Hard news for eastern Ontario cider lovers as Kingston cidery closes

Ciders lovers in Kingston are mourning the loss of the only urban cidery in the city after Hard Way Cider that closed up shop at the end of December.

Hard Way Cider, which prided itself on doing things a little bit different, first opened 30 minutes west in Bath and owners Steve and Lisa Goddard made the move to Development Drive in Kingston during the pandemic when the Ontario government relaxed the land use requirements for operating a cidery.

Specializing in barrel-aged dry ciders – its Catawampus premium cider, aged in Kentucky Bourbon barrels, boasts a complex flavour with a hint of black cherry – Hard Way’s closure has left local customers disappointed, with one customer telling a fellow Reddit poster that they missed out if they “like delicious cider and a cool place to hang out.”

Cideries, like breweries, have seen their numbers drop in recent years, with a number of bars specializing in the fruity goodness, such as Toronto’s Her Father’s Cider, closing up shop. The closures have come even with additional support provided to the industry, including the provincial government’s $6 million investment for marketing (over six years) announced in the fall.

Last September, the province announced that the Ontario Craft Cider Marketing Fund was launched to help provincial craft cideries market their products to more consumers and stimulate growth across the sector.

Toronto once had multiple destinations where cider lovers could go to wet their whistle like Brickworks Ciderhouse and Cider House, but they have also closed their doors.

Hard Way Cider combined a variety of Ontario apples, aged in oak barrels from distilleries and wineries, to create six dry and bone-dry artisanal ciders that were fast becoming local favourites. The owners reportedly tried to sell the operation, but it ultimately closed down entirely late last year.

There are still plenty of cider options in eastern Ontario, with Prince Edward County a nearby hotspot with at least a half-dozen cideries, including Loch Mór Cidery, Crimson Cidery and Clafeld Cider House.