How Hardcore Cider Co. Began

This is the story of how Hardcore Cider Co. came to be—from Okanagan orchards to the cider in your glass.

This wasn't a corporate plan or a trend-chasing venture. This was born from a simple belief: craft cider should be made the right way, with 100% Okanagan-grown apples, zero shortcuts, and uncompromising standards. If that sounds hardcore, it's because it is.

🍎 It Started with the Orchard

The Okanagan Valley is our home. Hot days, cool nights, rich soil, and a climate that produces some of the best fruit in Canada. This valley is famous for wine, but the same terroir that creates world-class wine also creates exceptional apples for craft cider.

We started with the foundation: estate-grown apples from our own orchards. No imported concentrate. No mass-produced juice from who-knows-where. Just apples grown right here in the Okanagan Valley, ripened under the same sun and soil that make this region special.

🛠️ Building a Craft Process

Growing great apples is only the beginning. The real craft is in how you turn those apples into cider.

We spent years researching fermentation techniques, filtration methods, and aging processes. We learned what separates craft from mass-market. The answer was always the same: no shortcuts.

Pressure-Fermentation at 5 PSI

Most cider makers ferment in open tanks or standard fermentation vessels. We pressure-ferment at 5 PSI to eliminate oxygen and preserve fresh fruit character. The CO2 that yeast produces stays in the tank, creating a protective blanket that keeps oxygen out.

This preserves vibrant fruit aromatics and prevents oxidation. It's more expensive and more complicated, but the result is cider that tastes FRESH, not stale.

Multiple Filtrations

We filter after fermentation, after aging, and sterile filter before packaging. Every time we rack (transfer) the cider, we filter. That's a minimum of three filtrations, but often more.

This ensures crystal clarity, stability, and a clean finish. No sediment. No haze. Just pure cider.

Bottled in 750ml Glass

We bottle in glass because it's the best way to preserve flavour. Glass doesn't leach chemicals, doesn't affect taste, and keeps cider fresh longer than cans or plastic.

It's more expensive to ship and more fragile, but quality matters more than convenience.

🌲 The Okanagan Connection

Everything we do is rooted in the Okanagan Valley. Our apples are estate-grown. Our barrel-aged ciders use whiskey barrels from Okanagan Spirits, a local craft distillery. Our fruit additions—raspberries, strawberries, blackberries—come from the Okanagan.

This isn't just marketing. This is TERROIR. The same climate, soil, and water that make Okanagan wine world-famous also create the foundation for our cider.

When you drink Hardcore Cider Co., you're tasting the Okanagan Valley in every bottle.

🍎 Why "Hardcore"?

The name has layers—just like our cider.

The Apple Core

At the center of every apple is the CORE. It's hard, dense, and holds the seeds—the foundation of future orchards. The core is where it all begins. It's the essence of the apple.

Our flagship cider is called The Core because it represents the foundation of everything we do: 100% Okanagan apples, pressure-fermentation, and uncompromising craft. It's the essence of Hardcore Cider Co.

The Earth's Core

Deep beneath the surface, the Earth's core is solid, dense, and unshakeable. It's the foundation that everything else is built on. It doesn't bend. It doesn't compromise.

That's how we approach craft cider. Our standards are SOLID. Our process is UNSHAKEABLE. We don't bend to trends or cut corners to save money.

Hardcore = Uncompromising

When you refuse to cut corners, when you pressure-ferment to preserve fruit character, when you filter multiple times, when you age in premium barrels, when you bottle in glass—that's hardcore.

It's not about being extreme. It's about being UNCOMPROMISING. Quality over speed. Craft over convenience. Flavour over profit.

The apple core. The earth's core. The core of who we are. That's what Hardcore Cider Co. stands for.

🎭 Meet the Characters

As we developed our cider lineup, each expression started to take on its own personality:

• Unhazy Hopped - The laid-back hop head. Tropical, citrusy, and always chill. Your guide to the Okanagan lifestyle.
• Bad Raspberry - The opinionated one. Tart, bold, and never holds back. Tells it like it is, no filter.

These aren't just products. They're personalities. And they each have a story to tell.

📦 Shipping Across Canada

From the beginning, we wanted Hardcore Cider Co. to be accessible across Canada. Whether you're in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, or Edmonton, you should be able to enjoy Okanagan craft cider.

We ship to 97% of the Canadian population. Cider Club members get free shipping per case.

You don't have to visit the Okanagan to experience what we're doing here. We'll bring it to your door.

🎁 The Cider Club

The Cider Club was born from a simple idea: give our most loyal customers guaranteed access to limited releases and exclusive expressions.

Three times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall), Cider Club members receive curated 12-bottle cases featuring core expressions, barrel-aged releases, and limited editions. Members get first access to everything, better pricing, and free shipping per case. 

It's not just a subscription. It's a community of people who appreciate craft, quality, and the Okanagan lifestyle.

Learn more about the Cider Club

🏔️ What's Next

We're just getting started. More equipment, more partnerships with local producers and possibly more varieties (but only if they pass the cut).

But the foundation will never change: 100% Okanagan-grown apples, pressure-fermentation, multiple filtrations, and zero shortcuts. That's the Hardcore Cider Co. promise.

The Bottom Line

Hardcore Cider Co. exists because we believe craft cider should be made the right way. No imported concentrate. No mass production. No shortcuts.

Just estate-grown Okanagan apples, uncompromising craft, and a commitment to quality over everything else.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you're a Cider Club member, a first-time customer, or someone who's just discovering us, we're grateful you're here.

Welcome to Hardcore Cider Co. Let's raise a glass to doing things the right way.

Stay hardcore.

🍎 Hardcore Cider Co.