Kerri Runge, General Manager of Freedom’s Edge Cider, During Today’s Soft Opening at its East Bayside Hard Cider Tasting Room. She Has a Business Background with Six Years of Experience in the Hospitality Field. (Photos by Nick Dwyer)
Barrels of Hard Cider on site at 31 Diamond Street.
The Interior of the Freedom’s Edge Cider Tasting Room in Bayside.
Freedom’s Edge Cider for Sale at the New Tasting Room at 31 Diamond Street, Bayside.
You are invited to attend the grand opening of the hard tasting room for Freedom’s Edge Cider on Thursday, April 4th at 31 Diamond Street in East Bayside, said Kerri Runge, general manager of the hard cider tasting room this afternoon. The grand opening runs until April 6th – starting at noon. It celebrates the first major tasting room in southern Maine of the “Edge.” There is a seasonal tasting room in Albion, corporate headquarters, for the business.
“There are many different apples, dabinett is just one”,” said Runge this afternoon at a soft opening. “Dabinett is an outstanding English cider apple that produces a high quality juice.” she added. Fondue will be on the menu in the future.
The business name of the four year old company is derived from the fact that the two owners bought an orchard in what they thought was Freedom. As it turned out, the orchard was technically located next door in Albion. Hence, the name Freedom’s Edge for the hard cider business..
Initially, the tasting room will be selling twelve cider drinks – all alcoholic or hard cider. For those preferring a non alcoholic drink, there are soda options. Currently, the tasting room seats 55 people. The gluten free venue will seat up to 90 people once outdoor seating is introduced.
This hard cider tasting room will serve as an opportunity for the two owners to learn about patrons preferences and to educate the public about the process of cider making.
At some time in the future, non-alcoholic cider will be available, but that time is TBD said Runge. “There is a current interest in non-alcoholic drnks. It could be generated by the younger generation concerned about the effects of alcoholic drinks on their health.” The non-alcoolic cider is in the development stage to accommodate those preferring that drink. The product is already available in hundreds of retail stores, bars and restaurants acoss Maine and New Hampshire.
The co-owners, Ned Ervin and Andy Kaplan, who are brothers-in-law, have traded in their lucrative careers for an entrepreneurial challenge for which they are well-suited. Both entrepreneurs live in Camden and Waterfville.
Currently, production is exclusively occurring in Albion. In the near future, production will expand to the Cellar Door facility in Lincolnville. Production is also currently on site at 31 Diamond Street.
Bayside Bark was reported previously to be moving into this suite, but for reasons unknown to this blogger, it didn’t happen.
The tasting room will be closed on Mondays. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays it will be open from 2:00 – 8:00 pm. Thursday – Saturday it will be open from 12:00 noon – until 8:00 pm On Sundays the tasting room will be open from 12:00 noon – until 6:00 pm
31 Diamond Street is now the home to multiple popular businesses that have converged into the expanding Bayside area. One is the gluten free Orange Bike Brewing Co., (please visit post herein dated November 19, 2023); Bite Into Maine, (Please visit post herein dated July 27, 2023) and Toad & Co. (Plese visit post herein dated Jue 5, 2022). Portland Trails has also moved its offices into this area as well, but not to 31 Diamond Street.