Fallen From Grace Cidery Launches with Unique Apple Varieties
A new cidery has opened its doors in Perry County, offering a unique selection of apple varieties that have long been overlooked in commercial markets. Fallen From Grace Cidery officially commenced operations on August 22, 2023, at 283 Evergreen Road, Shermans Dale. The cidery is spearheaded by Dustin Sparr and his parents, John and Carrie Sparr, and represents a fresh direction for the family’s agricultural venture, Deep Blue Farms.
The Sparrs have dedicated eight years to cultivating rare fruits, many of which have been abandoned by commercial growers due to their short shelf life or lack of widespread appeal. Rather than focusing on traditional products like jams or jellies, Dustin turned his attention to fermentation, drawing from his extensive experience in home brewing. “I’ve been brewing for probably a good eight years, experimenting with meads, ciders, even botanical wines,” he explained. “I always wanted to be the niche kind of guy, because that’s why our farm was so successful.”
Reviving Unique Varieties
The name Fallen From Grace embodies the cidery’s mission. “It’s not a religious thing,” John clarified. “It’s fallen from grace as in the fruits have fallen from grace. They’ve lost commercial favor, but they still have outstanding flavor.” The cidery’s offerings include apples developed through USDA breeding programs, heirloom varieties, and rare cultivars like the Otterson apple, known for its previous accolades in cider competitions but which never reached large-scale production.
Their flagship cider, aptly named “Flagship,” is crafted from a blend of 15 different apple varieties, providing a complexity often absent in mass-produced ciders. Additionally, the cidery features small-batch specialty ciders, including a blueberry cider made with 110 pounds of fruit in just 30 gallons and a honeyberry cider that highlights a little-known fruit known for its rich antioxidant properties. “If you’ve got to take vitamins, why not drink them?” Dustin joked.
Another innovative creation is their “pyder,” a blend of cider and perry, which originated as an experiment at Dustin’s wedding. He noted that pears contain natural sugars that do not fully ferment, imparting a gentle sweetness to the drink. The family also cultivates Asian pears, known for their butterscotch-like flavor, which they plan to incorporate into future blends.
Crafting with Care
The cidery emphasizes a science-driven approach to its production process, combining pasteurization for safety and flavor preservation while minimizing chemical intervention. Dustin, who holds a master’s degree in marine biology, applies his knowledge of chemistry and microbiology to the art of cider making. “It’s part art, part science. You’re working with yeast, bacteria, fermentation profiles. It’s all biology,” he explained.
Opening the cidery has presented challenges, particularly in navigating the complex landscape of state and federal regulations. The Sparrs obtained seven licenses, including those for manufacturing, retail, and mobile food sales. They invested in stainless steel tanks equipped with precision temperature controls and opted for methods inspired by European cider-making traditions, which focus on flavor and natural haziness rather than the clarity favored by larger producers. “We modeled more after the European cider model than the American,” Dustin stated. “We want something unique, something our forefathers would have been drinking.”
Community connection is a core aspect of the Sparrs’ vision. Initially, Fallen From Grace will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering bottles and to-go cider slushies in flavors such as peach and piña colada. The cidery also plans to participate in local farmers markets, including those in Dillsburg and West Perry. As they grow, the Sparrs hope to expand into a taproom and explore barrel-aged projects that further enhance their craft approach.
John, a retired special operations veteran, noted that the cidery embodies the family’s spirit of perseverance. “I always tell him, be special, be different, but stay focused on what you’re doing on the special end of it. People want something unique.” For Dustin, the cidery represents both heritage and craft. “Beer is agriculture, and so is cider. But we take it one step farther. We’re growing the apples, we’re making the cider, and we’re keeping that love of the land in every bottle.”
For more information and updates, visit the Fallen From Grace Cidery Facebook page.
