Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider announces Closure
Updated 9/6/2023 with quotes from Nat West on Reverend Nat’s closure.
After only recently celebrating their 12th anniversary, and with only 5 months into a brand new location, Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider is closing. The Portland, Oregon based cidery is arguably the most well-known cidermaker in Portland, and one of the most recognizable in the state. The brand’s legacy is vast, but opening up the world of ciders to experimental flavors and innovations that left no stone unturned comes top of mind for us.
Founder Nat West started making cider at home in 2004 and opened Reverend Nat's Hard Cider in September of 2011. The first ciders were from his basement production, before they moved into the Hollywood neighborhood and opened a taproom in 2013. A long awaited move into a warehouse space off of N. Interstate in 2020 led to the shutter of their longtime tasting room, which only left fans more excited when they recently announced the new location on SE Division.
“I started this business in my basement without imagining that it would be successful enough to move beyond my house,” said founder Nat West in July. “In the last decade I’ve served a lot of people from around the world who have visited to enjoy cider from my two locations in Portland prior to this new space, each one an upgrade.”
Reverend Nat’s closure is shocking in more ways than one, not only as it has become an iconic Oregon cider brand but because their new location seemed to be breathing new life into the cidery and the upper SE Division strip. In fact the cidery taproom is the brick-and-mortar bar for the new Farmhouse Food Carts at 2425 SE 35th Pl, the space itself was previously set to be Logsdon Farmhouse Ales before that also imploded. Nat West and team did significant work to build-out the former SE Wine Collective space, moving in all of their cider production tanks and building a doorway and hall from the bar to the outdoor food truck pod so that customers could easily pass through with food and drink.
In the closure announcement on instagram, Nat said “The last few years has been hard on us with COVID closures, changing consumer preferences, the sputtering of craft beer overall, and the decline of Portland as a worldwide tourism destination. But there is not a single reason why we are closing, just a combination of factors.”
“Things were going well at the Taproom but not well enough,” says Nat. “I had anticipated beating our 2019 Taproom numbers but we weren't able to do that, only match them. I've just had some time to consider the business overall and there was just such a slim chance of getting through all our issues that we decided it was time to wrap things up. Better to go out under your own terms than being forced to close. For example, I have plenty of money to make payroll until close and come out with some great final ciders.”
Reverend Nat’s is known for unusual flavors from co-ferment wine hybrids, to helping introduce Tepache a traditional Mexican fermented and spiced pineapple beverage to a new audience, and flavors like multiple-fermented Revival, crowd favorite Viva la Pineapple and subtle Saint Citron. Rev Nat’s was one of the first pivots to home delivery during COVID-19 pandemic, also delivering their friends at Old Town Brewing’s beers. Their products include the Cascadia Cider brand of lower-cost quaffable ciders and hard seltzer, and fun projects like cider vinegar.
“I have two favorite ciders: Saint Citron because I made it for a specific need, that post ride beer. I'm a big mountain biker and have always enjoyed a beer after a long ride but wanted something less filling. So I crafted Saint Citron to be the perfect post-workout drink. I'll miss that one for sure,” says Nat when asked to talk about some of his favorite releases over the years. “And my various Hellfires. My cidermaker Chris and I developed the technique and recipe for it almost 10 years ago and it's certainly emblematic of the kinds of ciders we made. I have two Hellfire releases this month to wrap things up: 6 year bourbon barrel aged Wooden Hellfire and Swan Song with orange zest.”
So far none of Reverend Nat’s cidermaking equipment has been moved into the new location, making it simpler to move out and the building owners to find a new bar tenant. Nat says there is no buyer lined up, and the equipment will go on the auction block in the coming months. He has no plans to continue the brand, and says he has tried co-packing at other facilities but it never worked out well for the unique methods he often employs to make his ciders. However, he is open to selling the brand and the IP to someone interested in carrying on the legacy.
“Helping other companies has been one of my favorite things about the last 12 years and I'm excited to be able to continue to offer advice to others. I don't know that I'll do that work long term but I'm definitely still passionate about beverages overall,” says Nat, noting that he is still doing consulting for beverage makers on the side.
Rev Nat’s is encouraging people to join him at the taproom until September 24th, and especially on Saturday September 23rd as they will celebrate the amazing ciders and people that made it what it is. They also promise three final Tent Show releases including Swan Song cider, plus two non-alcoholic ciders in cans.