Misfit Island Cider has expanded its products and its distribution. Owner, Christopher J. Powell (C. J.) says, “We are in more bars and stores these days. We are on tap regularly at Saltwater and Penn Cove Taproom - Freeland, and have bottles at the Star Store and Greenbank. Misfit Cider is also a semi-regular at the Bayview Taproom and the Goose Grocer.”
Misfit Island Cider has also created a temporary tasting room at their production space which is available by appointment during the week. They hope to have a new starter tasting room by the end of summer that will also allow people to come by for a taste and purchase a pint or two of cider. In response to the increasing demand for Misfit Island Cider, the company has doubled its production from last year.
They now make two unique ciders featuring hyper-local ingredients. One of these is a coffee cider using Mukilteo Coffee. In the near future, they are planning to have a cider made using blueberries from Mutiny Bay Blues.
Christopher J. Powell, or CJ, owner and head cider maker of Misfit Island Cider Company, had the desire to make cider for most of his adult life (he is now 41) and to create his own cidery specializing in dry ciders. He discovered the farm-style, dry cider taste when he would travel to London as a DJ.
CJ is originally from Port Orchard, Washington, and after some travels, is now living on Whidbey with his wife in a home in Langley that includes a large space for his cidery and an orchard. He and his wife, Anna, both work out of their home telecommuting to jobs.
At their home there are currently 60 apple trees that represent 15 different varieties. CJ is planning to plant even more in the future. He notes that there are somewhere around 7,500 varieties of apple trees. Every cider tastes different depending on the number and variety of apples used to create the unique flavor. All of his trees come from English and French varieties that focus on single source cider, where a single apple variety can be used to create the cider. This will allow him to make yearly vintages of specific apples to showcase the unique characteristics of the apple.
CJ did extensive reading to learn the skills needed to make hard apple cider, and he has done considerable experimenting with the blends of apples and amounts of yeast. He notes that his cider is special, as are all dry ciders, because of the blends he uses and the yeast, which accounts for 40–50% of the flavor.
CJ is selling 22 ounce bottles of his ciders for $10 to $12, one liter logo cap growlers filled for $20 or empty for $15, and growler fills of whatever styles he has on tap. He will deliver his cider anywhere on the south end of Whidbey if you email or contact him through his website, including swapping of empty logo growlers.
For more information about Misfit Island Cider Company, visit the website: https://www.misfitislandcidercompany.com/
