a little bit of history
About Us
Swiss-inspired. Colorado roots.
Our Swiss inspiration comes from Co-Owner Ruth’s father, George Mueller. In Romanshorn, Switzerland- at the young age of sixteen- George became a part of the original Waldschänke. This cidery, located on a forest preserve was aptly named “Waldschänke”, meaning “forest tavern” in traditional Swiss-German.
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- who we lost in March 2022 at the age of 99- 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 • OFF-DRY ]
- Thurgau Dry [ a dry version of Base Kamp • DRY ]
- Prickly Pear Punch [ cactus flower • OFF-DRY ]
- The Northcider [ hopped apricot • OFF-DRY ]
- Hot Fuzz [ peach habanero • OFF-DRY ]
- Mad Lion [ cold brew infused • SEMI-SWEET ]
- Limoncello Ginger [ fresh lemon and ginger • “SWEET” ]
- Dark Cherry Bomb! [ cherry vanilla • “SWEET” ]
In addition to our cider and coffee, we also have our very own European/Swiss-inspired food truck- The EuroWagen– to give our customers a fully immersive (and delicious!) experience. We source all of our ingredients locally, from venders in and around our neighborhood to provide flavorful comfort food to our patrons.
Summer time at the Romanshorn Waldschänke
Food and drink in the forests of Switzerland
John, Ruth, George, and friend Erwin enjoy a pint together in Switzerland
Cheers to one of Denver’s best
Wonderful selection of Ciders to accommodate those who love Ciders and those who have yet to realize they do. Plenty to offer your every day beer drinker and your cider connoisseur. The staff is full of smiles, information and appreciation. The on-site food truck puts the icing on the cake. I'm happy to have visited and will be doing so repeatedly! - N.T. on Google
Our Founders
The Dufresne Family has 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.
Ruth
Taproom decor & accounting
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.
John
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.
Keane
Taproom Manager &
Sales
With 10+ dedicated years in the craft beverage industry, Keane has a passion for unique and delicious beverages. A hard worker and a charismatic bartender, Keane is dedicated to putting our ciders on the map!
Kelley
Social Media &
Events
An eye for design and a passion for family and community, Kelley often dreamt of opening a small business; she just never thought she’d be lucky enough to open a craft cidery with her husband and in-laws!
Meet The Team
Jessica
bartender
Scott
bartender/cidermaker
Jake
bartender
Alex
chef
Todd
chef
Zach
Coffee Roaster/barista
Jared
barista
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