Red Island Cider

What Red Island Cider does

Red Island Cider is a privately held craft cidery headquartered and operated from a single taproom at 101 Longworth Ave., Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The company was conceived in 2016 by two childhood friends, Robert and James, and opened for business in May 2019 after James's departure. The entire product line is hand-crafted in small batches from locally sourced PEI apples, using traditional craft techniques including wild fermentation, Brettanomyces fermentation, barrel aging, and malolactic fermentation, and is marketed as 100% gluten-free. The core assortment consists of four flagship ciders (Lady's Slipper haskap rosé, Brackley Cranberry at 8% ABV, Devonport Hopped, and Father Walker's Dry) that are always available, supplemented by a rotating Ghost Ship series of limited-release ciders named after PEI shipwrecks and historical figures (e.g., Conqueror, Loyalist Road, Chaider House, Island Pearadise). Notable specialty techniques include a 27-apple blend for Loyalist Road, a chef collaboration with Chef Ilona Daniel for Chaider House, and oak-aged variants such as Robert's Reserve and Slices of Quince (limited to 200 bottles).

Name

Red Island Cider

Legal name

Red Island Cider

Website

https://redislandcider.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Red Island Cider is a privately held, small-batch craft cidery in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, producing gluten-free ciders from locally sourced PEI apples and selling them through its own taproom, online shop, and regional wholesale channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Cider

NAICS

Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

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 cider production
• Small-batch brewing
• Cider taproom
• Apple cider beverages
• Gluten-free cider

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlottetown

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Taproom Sales: On-site sales at the taproom including flights, glasses, growler fills, and canned/bottled products for takeaway. Also includes event bookings and private taproom rentals.
2. Online Shop Sales: Direct-to-consumer e-commerce through the company website with Canada-wide shipping. Products include individual bottles/cans, six-packs, and gift cards.
3. Wholesale to Liquor Stores: Distribution through local liquor stores on Prince Edward Island via Liquor PEI store locator.
4. On-Tap to Pubs and Restaurants: Keg sales to pubs and restaurants across PEI where Red Island Cider is served on tap.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Red Island Cider is Prince Edward Island's craft cidery, producing small-batch, hand-crafted ciders from locally sourced PEI apples in Charlottetown. The portfolio includes four flagship ciders (Lady's Slipper, Brackley Cranberry, Devonport Hopped, Father Walker's) always available, a rotating Ghost Ship series of limited releases named after PEI shipwrecks, and ancillary formats such as six-packs, growler fills, and gift cards. All products are 100% gluten-free and sold through the taproom, online shop with Canada-wide shipping, and wholesale to PEI liquor stores and on-premise accounts.

Product overview

Red Island Cider is a craft cidery in Charlottetown, PEI producing small-batch, locally inspired ciders. The product portfolio consists of four flagship ciders always available (Lady's Slipper haskap rosé, Brackley Cranberry, Devonport Hopped, and Father's Walker dry), seasonal Ghost Ship limited releases (Island Pearadise, Conqueror, Chaider House, Loyalist Road), and past seasonal varieties (Robert's Reserve oak-aged, Slices of Quince, Adventure, Rose, Jewel, Volant honey, Black Dory, Colnbrook Crab, Two Farmers, Defiance, Sovinto, Wild Briar brett, Halcyon blueberry, Crabby Russet, Golden Herald, Phoenix, Blue Shank Blueberry). All ciders are hand-crafted in small batches with 100% local PEI apples, gluten-free. Products available in cans (355ml stubby bottles, 473ml tall cans), growler fills, and taster glasses. Taproom experience includes flights, pints, and PEI handpies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ghost Ship Series: Limited release ciders named after actual shipwrecks and vessels that have sunk off Prince Edward Island. These ciders are available briefly and then disappear, never to be seen again. Named after the Phantom Ship of the Northumberland Strait.

Products and services

• Lady's Slipper Sparkling pink cider blend of base apple cider and pure haskap berry juice. Delicately sweet, available in 473ml cans as one of the four flagship ciders.
• Brackley Cranberry Cider Strong cranberry cider at 8% ABV blending cranberry wine with three apple varieties. Crisp, forward tang of cranberry with tannic finish, available in 473ml cans as a flagship cider.
• Devonport Hopped Dry cider with fine bubbles, citrusy and floral aroma, and slight hop finish. Aimed at beer drinkers transitioning to cider. GLINTCAP Gold Medal Winner 2023. Available in 473ml cans as a flagship cider.
• Father Walker's English-style dry cider with sharp start and smooth finish. GLINTCAP Gold Medal Winner 2024 and the Island's premium craft cider. Available in 473ml cans as a flagship cider.
• Island Pearadise Medium-sweet light pear cider at 4.3% ABV crafted from Maritime pears with tannic cider juice and natural pear syrup. Sweetest product in the lineup. Ghost Ship seasonal release.
• Conqueror Golden Russet dry cider at 8.5% ABV with earthy, crisp character, straw notes, vibrant apple peel, light tannin and tingly acidity. Ghost Ship seasonal release named after an 1856 PEI shipwreck.
• Chaider House Spiced cider with notes of black tea, star anise, cinnamon, and ginger. Reminiscent of farmhouse holidays. Developed in collaboration with Chef Ilona Daniel. Ghost Ship seasonal release.
• Loyalist Road Dry cider combining 27 different apple varieties from a small orchard on Loyalist Road in PEI. Floral nose with tingly acidity and subtle tannins. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Robert's Reserve Limited edition oak-aged Golden Russet cider. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Slices of Quince Co-fermented quince and apple cider aged 6 months. Subtle with delicate floral perfume and potent finish. 200 bottles produced. 6.5% ABV, $20/bottle. Premium priced.
• Adventure Double fermented Golden Russet with malolactic fermentation and Dolgo crabapple cider. Dry with hint of sweetness, snappy yet mellow. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Rose Deep ruby haskap cider, fruity punch of a cider with snappy four-apple blend and haskap juice. Tastes like sweet fresh berries with tart apple finish. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Jewel Blend of Cortland and Macintosh apples sweetened with caramelized honey. Nose and first sip are sweet-tart honey, finish is roasted marshmallows. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Volant Honey cider at 6% ABV with meadow flower and grape notes, bold snappy profile. Sweetened with 100% PEI honey from Milk & Honey Farm. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Black Dory Blackcurrant cider at 7.5% ABV, ruby and jammy, blend of four apples with house-made blackcurrant wine. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Colnbrook Crab Apple Cider Off-dry cider at 5% ABV made from Dolgo Crabs, Golden Russet and Cox Orange Pippin. Easy drinking with lively tang. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Two Farmers Blend of apples from two Island orchards (Prince County and Kings County). Dry, vinous apple nose with creamy honey notes, hint of caramel, and oaky tannic finish. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Defiance Wild fermented apple cider blended with haskap berry juice. Delicately sweet sparkling pink cider with pronounced apple and farmhouse tang. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Sovinto Single varietal Golden Russet cider, back-sweetened to bring out notes of apple, meadow flowers, honey, and pineapple. Six-month production process. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Wild Briar Brett cider using Father Walker apple blend (Cortland, MacIntosh, Northern Spy) with natural Brettanomyces yeast. Farmhouse tang, beautifully round. Silver Winner at 2019 Atlantic Canadian Brewing Awards. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Halcyon Caramelized-honey blueberry cider, 80% apple cider and 20% blueberry wine blend back-sweetened with caramelized honey. 6% ABV, medium cider with caramel, date, and tamarind notes. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Crabby Russet Unfiltered Golden Russet cider with fresh crab apple juice from Arlington Orchard. Cloudy, effervescent and tart. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Golden Herald Single varietal Northern Spy cider, wild fermented. Off-dry with beautiful straw colour, distinct tanginess, and snappy bubbles. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Phoenix Oaked, full-bodied cider with hints of vanilla and bourbon. Relatively high ABV balanced by slight sweetness and tart finish. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Blue Shank Blueberry 100% PEI product using Island orchard juice, house-pressed blueberry wine, and wild blueberries. Beautifully fizzy, off-dry summer treat. Ghost Ship limited release.
• Rival 355ml stubby bottle of Michelin Dry cider. Available in the standard $6.49 stubby bottle format.
• Grand Desert 355ml stubby bottle of Kingston Black Dry cider. Available in the standard $6.49 stubby bottle format.
• Six Pack Father Walker Six-pack of 355ml cans of Father Walker's dry cider, priced at $29.99 per six-pack.
• Six Pack Devonport Six-pack of 355ml cans of Devonport Hopped cider, priced at $29.99 per six-pack.
• Gift Card Gift cards redeemable at the taproom. Available in $25, $50, or $100 denominations.
• Growler Fill Growler fill with bottle exchange at $11.50. Bottle must be exchanged on delivery.
• Growler Bottle and Fill New growler bottle ($6) and fill. Refillable, with the bottle and fill priced at $20.50.
• Taster Glass 5oz Taster Club Glass, priced at $6.90, used for serving flights at the taproom.

Quantifiable outcome

• GLINTCAP Gold Medal Winner 2024 for Father Walker Dry Cider
• +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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.

• Northumberland Ferries (NFL Ferries)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026In 2026, Red Island Cider proudly partnered with NFL Ferries for their 85th Anniversary. The partnership features the exclusive 85 Strait cider, available only at the taproom in Charlottetown.
• Chef Ilona DanielminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Chaider House cider was developed in collaboration with Chef Ilona Daniel. After 5 years of making a Ginger Bread House cider, in 2025 they mixed it up to create Chaider House. Chef Daniel is an ambassador for all things PEI food.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lost Craft Cider: Ontario craft cidery focused on traditional and heritage cider styles with DTC and on-premise sales. Comparable in craft positioning, small-batch ethos, and emphasis on terroir-driven flavor.
• Thornbury Premium Cider: Ontario craft cidery producing small-batch ciders with varietal focus, distributed across Canadian retail and on-premise. Comparable in craft positioning, multi-channel distribution, and product breadth.
• Revel Cider: Ontario craft cidery specializing in wild, funky, and barrel-fermented ciders using natural fermentation. Highly comparable on production techniques (wild fermentation, Brettanomyces, barrel aging) that overlap directly with Red Island's specialized process.
• Church Hill Cider: Ontario craft cidery producing small-batch, traditionally made ciders with a tasting room and DTC sales. Comparable in craft positioning, small-batch scale, and heritage storytelling.
• Bulwark Cider: Maritime Canada craft cidery based in Nova Scotia producing small-batch, traditionally fermented ciders with an on-site tasting room. Closest regional direct peer with similar scale, maritime heritage storytelling, and craft positioning.
• Pommies Cider: Canadian craft cidery offering traditional dry and flavoured ciders with broad Canadian retail distribution. Comparable in scale, craft positioning, and multi-flavor SKU strategy.
• Big Rig Cider: Ottawa-based craft cidery producing traditional-style ciders with taproom and retail distribution. Comparable in craft scale, multi-channel strategy, and dry-to-fruited SKU range.
• Domaine Pinnacle: Quebec-based craft cidery producing ice cider and traditional ciders with national distribution. Comparable in craft positioning, premium pricing on specialty SKUs, and Canadian retail reach.

Regional players

• Upstreet Craft Brewing: PEI craft beverage producer with both beer and cider offerings plus a taproom and restaurant. Competes with Red Island for local consumer attention, taproom traffic, and PEI on-premise listings.
• PEI Brewing Company: Prince Edward Island's largest craft brewery with a cider line and full-service hospitality. Operates in the same local market as Red Island and represents the most direct on-premise competition for tap handles and liquor store shelf space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RedIslandCider
• Facebookfacebook.com/RedIslandCider
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/red-island-cider

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Red Island Cider