Wildbranch Cider owner Cedar Hannan typically sources apples himself and turns them into the award-winning concoctions for which he’s become known since his first harvest in 2020.
This fall, he changed his process when he launched the 500 Bottles Project, a new community cidermaking fundraiser in the Northeast Kingdom. During two drop-off days, locals brought backyard apples to Wildbranch or volunteered to pick them for those who couldn’t.
“Pretty much everybody had a story about picking the apples or reminisced about an apple tree from their childhood,” Hannan said.
He then pressed the 35-bushel harvest, which is currently fermenting in a 300-liter tank, and plans to turn it all into the promised 500 bottles of cider this spring. The effort, which Hannan said was inspired by collaborative fundraisers in the beer world, is expected to raise roughly $5,500 that he’ll split between the Craftsbury Public Library and Craftsbury Food Share.
Hannan thought he might have to take some “poetic license” with the cider, adding juice from other pressings to balance the blend. But the contributed apples were a mix of varieties, including wild apples and crab apples, and what’s in the tank “tastes pretty good,” he said.
The finished bottles will be sold next summer at farmers markets and 25 northern Vermont retailers; Wildbranch will keep $2 of the $13-per-bottle average price to offset some production costs.
While 500 bottles are “a pretty big chunk” of Wildbranch’s overall production, Hannan said, giving up space in his tiny Craftsbury cidery is worthwhile to support local organizations doing good work. And the project is already succeeding with two other goals: to create a fundraiser that’s accessible for all and get folks to appreciate the hundreds of apple trees that dot former farmsteads around town.
So far, 15 individuals or families have participated in the project. Hannan hoped to hit 20, but there’s still time: In the spring, he’ll need help bottling the cider. He’s looking for a local artist to donate artwork for the label.
The finished cider should be for sale in May. Hannan will throw a party for participants to celebrate its release.
Learn more at wildbranchcider.com and follow @500bottles on Instagram for updates.
The original print version of this article was headlined “Good Apples.”
This article appears in October 28 • 2026.
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