What’s new, what’s pouring, and why you might want to start paying a little more attention to cider.
We caught up with Blake from Balcom Canyon Cider to find out what’s happening this fall—from a new tasting room and the return of a seasonal favorite to Cars & Cider and the bottle he recommends for anyone who thinks they’re “not a cider person.”
First, though, we cleared up something important: apparently “cidery” still gets the angry red spell-check line.
Technically, Blake says, it’s a winery. But we’re sticking with cidery.
The big news: Balcom Canyon is getting closer to opening its tasting room.
“We’re going to hopefully open that tasting room next month,” says Blake.
An official grand opening date hasn’t been announced yet, so keep an eye on Balcom Canyon’s Instagram for the latest.
Also coming this fall is the return of Winter Mash, Balcom Canyon’s seasonal cranberry and spruce tip cider, made with cranberries from Long Beach, Washington, and spruce tips from Colorado.
It’s a fall tradition for Balcom Canyon—and one that doesn’t stick around long.
“We make it every fall,” Blake says. “It sells out by February, March.”
If you missed the last Cars & Cider, you missed a packed parking lot, souped-up cars, vendors, food, a DJ, live music and—at least at the one we attended—a guy standing on top of a van with nunchucks.
So, basically, a pretty good time.
The event has been drawing around 200 people, with the most recent edition bringing in roughly a dozen vendors.
“It’s pretty popular,” Blake says. “Our parking lot was just packed to the brim.”
The cars lean heavily toward street-racing and modified cars, with classics mixed in, and the event includes DJ sets, a live band and food.
Cars & Cider is becoming a regular event, typically happening on Saturdays. Follow Balcom Canyon on Instagram to catch the next date.
Before there was Balcom Canyon, there was a career spent around really good food and drinks.
Blake worked in fine dining, wine, craft cocktails and mixology, developing what he describes as a fascination with flavors.
“My two favorite things to do in life are to eat and to drink. And socialize. Just enjoying the fine things in life.”
That curiosity eventually turned into making his own creations from scratch—tinctures, nocino made from black walnuts growing in his yard, and eventually cider.
While living in Portland, where cider was much more prevalent, Blake started making his own at home for fun. When he moved back to Ventura County, he noticed something was missing.
“There weren’t any cideries. There was no cider on the shelves,” he says. “So I was like, ‘I make good cider. I’m going to give this a shot.’”
Balcom Canyon started in 2020, initially producing out of rented space at local wineries before Blake eventually moved into a warehouse of his own.
You don’t have to wait for the tasting room.
Balcom Canyon can already be found around Ventura County, including at Vons and on draft at several local restaurants and bars.
You’ll also spot it rotating through different taps around town, which means sometimes you have to grab it while it’s there.
And when Winter Mash returns, that one is a little harder to find. It isn’t widely distributed and is primarily available directly through Balcom Canyon, along with a handful of smaller local retailers.
All the more reason to visit the new tasting room when those doors finally open.
According to Blake, it depends on what you normally like to drink.
If you lean fruity, start with the Blueberry.
“Everybody loves the blueberry,” Blake says.
It’s also not exactly shy at 10.1% ABV, and Balcom Canyon plans to get it into more bars, so expect to start seeing that one around town more often.
If you usually prefer something drier or you’re coming to cider from beer, try the Gateway Session Hibiscus.
Despite the hibiscus, it isn’t overly fruity. The flower brings tartness, while Centennial hops add grapefruit and tangerine notes along with a touch of bitterness reminiscent of beer.
So there you have it:
Team fruity? Blueberry.
Team dry? Gateway Session Hibiscus.
And if you already love cider?
You probably don’t need us to convince you.
Just keep an eye out for Winter Mash, watch for the next Cars & Cider, and stay tuned for the tasting room grand opening.
Because Balcom Canyon is about to give Ventura County a whole lot more reasons to become cider people.
Thirsty yet? Follow Balcom Canyon on Instagram for the tasting room grand opening, the next Cars & Cider, and the first pour of Winter Mash, then grab a Blueberry or Gateway Session Hibiscus next time you spot one on tap around town. www.balcomcanyoncider.com
