After more than three years of slinging hard cider out of their Lancaster taproom, Clarksburg Cider has closed their doors. Clarksburg opened the space at 4493 Walden Avenue in Lancaster in August 2021.
Owner and CEO Michael Robb released a statement citing “economic fluctuations and an unstable workforce” as some of the contributing factors for the closure.
“Dear friends of the Tap Room at Clarksburg Cider, after a great deal of reflection and thoughtful conversation about the best path forward for Clarksburg Cider, I have decided to close the Tap Room at Clarksburg Cider effective immediately,” the statement reads. “With economic fluctuations and an unstable workforce, the last year and a half has been challenging. And as hard as we tried, we simply couldn’t provide you with the experience you deserved.”
Despite their taproom space being closed, you will still be able to find Clarksburg Cider on draft and in bottles and cans at select retailers around Western New York. And after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Direct-to-Consumer Shipment Bill for Cider and Spirits into law (it takes effect next month), Clarksburg’s cider will also be available for purchase and direct shipping online.
“But here’s the good news…We’re now going to focus solely on how it all began—producing our award-winning Clarksburg Hard Cider. If you’ve enjoyed our classic, seasonal, and signature hard ciders in the past, we’re still here for you. So, keep up with us on our social channels. And don’t forget to look for Clarksburg Cider at your favorite grocery stores, bottle shops, restaurants, and online at Vinoshipper. Thanks for your understanding and continued support.”’
Clarksburg Cider is named for the Town of Eden hamlet that plays host to the Robb family orchard. The now closed taproom was a sprawling and bucolic space with plenty of outdoor seating, as well as fire pits and cornhole boards.
The cidery brews their wares on a custom built brewhouse from Vance Metals in Geneva, which allows them to take a lagering approach in their brewing process. Their traditional ciders include Dry, Semi Sweet and Savory Citrus, as well as experimental flavors such as Pineapple Hibiscus, Watermelon Mint, Cranberry Ginger, Golden Maple and Dry Hopped Cider, which is brewed with New Zealand Wai-iti hops. They also have a variety of barrel aged ciders, including some aged in tequila barrels, Cabernet Sauvignon barrels and bourbon barrels from Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s and Buffalo Trace.
For more information, visit https://clarksburgcider.com.
Brian Campbell is co-founder and Brand Manager of the Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).
