Locals brew up first NJ hard cider company

STILLWATER — What started as a hobby between Rutgers college rugby teammates has turned into a full blown business venture that is paving the way for hard cider companies in the Garden State.

The cider businessMarty Willard, 31 and Frank Voris, 28 came together two years ago to form Twisted Limb Hard Cider out of a dilapitated barn in Stillwater.

Willard had already been brewing beer back in college, but the two wanted to try something different. And Voris' father had a barn that could serve as a good headquarters for their business.

"The barn is a work in progress," Voris said. "It was just a roof and dirt floor when we started."

Voris and Williard utilized ravaged trees that fell victim to Superstorm Sandy for lumber as they manually constructed the barn. The barn currently houses a fermentation chamber, bottling and labeling equipment, a tasting bar and a relaxation room upstairs.

Investing their savings into the business, the two went about obtaining a license from New Jersey to begin brewing. There are no specific hard cider licenses, only ones for wine or beer. However, in October Willard and Voris, were granted the a winery license to get started and are the only licensed New Jersey company to make hard cider.

Staying localThe two friends found transitioning from beer to cider was actually easier.

"The mechanics and biology behind making cider and beer are similar but with cider there is one less step," Voris said.

Voris and Willard currently have three acres of land that they planted several types of apples in 2013. Since they are not ready for harvest yet, the friends are using local produce from farms such as Pochuck Farm in Vernon.

While the two plan to use a variety of apples, they also are going back to New Jersey's roots and have planted the Harrison variety.

"One of the most famous cider apples of the 18th century, it was cultivated extensively in New Jersey before and after the Revolution," according to Twisted Limb's web site. "Grown all over Essex County, the apple takes its name from Harrison."

Once the apples are selected, Voris and Willard begin the fermentation process while incorporating local New Jersey honey from a bee keeper in the Newshanik River Valley — part of Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

The cider is then aged for about a month in whiskey barrels to add another layer of flavor.

First batchEager to get started, Voris and Willard began aging their first batch that was ready for bottling in mid-January and is now available for sale.

Twisted Limb offers two flavors: Originial — offers a vigorous bubble, a tart beginning, and notes of oak whiskey barrel. And Bavarian — is mixture of complex German yeast, sweet notes of local honey and the tastes of ripened McIntosh and Winesap apples, with a slight sharpness of under ripe plums.

Twisted Limb will be offering samples of both the Originial and Bavarian at the Big Brew Festival in Morristown this Saturday, Feb. 21. For tickets visit BigBrewNJ.com.

Voris and Willard hope to continue to grow their business into something they can concentrate on full time.

"I love it and look forward to the days I get to work here in the bard," Willard said.

For more information on Twisted Limb or where to purchase some visit www.twistedlimbcider.com.