New cideries debut at Hard Pressed Cider Fest

Rob Miller and Kelly McCune of Runcible put their love of farmhouse-style cider into creating a cidery celebrating Gorge fruit. Among those of the Gorge community welcoming Runcible was Slopeswell Cider of Hood River, where McCune has learned from cider maker John Metta. They make their cider on Quartz Drive in Mosier.

The Tyler Bauman and Andrew Piel families formed Legend two years ago and were licensed to sell their cider in November 2016.

“If you’re going to make cider, you’re gonna need fruit, and you’re going to be in the Gorge,” Piel said. “It just makes sense to be in The Dalles, as it’s an up and coming place.”

In Legend’s case, Hard Pressed Cider Fest connected them with 2 Towns Cider, who invited Piel and Bauman to visit their facility in Corvallis.

It’s indicative of the reception they have received all along. At first they thought of setting up Legend in Bend, but found the City of The Dalles far more receptive. The production facility is on Crates Way in west The Dalles.

“The Dalles was great to work with, helping streamline things,” Piel said. That extends to their neighbors. Arriving at their leased space at Crestline Construction late Friday to load up for the Cider Fest, they needed a forklift, but workers had all left. Bill Ketchum, operations manager, came in after hours to open up.

“Nothing but great people there,” Piel said.

Bauman and Piel met playing lacrosse at Oregon State University and became best friends. Sixteen years later, they are business partners. Their wives, Adrianne Bauman and Martina Piel, help out. “It’s a family affair,” Andrew Piel said.

Bauman has operated his Mauna Kea Grill food cart at Bend’s Crux Fermentation Project for four years, and Piel works as a pharmacist in Portland, but the two cider makers looked to The Dalles as their ideal location to produce their traditional dry ciders.

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The Fourth Annual Hood River Hard-Pressed Cider Fest was a success, largely in part to Mt. Defiance Fruit Company and Fox-Tail Cider, notes Ashley May, events coordinator for the chamber of commerce. “The Fox family team of Bob, Randy, Dave and Tim (Goss) work hard to provide a beautiful venue for the event to celebrate the cider industry and value added agriculture. Bob Fox, owner of Fox-Tail Cider, originally presented the idea to the chamber of commerce board while sitting as board chair in 2014. The Fox family stepped forward to donate the venue while the event found its footing. Along with neighbors Duckwall Fruit and Stadelman Fruit (who donate space for parking), our agricultural partners have helped pave the way to highlight our local cidermakers.”