Our sweet cider starts with one simple idea: let the apples shine.
We carefully select the mix of apples we use — adjusting throughout the season as different varieties ripen and get harvested. Early in the fall, you might taste more of the bright, tart apples of September, while later in the year our cider leans into the rich, sweeter flavors of late-season fruit. It’s a little bit science, a little bit nature, and a lot of years of knowing just how to balance it all. Our process is simple: wash, grind, squeeze, and collect the juice … apple cider has been made this way for centuries; we just use modern equipment and up to date food safety practices.
We work really hard to keep everything as fresh as possible. The apples are stored cold, pressed cold, and the cider is chilled very quickly after pasteurization so that what ends up in your glass tastes as close as possible to biting into a just-picked apple. No shortcuts, nothing added — just pure, fresh cider from tree to bottle
Sweet Cider
our Hard Cider starts with the apple — and a lot of history.
The Carlson family has been growing apples in Harvard, Massachusetts, since 1936, while the Rowse family has been pressing and fermenting cider since the late 1900. Together, we’ve spent generations perfecting the craft, making sure every sip of cider tastes just like it began — with fresh apples.
We never use fillers or artificial flavors, just carefully chosen apple blends that let the fruit speak for itself. Our lineup of styles — from bright and crisp to deep and dry, with a touch of sweet — has become a favorite across New England, a true reflection of our heritage and the region we call home. Our cider tastes like what it is made from — apples, plain and simple.
Hard Cider
When the apples are growing, we make lemons work.
If you guessed that lemons don’t grow in Massachusetts, you’d be right — but that didn’t stop us from making something that tastes like summer. Carlson Orchards Lemonades were born during the quieter months on the farm, when the apple trees are busy growing apples and we’re looking for ways to keep the season bright … and the filler spinning.
We start with concentrated lemon juice - lots of it - and craft a unique blend that tastes just like fresh-squeezed lemons: crisp, tangy, and perfectly balanced. No fillers, no artificial flavors — just simple, honest ingredients that bring a taste of summer to every glass.
Carlson Orchards Lemonade has become a warm-weather favorite across New England, carrying on our tradition of crafting drinks worth sharing.