About Us | Vander Mill Cidery | Hard Ciders

ABOUT VANDER MILL

Barrel full of bright red and yellow apples

LOCAL, PRESSED IN-HOUSE

We press only the best Michigan apples for our ciders. We work with apple farms who grow our modern and heirloom cider apples right here in West Michigan. Our cider is never pasteurized and we do not add preservatives. Every apple from each 20-bushel bin is washed before grinding and pressing. We use only fresh juice when bottling sweet cider and fermenting hard cider.

Vander Mill exterior in Spring with crab apple blossoms in the foreground

START SMALL, THINK BIG

Paul and Amanda Vander Heide started Vander Mill in 2006. The vision was simple: build a small-town cider mill where people can feel at home. Hard cider started as a locally distributed product, but the brand quickly gained momentum. Greater distribution demanded further growth and a new production facility and taproom was opened in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2016. Today, Vander Mill distributes regionally with the same craft and care at its core.

Pint of scrumpy sitting by a fermentation tank

TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER

Every drop of cider that comes out of a bottle, can or keg has been squeezed from an apple, but after you try one, you’ll see that not all cider is fruity and sweet. We combine flavors from other fruits and spices that straddle the line between traditional and modern. Our aim is to create a complex flavor that is both delicious and innovative. We want your taste of Vander Mill to be a unique experience.

HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN...

Paul and Amanda Vander Heide smiling for a family style photo

2005

Paul & Amanda Vander Heide

A simple idea was conceived: A traditional cider mill in Spring Lake, MI.

2006

VANDER MILL OPENS

HARD CIDER

It was a natural transition; especially in Michigan where craft beverages reign supreme!

2009

HARD APPLE HITS THE PUBLIC

2014

As a founding member of the Michigan Cider Association, Vander Mill wanted to spread the word about craft cider.

2015

A beer distribution building in Grand Rapids, MI was purchased and renovations began turning it into a much larger production facility and taproom for Vander Mill.

Fun fact: The roof of our current production area was completely removed and raised three feet to make room for our four 12,000-gallon fermentation tanks.

Literal rock star brewer, Dave Bayes joins the team. He makes great cider and rawks a mean bass.

2016

HELLO, GR!

2020

FAREWELL, SPRING LAKE

2022

OFFICIAL BEER LAUNCH

2023

With a new lineup coming, smaller experimental projects, and retail and on-premise sales in 7 states across the mid-west and online in 38 states, we're excited for what might come next here at Vander Mill.