Get ready, East Bay. The cider experts are coming.

While San Jose has The Cider Junction and San Francisco has Upcider, the East Bay has lacked a gathering place for cider fans … until now. Redfield Cider Bar & Bottle Shop is nearing its much- anticipated opening date of Jan. 6 in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood.

The wait will be worth it, as Redfield, which is named after the genre-defining apple variety, won’t be your average cider hole. Berkeley-based husband-and-wife owners Mike Reis and Olivia Maki have serious cider cred.

Reis is an advanced cicerone and served as former co-director of the beverage programs for the Monk’s Kettle and Abbot’s Cellar in San Francisco. Maki is co-chair for the cider category for the Good Food Awards and has managed events for Bi-Rite’s 18 Reasons. She has also farmed in California and Vermont and spent the past six years working with apple growers.

As if that’s not enough, Reis and Maki are also the voices behind Redfield Radio, a podcast dedicated to all things cider, in which the couple interviews cider producers and takes deep dives into the world of apple varieties, acid and pairings.

Together, they’ve transformed a former shoe store on College Avenue into an impressive cider salon, with 150 ciders from around the world, including New England, France, Spain and the Pacific Northwest. They’ll offer 16 rotating ciders and beers on draft plus by-the-glass bottle pours and tasting flights. In terms of food, expect small plates, salads and sandwiches inspired by the cuisines of cider cultures.

Redfield Cider Bar & Bottle Shop will be open from noon to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday. It is located at 5815 College Avenue in Oakland. For more information, visit www.redfieldcider.com.

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