Want a taste of Northern Michigan? Presque Isle Farm, an organic no-till farm and naturally fermented cider maker, has found a new home in downtown Alpena, serving up warm hospitality and glasses of all-local cider.
Molly Stepanski, co-owner of Presque Isle Farm, moved to Michigan from New Orleans with her partner, Dion, to take on the helm of the family farm in nearby Posen and started with growing their own cider-making apple orchard 5 years ago. Today, you can find the duo making the “real kind of cider,” in Stepanski’s words, by pressing only apples (as opposed to sourcing apple juice concentrate) and fermenting out the sugar in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels; a process similar to winemaking.
Photo courtesy of Dawn Gentry
Photo courtesy of Dawn Gentry
You can taste the terroir of each Northern Michigan apple variety though a rotating set of 8 taps at their downtown Alpena tasting room. Upscale but comfortable, guests dressed in suits or farm hoodies can find a home in the colorful space. New to cider? Stepanski suggests chatting with their ‘phenomenal’ staff, who can match your drinking preferences to one of their unique labels. Just like wine, apple varieties change with the seasons and returning guests can experience new tastes each year. They also serve tasting boards with 4oz pours, so you can try a little of every variety on tap
Visitors planning ahead can stop in for the Alpena Christmas Parade to shop locally-made gifts and merchandise, or boogie down at this year’s disco-themed New Year’s Eve party. Plans for the future include a food menu featuring locally-made charcuterie boards and desserts from an in-town bakery, as well as a place to shop for produce from the farm.
According to Stepanski, the Alpena community is everything to their business. From the folks trying new flavors of cider at the farmers market, to making salads with their greens, Stepanski says that without their community, “We wouldn’t exist, [it’s] not even a question.”
See what the Sunrise Side has already discovered for themselves and visit this new tap room in downtown Alpena. Find hours, a pour menu, and more on Presque Isle Farm’s website and plan your trip details at visitalpena.com.
Claire Butler is the Content Strategy Specialist for Taste the Local Difference. Contact her at [email protected].