Congrats are in order for Ploughman Cider, one of our favorite Pennsylvania cider makers! This Adams County-based operation, headed up by Ben Wenk of Three Springs Fruit Farm in Aspers, PA, has been steadily growing from its humble roots selling bottles of cider at farmers markets. If you live in Gettysburg or visited there this summer, it’s likely that you were one of the first to see the Ploughman Cider tasting room that popped up in June at 14 Lincoln on the Square (next to Bender’s House of Time), right in the center of town.
All summer, hours were held on Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tasty local cider and live music on the patio were the name of the game, and guests were also welcome to bring in their own food.
We’ve just gotten word that the tasting room is on the cusp of another expansion! Wenk tells us he’s received his approval from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to pour other Pennsylvania-made products, such as craft beer and spirits. Ploughman’s homegrown cider “will always be the main focus, however.”
“The Taproom, first and foremost, is a place where our friends and neighbors from Biglerville to Fairfield, Hanover to Gettysburg, and all points in between, can gather and enjoy a beverage that’s authentically Adams County,” says Wenk. “We also aim to provide an experience around our county’s apples and cider that will leave lasting impressions on guests from all over the region and beyond. It’s also gratifying to me, on a personal level, to provide a new venue for our music scene and a new customer for other farms we plan to partner with as we introduce our food menu.”
The Ploughman Cider Tasting room grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, October 5. Shortly thereafter, it will be rolling out a small food program, featuring a “ploughman’s lunch” (traditionally a plate comprised of charcuterie, cheese, bread and pickles) from “reputable and local sources.”
Earlier this summer, Ploughman released a few of its core ciders in cans: Stayman Winesap, rustic, bright, fragrant and aged for eight months; Lupulin Lummox, a blend of Jonagold and Gold Rush apples hopped with Citra; and Bluebird Day, a combo of dry apple cider and fermented peach juice.
We’ve been seeing these crushable ciders in local bottle shops (find one near you here) alongside Ploughman’s 500 and 750 ml bottles. We’re excited to see what else Ploughman has in store for 2019, and we wish the team the best of luck in the grand opening of the new Gettysburg tasting room!
Find Ploughman Cider‘s tasting room at 14 Lincoln Square in Gettysburg.
- Tasting room photos: Ploughman Cider
- Ploughman can photo: Dish Works
