North Country Hard Cider is New Hampshire’s First Cidery Recognized in the Sustainable Craft Beverage Program

Dover, NH – North Country Hard Cider (NCHC) is the first cidery in New Hampshire to be recognized in the New Hampshire Sustainable Craft Beverage Program. The Sustainable Craft Beverage Recognition Program is a free, voluntary program offered to environmental leaders in the craft beverage industry who go above and beyond to produce high quality eco-friendly craft beverages. Recognition requires the completion of an application and a site visit by New Hampshire Pollution Prevention Program (NHPPP) staff for verification. This visit also gives NHPPP staff the opportunity to offer additional suggestions for sustainability practices.

Two brothers and a best friend took their passion for the natural world and stewardship of the environment to the next level when they opened the NCHC cidery in 2014. NCHC’s mission is “to make the best tasting, purest hard cider on the planet – uncompromised.” While it requires more work to produce an all-natural hard cider without adding sulfites, sugar, preservatives, or other additives, it is what sets them apart from other cider producers. This sustainable practice not only allows them to focus on the fruit’s fresh flavor but keeps unnecessary chemicals out of their products and the environment.

NCHC also purchases nearly all its cider fruit from local orchards whose agricultural methods they trust to ensure quality and guardianship of the environment, including its own family farm. While it might cost a bit more to purchase local fruit, it provides the environmental benefit of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from interstate transportation. It also supports local farmers and the economy.

Specifically, the cidery keeps 46 metric tons of CO2 emissions from being released to the atmosphere by using energy-efficient equipment and solar power. They did this by installing an energy-efficient hybrid electric heat pump water heater and adding insulation to the building and all pipes. NCHC also reduces CO2 emissions by using energy-efficient electric forklifts, floor scrubbers and pallet jacks. Water and cleaning chemicals are reused throughout the cider making process and they offer a plastic PakTech (beverage carriers/handles) collection box for recycling. Add to the fact that the tasting room is family and dog-friendly and has more than 18 hard cider varieties on tap, what more could a cider drinker ask for?  

NHPPP at the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is a non-regulatory business assistance program founded in 1991. The program offers free technical assistance to all businesses and organizations throughout New Hampshire by helping them to reduce waste and save money. The new Sustainable Craft Beverage Recognition Program expands on work NHPPP has been doing with the craft beverage industry to improve energy efficiency, conserve water, minimize waste, and reduce the volume and strength of wastewater. The programs’ goal is to publicly recognize craft beverage producers who are making sustainable choices, preventing pollution, conserving resources and encourage other producers to implement sustainable practices.

For more information, visit the NH Sustainable Craft Beverages Program webpage or contact Kathy Black at kathryn.black@des.nh.gov or (603) 271-6460.