Austin is getting a new cider player with the upcoming debut of Fairweather Cider Co. on Metric Boulevard. Owners John Staples and Michael Gostomski White are aiming to open the cidery on Friday, November 24.

Fairweather focuses on making “daily drinking hard cider,” as Staples described, which are “very, very dry.” They use dessert apples, like fuji, gala, and golden delicious, sourced from an orchard and packing house in Oregon.

The first cider is the Common, “something that is very, very easy drinking,” explained Staples. The second one, to be produced later, will be the Tejano Dreams, which will be infused with Anaheim chilis. Staples sees it as the perfect cider to “drink in line while you’re waiting for barbecue.” The eventual third offering will be the honey cider Easy Tea, made with Good Flow honey and Cat Spring yaupon tea.

The name Fairweather came from their desire to create a cider that’s drinkable all the time. “It just communicates a happy environment,” said John, “in which we hope you choose to drink our cider.”

Fairweather’s bright taproom features a bright, bold mural depicting a “weird cider utopia,” from illustrator Paul Windle, “where everyone gets along,” said Staples. There are communal tables, and the tap wall will include 12 draft lines, with guest wines and ciders. To-go ciders and wines will also be sold as well. Guests will be able to bring their own food, since there is no kitchen or attached food truck. At the beginning, it will start out with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday hours.

Fairweather’s ciders will be available in draft form at the Metric taproom and Austin bars, including potentially Wright Bros. Brew & Brew. It will also be available in cans.

While Staples and White, who were former roommates, don’t have backgrounds in beer, wine, or cider, they are obsessed with cider. They’ve been working on developing their cider recipes since 2013, when they were inspired by a trip to Argus Cidery. “This seems like a really good life,” White said, “there’s no reason we can’t have this life too.”

Fairweather joins the growing beer neighborhood of North Burnet, which already includes Celis Brewery, 4th Tap Brewing Cooperative, Oskar Blues Brewery, and others. Once Fairweather is settled in Austin, they’re looking to export their ciders into other Texas cities, like San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

Transcription by Thea Newell.