2 Towns Ciderhouse

2 Towns Ciderhouse was launched in 2010 by three Oregonians — Lee Larsen, a graduate in finance from Oregon State University, Dave Takush, a fermentation science graduate from the same school, and graphic designer Aaron Sarnoff-Wood, a graduate of the University of Oregon.[1]

Sarnoff-Wood initially wanted to start a brewpub and contacted his friend Larsen, who shared a love for home brewing, to discuss the idea.[2] High projected startup costs made this idea impractical, however, and the concept was abandoned.[2]

The pair became interested in the fermentation of apple cider to create hard cider.[1] A test batch was made to be served in 2009 at Larsen's brother's wedding,[3] which proved extremely popular with guests — and the trio were inspired by the positive reaction to launch a commercial enterprise specializing in the beverage.[1]

2 Towns Ciderhouse was launched in 2010 from a small 1,000 square foot space in the Eastgate Business Center, located between Corvallis and Albany, Oregon.[4] Despite the firm's location between the small cities of Corvallis and Albany, the brand name was actually a reference to the college towns of Corvallis and Eugene, from which the three founding partners hailed.[3]

The company sold approximately 100 cases a month during its first year of operations.[5]

Fermentation tanks and aging barrels at the 2 Towns Ciderhouse brewing facility.

In 2012 the need for addition production capacity forced a move to a 10,000 square foot space in the same industrial park from which the company was launched.[4]

Production and demand continued to expand rapidly, forcing a second move to a still-larger 15,000 square foot facility located in another industrial park in Corvallis.[4]

To meet demand 2 Towns has entered into production contracts with several orchards, agreeing to purchase the outputs of several thousand trees.[5] The company also launched its own orchard in 2012, making use of dwarf rootstocks from old orchards which had produced cider-friendly apple varieties in a previous era.[5] This orchard was anticipated to produce sufficient apples for between 5,000 and 7,000 cases of cider in 2015.[5]

The first two varieties released commercially by 2 Towns were Incider, an accessible semi-sweet beverage, and "Bad Apple," a dry and higher octane brew.[3]

Most of the 2 Towns product line are varieties of traditional fermented apple cider, generally with an alcohol content between 6 and 7 percent.[4] Other specialty varieties are made, however, included a pear cider based beverage and other creations using a range of additive flavoring ingredients such as marionberry, cinnamon,[3] rhubarb, nutmeg, and ginger.[4]

In addition to its year round product line, 2 Towns makes specialized seasonal varieties and sometimes making use of barrel-aging techniques associated with the making of wine and liquor.[4]

2 Towns products are distributed in 22-ounce bottles,[3] 12-ounce cans, and kegs.[4] The company's total production for 2013 was estimated at 4,500 barrels (140,000 gallons).[4]

In 2014 2 Towns Ciderhouse signed on as an official sponsor of the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.[6] According to terms of the deal 2 Towns products would be available from multiple taps at all Timbers games and at other sporting events at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, including soccer games of the Portland Thorns FC.[6]

• Gold medal, 2014 US Open Beer Championship[7]