Portsmouth’s first cidery to open this year or next, owner says

1,000 apple trees planted

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PORTSMOUTH — More than three years after receiving approval to build the town’s first cidery, Dan Keating said he expects his new business to open either this year or in 2020.

The cidery will be housed in a 40x80-foot building near the front of the property on the east side of East Main Road at the bottom of Quaker Hill, just north of Clements’ Marketplace. The building’s frame is now up, and Mr. Keating likens its design to that of a rural country store that will blend in with the surrounding community. 

Mr. Keating, who’s president of Newport International Polo at Glen Farm, has been keen on producing cider for a long time. He studied cider-making at Cornell University and has prior experience in beer, wine and spirits production. 

Now he hopes to bring that experience to fruition by opening his cidery either this year or next. Currently, the only cidery and brewery on Aquidneck Island is at Newport Vineyards in Middletown. 

"We don't have an inspection date. There's no point of the cidery being ready until the apples are ready. We have planted 1,000 apple trees and we plan on having some of the apples ready this year," said Mr. Keating. 

According to Mr. Keating, apple production has been a part of Portsmouth since 1638. However, citing other commitments and obligations, Mr. Keating has said he plans on the cidery being a small-scale operation. 

"We will not be a full year-round brewery," he said. 

Once opened, Mr. Keating plans to sell both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cider to the surrounding communities on Aquidneck Island and to some vendors in Providence that place an emphasis on “farm-to-table” practices. 

Eventually, he plans on selling other products such as locally produced cheese and honey. Mr. Keating also wants to offer public tastings and tours, allowing visitors to view the cider-making process firsthand.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.