ciders from mars

What ciders from mars does

Ciders from Mars is a craft cider producer and hospitality operator founded in 2021 by Virginia natives Nikki West and Jeremy Wimpey in Staunton, Virginia. The business is vertically integrated around a single multipurpose venue at 121 S Lewis St that combines a cider production and lab space, an open taproom and lounge, a rotating art gallery, and outdoor deck seating. Cider production emphasizes Virginia-grown apples, including heritage and heirloom varieties such as Ashmead's Kernel, Winesap, Newtown Pippin, Hewes Crab, and Goldrush, with technical differentiators including single-varietal expressions, native-yeast fermentation, bourbon barrel aging (De Stijl), and seasonal fruit co-fermentations like Pink Oceans (strawberry) and Red Noise (cherry). A small orchard in western Augusta County supplies some inputs, and additional apples are foraged from wild trees for the buskey-style Liquid Gang cider.

The company monetizes through three channels: on-premise draft and bottle sales at the taproom, a quarterly subscription cider club called Liquid Gang priced at $50 plus shipping that distributes to 45 states via Vinoshipper, and private event space rentals for weddings, corporate functions, and celebrations. GTM is primarily direct-to-consumer and community-driven, supported by Instagram, a monthly Mailchimp newsletter (CFM Transmission), and recurring event programming including live music, trivia nights, and food truck gatherings. Customer segments are local community and tourists, cider enthusiasts across 45 states, and event hosts, with no enterprise accounts. The team consists of the two founders plus a small bartending staff, and there is no disclosed external funding, parent company, or M&A activity.

Name

ciders from mars

Legal name

Ciders from Mars

Website

https://cidersfrommars.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ciders from Mars is a Virginia craft cidery and taproom in Staunton producing heritage-apple ciders for direct-to-consumer retail, a quarterly subscription club shipping to 45 states, and private event bookings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (72241), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Cider & Perry Producers & Brands (CRADAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cideries & Meadery Tasting Rooms (THAFALAI), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF), Alcohol-Free & Low-Alcohol Beer/Wine/Spirits Production (AFAFAAAJ)

Keywords

• Craft cider production
• Cider subscription club
• Taproom retail sales
• Private event venue
• Small batch fermentation

Headquarters

HQ city

Staunton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Taproom Retail Sales: On-site sales of draft and bottled ciders for immediate consumption in the taproom or take-out purchases. Includes outdoor seating and lounge areas.
2. Bottle and Draft Sales: Sales of 750mL bottles and sixtel kegs of various cider varieties available for off-site consumption.
3. Liquid Gang Cider Club Subscription: Quarterly subscription ($50 plus shipping) delivering three curated ciders to members' doors with exclusive offerings, early access to releases, and taproom perks.
4. Private Event Bookings: Space rental for private events including weddings, holiday parties, corporate meetings, and celebrations. Includes beverage minimum per guest plus rental fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ciders from Mars produces small-batch Virginia craft cider from locally-grown apples and operates a taproom, quarterly cider club subscription (Liquid Gang), and private event venue in Staunton, VA. The product line includes flagship dry and semi-sweet ciders, single varietal ciders featuring heirloom apples, bourbon barrel-aged cider, and seasonal co-fermented fruit ciders. Cider is sold on draft and in 750mL bottles at the taproom, through a nationwide subscription, and via regional distribution.

Product overview

Ciders From Mars is a craft cider production company and taproom in Staunton, Virginia, operating a single-location vertically integrated offering. The core product portfolio consists of 12 distinct cider varieties available on draft and in 750mL bottles, ranging from flagship dry (Hellas Dry) and semi-sweet (Pathfinder) ciders to single-varietal expressions (Small Stone from Ashmead's Kernel, Hazy Lady from Winesap) and barrel-aged offerings (De Stijl, aged 6 months in bourbon barrels). Seasonal and experimental offerings include Pink Oceans (strawberry co-fermentation), Red Noise (cherry co-fermentation), and the buskey-style Liquid Gang made with foraged wild apples. The business supplements cider sales with a quarterly subscription club (Liquid Gang Cider Club) providing members shipments, early event access, and exclusive perks. Additional revenue comes from private event space rentals at the taproom venue, which features production facilities, a gallery exhibition space, and outdoor deck seating.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Liquid Gang: Quarterly cider subscription club offering shipped ciders, exclusive offerings, complementary draft pours, early event access, and exclusive CFM gifts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years combined bartending experience on staff

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Virginia Association of Cider MakersminorOthersCiders from Mars is a proud member of the Virginia Association of Cider Makers, indicating alignment with Virginia's cider industry standards and community.
• VinoshippercoreTechnology or IntegrationShipping platform that powers the Liquid Gang cider club, enabling quarterly subscription shipments to members across 45 states.
• 33 BooksminorOthersProvided cider tasting journal included as exclusive gift in first Liquid Gang shipment.
• WQSVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal radio station co-presenting The Women of Honky Tonk event at Ciders from Mars.
• Smart Cookies TriviaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrivia night programming partnership with recurring monthly events at the taproom.
• Bluegrass ChuckminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent presenter co-hosting The Women of Honky Tonk music event.
• Food Trucks (Wolf & Wren, Island Wheels)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal food trucks providing food offerings at taproom events and gatherings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Austin Eastciders: Texas-based craft cidery with taproom and broad national distribution. Comparable craft-positioned operator building D2C and on-premise channels alongside a diverse cider portfolio.
• 2 Towns Ciderhouse: Oregon craft cidery with a taproom, broad varietal portfolio, and D2C distribution. Comparable as a craft cidery with multiple SKU styles, taproom operations, and national ambition similar to Ciders from Mars' Liquid Gang subscription model.
• Blue Toad Hard Cider: Virginia-based craft cidery operating a taproom and selling across regional distribution. Closely comparable as a same-state craft cider competitor with taproom and bottle sales channels.
• Citizen Cider: Vermont craft cidery with a cidery and taproom, broad varietal lineup, and D2C/retail distribution. Directly comparable business model pairing craft cider production with on-premise venue and multi-channel sales.
• Virtue Cider: Michigan craft cidery focused on heritage apple varieties, traditional fermentation methods, and taproom experiences. Highly comparable craft ethos — terroir-driven cider, traditional techniques, and on-premise venue — aligning closely with Ciders from Mars' positioning.
• Stem Ciders: Colorado craft cidery with a dedicated cidery/taproom, varietal portfolio, and restaurant-style cider program. Comparable as a craft cidery that pairs small-batch production with hospitality-driven venue experience.
• Foggy Ridge Cider: Virginia heritage apple cider producer in Southwest VA. Directly comparable because Ciders from Mars actually sources apples from Foggy Ridge Farm, and Foggy Ridge pioneered the heritage Virginia apple cider category the company emulates.
• Schilling Hard Cider: Pacific Northwest craft cidery with taproom and wide varietal range. Comparable craft-positioned cider producer with taproom-driven go-to-market and barrel-aged/specialty expressions similar to Ciders from Mars' De Stijl.
• Bold Rock Hard Cider: Virginia-based craft cider producer with a taproom and national distribution. Most direct geographic and category peer to Ciders from Mars, competing for the same Virginia craft cider consumer and taproom visitors.

Broad incumbents

• Angry Orchard: Largest U.S. craft-style cider brand owned by Boston Beer Company. Relevant as the broad incumbent defining the category, with national distribution and marketing budgets dwarfing Ciders from Mars.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/cidersfrommars
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciders-from-mars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ciders from mars