An Interview with Relic Cider

I’m Sarah Craighead Dedmon. Welcome to Way Downeast, where I’ll share small-town stories and big conversations -- about the people, communities, struggles and successes of Washington County, Maine.

Photo courtesy Relic Cider

Relic Cider co-owners Brittany and Charlie Foster have been hard at work this autumn gleaning apples from wild apple trees and from heritage orchards planted long ago around Washington County homesteads.

Next year, hard cider fans will be able to raise a toast with Relic Cider's first hard cider line. Last month, the Portland Press Herald reported that "hard cider is having a renaissance, and its taken hold in Maine," saying the number of Maine cideries has doubled since 2019. Relic Cider is the first Washington County cidery.

Welcome to Way Downeast.

Belle de Boskoop

The heritage Belle de Boskoop apple, originally from a chance seedling in the Netherlands in 1856, now growing in Washington County, Maine and part of Relic Cider's orchard blend, 167 years later. 

Cider + Cheese Festival in Ellsworth. Nov 9-12.

David Cale

An experienced fisherman, clamer and diver, David serves the town of Machiasport as Harbor Master.

Brittany and Charlie Foster

Co-owners of Relic Cider, Washington County’s first ciderie.