All About Northwood Cider

Written By: The Gnarly Gnome
Photography By: The Gnarly Gnome

Cincinnati’s beer scene has been growing exponentially over recent years, and it’s been an absolute joy for craft beer drinkers to enjoy the places that opened up during that explosion. For other drinkers, though… namely cider, it’s been a little slower going.

Several breweries around town have launched cider brands, but those brands have mostly fizzled out (especially when seltzer took off), leaving cider fans out of luck and thirsty. Too many of them are forced to turn to out of state, or non-local brands to satisfy their cravings for the delicious beverage that they’ve fallen in love with.

The partners behind Northwood Cider (Darrin Wilson, Joe Klare, and their spouses Robin Krehbiel and Keyu Yan) came into town as a savior for those folks, launching Northwood Cider in Norwood as a full-on cidery to provide cider fans with their spot.

What Made Northwood Cider Special

It’s not hard to stand out when you’re the only one doing something in town, but Northwood wasn’t content on being good because they’re just the only ones. They wanted to solidify themselves as Cincinnati’s cider company and knew they had to do things the right way if they wanted to elevate themselves to that position.

They used only 100% real, fresh pressed apples, botanicals, and fresh fruit to make their products, which clearly showed when you tasted them. This dedication to quality ensures that when someone walked in their door for the first time, regardless of whether they’re already a cider fan, they got the best experience possible.

Northwood was special because they absolutely got it. They believed that cider has its place amongst all the great craft beer that already exists here and were willing to work hard to carve out its niche in Cincinnati.

It just wasn’t quite enough. Industry changes, and constant rising prices took their toll on the brand, which was forced to finally close it’s doors in late 2025 after an attempt to bring in a buyer to carry on the business.

What You Were Drinking

It should be noted that Northwood Cider was a great place to visit, not only if you’re already a cider fan but also if you’re a bit “cider-curious,” too. They brewed a full lineup of products that span the whole gamut of what cider can be and never stopped experimenting with new things (even up until the very end). Whether you were looking for something a little sweet and drifted towards their ‘Gem’ or something a little drier like their ‘1903’, you’ll always seemd to find the perfect thing to satisfy yourself.

If you ventured into their taproom and realized that maybe cider wasn’t for you, or someone in your group just put their foot down on it and demanded a beer, Northwood never let you down there, either. While they were steadfast on being a cidery and never had any desire to add beers to their lineup, they also provided a few local options on tap for folks who just wanted some craft beer.

The Complete Northwood Cider Timeline

November, 2022 – Northwood opens its doors In Norwood, Ohio.
April, 2023 – The cidery releases its first cans.
September, 2023 – Northwood begins distribution into Kentucky.
September, 2025 – The cidery announced that they were for sale, hoping to find a buyer that was willing to carry on the business for their fans.
November, 2025 – They announced that without a buyer, they’d be closing their doors after a last celebration.
12/13/25 – The cidery had their final day of business before closing their doors for good.