More than a decade in the making, East End Brewing (Pittsburgh, PA) is finally launching a canned and kegged version of the hard cider they’ve been making since 2009.

According to Owner/Founder Scott Smith, regulations on cider production at a brewery haven’t always been especially clear. “Since it’s made from pressed apple juice, the Federal Government considers cider to be wine. But if it’s under 7.5% abv, the state considers it beer. So that’s how we’ve been able to produce and sell by the Growler and glass for the last decade. Getting the approvals for packaging is more of a challenge.”

At a modest 6.5%, East End’s cider exists in an odd limbo that allows for production by a company with a license to make beer. But getting a label approved so that kegs and cans may leave the brewery always seemed impossible… until now. And Smith is especially excited about what they’ve been making lately.

“We’ve made some significant improvements to our cider making process in the last year or two, and we’re really very pleased with the results. Late last year, we decided it was the right time to get all the legal stuff sorted out, so we could start offering some cans and kegs to the outlets that already carry our beer.” Guests at their Larimer Brewpub have been enjoying their cider on site for all these years, but now they’ll finally be able to take some cans of it home.

ALONG CAME A CIDER is described as a “semi-dry cider” made from just one ingredient: 100% fresh Pennsylvania apple juice from Kistaco Farms in Apollo, PA. This also means that the cider is lab-certified to be naturally Gluten Free, perfect for people with gluten sensitivities, or for people trying to reduce the amount of gluten they consume.

Starting this Saturday, February 22nd, cases and six packs of 12oz cans of ALONG CAME A CIDER will be available at East End Brewing’s Larimer facility that they share with their food partners, Larder of Pgh. East End Brewing’s wholesale partner, Vecenie Distributing in Millvale, will be distributing cans, as well as a limited amount of draft in quarter barrels.

For more information on the brewery and the cider, you can reach the brewery at [email protected]