Locust Cider’s New Taproom Flies Into Ballard

Locust Cider, which opened its original tasting room and production facility in Woodinville in 2015, unlocked the doors to a taproom-only Ballard expansion at 5309 22nd Ave. NW December 19. The new location pours flights and pints of the company’s award-winning ciders, like a honey pear cider that won a silver medal in the pear cider category from Sip Northwest’s 2017 Best of the Northwest awards. Like the Woodinville original, this outpost also welcomes patrons with dogs and children.

Cider fans can pick from among 12 ciders on tap, poured into pints or 3-ounce tasting glasses for on-site consumption. Anyone wishing to take theirs to go can opt for a growler fill, a 128-ounce “tank,” 32-ounce “grunt,” or 25-ounce “grumpy” to-go vessel.

The cidery is owned and run by Jason Spears, for years an avid cider homebrewer after discovering a gluten sensitivity, and his brother Patrick. The brothers and their team sell their ciders, with flavors like vanilla bean and Thai ginger, on tap and in cans and bottles.

In addition to crafting sought-after cider, Locust has used its platform to bring awareness to the medical condition hydrocephalus, which involves the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Jason’s daughter, Lucy, was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, and he’s championed the little-researched condition through numerous fundraisers. Currently, a portion of all sales of Locust’s chili pineapple and Thai ginger ciders go to the Hydrocephalus Association. For every new member that joins the company’s cider club, a $25 donation is made to the association.