'I'm really excited': Owners of craft cider brewery in Fredericton, N.B. expand in more ways than one
Fifteen years after opening their craft cider brewery, the owners of Red Rover Craft Cider in Fredericton, N.B. are expanding in more ways than one.
The couple who own the cidery just signed the official ownership paperwork for Sunny Bank Farm, known to many locals as the Neill Farm on the city’s north side.
"We really didn't believe that we could be this lucky and that we could have the opportunity to continue such a big piece of history,” said Adam Clawson, co-owner Red Rover Craft Cider.
For Clawson and his wife, Nicola Mason, Jan. 12 was a big day. The couple went from signing papers with their lawyers, straight to welcoming their second child, a baby boy named Rowan.
"We had been waiting for a few days for the paperwork to come though from our lawyers and we had obviously been waiting for our due date. You never know when a baby is going to arrive so to have them on the same day was quite spectacular,” Nicola Mason, co-owner Red Rover Craft Cider.
Mason and Clawson admit that turning the dairy farm into a craft cider production is going to take some work, but they have ambitious plans for their business.
"So, the hope within the next year or so is to have our production that we're currently doing in some rented space actually moved across to here and actually start making existing products, such as our ciders at this farm location but also starting a boutique hotel, a café and general store,” Clawson said.
The pair hopes the business will become a focal point in the community for people to enjoy.
“We have a lifetime to work on this place, and some of the things that we’d love to achieve here would be to have multiple different types of fruits being grown here for u-pick purposes, also an ability to have wedding facilities," Clawson said. "And also farmers markets and festivals, and even have like a little miniature train running around."
For now, they want to get their primary business, making cider, up and running.
"I'm really excited to bring all of that to the farm here, so that we can show people the process of cider making, so that we can involve the community as much, or as little, as they want to be involved,” Mason said.
For Clawson and Mason, it’s important to preserve the farm’s heritage and keep it going for future memories to be made.
"It's both really an amazing privilege and a really great responsibility that we feel like we're putting on ourselves and we're not just continuing the memories of the Neill family here but everybody who has grown up around here for the last 160 years,” Clawson said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.