Ironbark Ciderworks in Claremont, California opened its Tasting Room doors to the public in November of 2017. The large inviting Tasting Room has conical stainless steel tanks to one side and room for musicians to another, in the back. The front room has tables and chairs and a hot pink bar.
There is also outside seating which offers a perfect place to sit and take in the dry, arid air of this southern California oasis. Find ample parking, a brewery across the parking area and a distillery.
This cidery has a definite feminine touch. The pink hues, pink chairs and as Cat says, “We like curves.”
Cat considers Ironbark to be a safe space for women and everyone. On the Cider House Rules by the bar it states – No misogynist, homophobic or transphobic behavior is allowed. “We have to had to have people leave” says Cat.
This Australian born, statuesque woman makes me believe that asking someone who is mean spirited to leave would be no problem.
But dealing with unruly behavior is not why we are meeting – so in step with her inviting hospitality Cat offers up straight away giant flight of ciders
The first cider served was called Duchess-(7.5%) made with black tea “Twinning” that they import just for this tea. They have a base cider, filter and then steep the tea.
A Specially Poured Flight for this chat
- The Duchess – (7.2%) – made with Twinning Tea
- Passionista (8.4%) – light, straw, carbonated. Made with passion fruit
- Hoppelganger (7.5%) – An IPA “doopleganger”
- Sassy Simpson (8%) Black currant juice fermented with apple juice and once fermented steeped with Black Currant tea.
- Twilight (9%) – made with Blueberries
- Anais (7.2%)
- Volcano (7.5%)
- Jamaica (7.5%)
- Hoptropica (6.9%)
Zang- made with 200 pounds of fresh ginger was out while I was there, but Cat says, “It is everyone’s favorite.” I gravitated towards the Twilight.
How Cat got into Fermenting
- She is gluten intolerant
- allergic to yeast and sulfites
- And, does not like sugar in cider
- Ace Cider’s “The Joker” is what got her into making cider.
Fermentation Practices at Ironbark Ciderworks
- 10 barrel Tanks
- No sulfites
- No sugar
- Ferment dry
- They use the same yeast for all the ciders
- The juice is from Washington State. They get a cider blend and granny smith to mix in an manage the acid level in Ironbark Cider.
- Once fermented they filter the cider to remove the yeast.
“Duchess [made with tea] is a good breakfast cider” says Cat
Contact for Ironbark Ciderworks
- 1420 N. Claremont Blvd.
- Suite 107B
- Claremont, CA 91711
Mentions in this Chat
- Best Buy Brewing – Ironbark get their tanks from this resource
- Totally Cider Tour: Normandy, France September 23-29, 2018
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- Santa Cruz Cider Company – California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60
- The Cider Project aka EthicCider– California
- Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56
- Cider Summit : listen to Alan Shapiro founder of this cider fest on episode 75.
- Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg.
- Big Fish Cider Co. Virginia
- Tanuki Cider Co. Santa Cruz California episode 103
- Ross on Wye Cider and Perry, UK
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- Ironbark Ciderworks, Claremont, California
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