About Us
Swiss-Inspired. Colorado Roots.
Welcome to
The Waldschänke
Our Delicious story
Swiss-Inspired. Colorado Roots.
Our Swiss inspiration comes from part-owner Ruth’s father, George Mueller. In Romanshorn, Switzerland- at the young age of sixteen- George became a part of the original Waldschänke.
During WWII, George assisted in digging out the cellar of the original Swiss Waldschänke; which became a place where the entire village would come to relax, drink traditional unfiltered cider, and enjoy each other’s company.
When George- now at a spry 99 years old- had to retire and leave his legacy behind, we decided to carry it on here in the U.S., taking inspiration from his original unfiltered recipes while adding a modern Colorado twist. Our goal in opening this cidery in Denver, is to create that same welcoming atmosphere, where people from all walks of life can come together, connect, and enjoy a pint or two worry-free.
Our team consists of George’s daughter Ruth and her husband John, along with their son Keane and his wife Kelley. We opened up shop in October of 2019 and were gaining traction when the first shutdown due to COVID-19 hit in March. Since then, we have been working tirelessly to maintain a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable space for our neighborhood along with creating some of the most diverse and delicious ciders in the city. Some haus favorites include:
– Base Kamp (original Swiss apple)
– Limoncello Ginger (fresh lemon and ginger)
– Hot Fuzz (peach habanero)
– Prickly Pear Punch ( cactus flower)
– The Northcider (hopped apricot)
– Cherry Bomb! (cherry vanilla)
In addition to our cider, we have also implemented a small coffeehaus, for which we have partnered with a small up-and-coming roastery- Mad Loon Coffee Roasters based out of Morrison, CO. He roasts only 4 pounds at a time, which yields some of the most flavorful coffee in town.
In addition to our cider and coffee, we also have opened our very own European/Swiss-inspired food truck, to give our customers a fully immersive (and delicious!) experience. We source all of our ingredients locally, from venders in and around our neighborhood!
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Our Team of Founders
The Dufresnes have worked incredibly hard to get the doors of Denver’s first Swiss-Inspired cidery open for all to enjoy! The family bootstrapped the entire operation, working long days and nights preparing the space for you and your friends and family to enjoy.
John Dufresne
Cidermaker/Business Manager
Born and raised in Germany, John is no stranger to beer, but after meeting wife Ruth, cider became the name of the game. An entrepreneur at heart, it was only a matter of time before he aspired to open his own cidery.
Ruth Dufresne
Accountant/Food Trucker
Born in Switzerland, Ruth was raised on her father’s traditional, unfiltered Swiss cider. With her knowledge of the original recipes, she and her family are the inspiration behind the whole operation.
Keane Dufresne
Cidermaker/Bar Manager
With 10+ dedicated years in the craft beverage industry, Keane has a passion for creating unique and delicious beverages! A hard worker and an incredible human being, he’s definitely the one you want making your ciders.
Kelley Dufresne
Events & Media/Cider Slinger
An eye for design and a passion for family and community, Kelley always dreamt of opening a small business; she just never thought she’d be lucky enough to open a craft cidery in her home state with her new family!