting room, regional Southern California wholesale distribution, and direct U.S. shipping.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Hard Cider

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), Cider & Orchard Fruit Production (Apples/pears for cider & processing) (AFAGACAJ)

Keywords

• Craft hard cider
• Hard cider production
• Apple cider beverages
• Cider tasting room
• Craft beverage distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Julian

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. On-site Tasting Room Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of ciders by the taster flight, pint, growler, bottle, and case at the Julian Station tasting room. The tasting room has 12 ciders on tap, with discounts offered on case purchases. Daily discounts are available for active duty military, veterans, first responders, and teachers.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale distribution of ciders to restaurants, bars, and retail establishments across Southern California via Sunset Distribution, and throughout the United States via shipping. Bar, restaurant, and retailer inquiries are directed to [email protected].
3. Merchandise Sales: Merchandise sold through an external Square online storefront linked from the main website, offering branded merchandise items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Julian Hard Cider produces and sells premium craft hard ciders crafted from 100% fresh-pressed apple juice with no added sugar, offering a portfolio of 12 ciders (six core flagships and six rotating specialty ciders) at 5.5%–6.99% ABV. The company operates a direct-to-consumer tasting room at Julian Station in Julian, CA, and distributes its products through Southern California wholesale channels.

Product overview

Julian Hard Cider is a veteran-owned premium hard cider producer offering a portfolio of 12 distinct ciders available at their Julian, CA tasting room and through Southern California distribution. The product lineup consists of 6 core flagship ciders (Harvest Apple, Cherry Bomb, Black and Blue, Apple Pie, Pearanormal, and Apricot) and 6 rotating specialty ciders (Caramel Apple, Orchard Mule, Applerita, Cafe Juliano, Cool Cucumber, and Passion fruit Tamarindo). Products range from 5.5% to 6.99% ABV and are distributed throughout Southern California by Sunset Distribution. The tasting room offers flights, pints, growlers, and bottles/cans for on-site consumption and retail purchase.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Core Flight: Flight of 6 original flagship ciders including Harvest Apple, Cherry Bomb, Black and Blue, Apple Pie, Pearanormal, and Apricot
• Specialty Flight

Products and services

• Harvest Apple Traditional hard cider crafted from 100% fresh-pressed juice of hand-picked apples with a crisp apple taste and clean, dry finish. 6.99% ABV. No added sugar.
• Cherry Bomb Hard apple cider blended with Montmorency Cherry juice, balancing tart and sweet. 6.99% ABV. No added sugar.
• Black and Blue Hard apple cider blended with juice from American-grown, sustainably farmed blackberries and blueberries. 6.99% ABV. No added sugar.
• Apple Pie Hard apple cider blended with clove, cinnamon, and allspice to evoke apple pie spices. 6.99% ABV. No added sugar.
• Pearanormal Premium hard apple cider steeped in mint leaves and blended with pear juice and lime. 6.99% ABV.
• Apricot Fresh-pressed hard apple cider blended with apricot. 6.5% ABV.
• Caramel Apple Fresh-pressed hard apple cider blended with fresh apple juice, caramel, and cane sugar. 6% ABV.
• Orchard Mule

Named customers2 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sunset DistributioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSunset Distribution is the primary distribution partner for Julian Hard Cider, distributing the brand throughout Southern California to craft-focused restaurants, bars, and retail establishments.
• Stone DistributionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStone Distribution distributes Julian Hard Cider throughout Southern California alongside Sunset Distribution. Referenced on the company's newsletter section.
• Apple Lane OrchardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApple Lane Orchard is associated with co-owners Keith and Priscilla Webb and is the site of the small production facility where Julian-only specialty ciders are produced. Apple Lane Orchard also owns apple orchards that supply hand-picked apples for the ciders.
• The Cooler (Craft Beer Bar)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Cooler is a craft beer bar located within Julian Station, sharing the same venue as Julian Hard Cider. It provides additional beverage options for visitors to the tasting room complex.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Woodchuck Hard Cider: Established national craft cider brand with broad flavored-cider portfolio and wide retail distribution — comparable category leader competing for the same craft cider consumer.
• Angry Orchard: Largest national hard cider brand owned by Boston Beer, offering broad flavor portfolio and deep retailer relationships — sets the competitive floor for shelf and tap access that Julian Hard Cider must work against.
• Ciderboys: Wisconsin-based flavored craft cider brand with national retail presence — competes in the same flavored, fruit-forward cider segment as Julian's Cherry Bomb, Black and Blue, and Apple Pie.
• Ace Cider: California-based heritage craft cider brand (originally Sebastopol) with broad regional distribution and clean, dry positioning — a more established in-state competitor for shelf and tap access.
• Vermont Hard Cider: Owner of Woodchuck and other cider brands, a multi-brand craft cider platform — illustrates the consolidation trajectory and competitive backdrop facing small regional cider producers.

Direct peers

• Golden State Cider: California craft hard cider brand with taprooms and clean-label, fruit-forward positioning — a direct in-state peer that competes for similar California on-premise and retail accounts.
• Schilling Hard Cider: Pacific Northwest craft cidery with an Astoria taproom and broad regional distribution — similar craft positioning, tasting-room DTC, and multi-state wholesale footprint.
• Tieton Cider Works: Washington-based craft cidery operating a tasting room with estate-grown apples and a rotating specialty lineup, directly comparable to Julian Hard Cider's orchard-linked, tourism-driven DTC model.
• 2 Towns Ciderhouse: Oregon-based craft hard cider producer with a taproom, fruit-forward flavor portfolio, and regional distribution — closely comparable in scale, business model, and product positioning to Julian Hard Cider.
• Stem Ciders: Colorado craft cidery operating a Denver taproom with diverse, experimental cider lineup — directly comparable DTC taproom-plus-distribution model and innovation-driven brand positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/julianhardciderchicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/julianhardcider
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/julian-hard-cider

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Julian Hard Cider