IRONS IN THE FIRE SLOW COOKED THIS FRIDAY 5/28
We do things differently. At each event, we build a kitchen and do the cooking onsite over a roaring fire. The process, though laborious, provides ritual, color, fragrance, and face. Soon after, the air fills with the lovely aromas of a truly special meal and that sweet smoke from MN oak and maplewood. Flavors are building, you know something good is happening and soon it is all going to belong to you and your tummy. With us there is no pre-cooked food, trucked over by an underpaid employee. We send professionals that we proudly pay a dignified wage. The yield of these details is superior, special food, and a free fire to come warm up around.
MUSIC ON THE FARM THIS SATURDAY 5/29
We grow apples and make cider.
We believe in simplicity and attentive choices in the orchard and cidery. Local fruit, place, and time are the ingredients. We put our hearts into crafting a Keepsake cider that we hope you will enjoy .
All Local Fruit • Native Yeasts • Traditional Ferment • Patience
FEATURED CIDER
Organic Wild
We’re excited to share this favorite. A bright yet earthy, slightly tannic cider made with wild yeasts and a unique blend of local organic apples.
An Explorers Delight
Think of the perfect cider for weathering a storm at a pub in Scotland.
Hints of toffee, rose, leather, medium body. Wild yeast and apples from one Minnesota orchard. Plum Crazy.
Everyone's Invited
Wild is our zippy, full spirited cider. bright eyed and bushy tailed. Local dessert and crab apples fermented with native yeasts. Aged 7 months in stainless tanks then bottled and conditioned with residual sugars for natural bubble.
We taste sour tropical fruit, wildflowers, and a bit of wood.
A Perfect Touch of Berry
Aged on black currants and aronia berries from our farm. Sweetened with fresh cider from our press.
Apple Trees
%
local
Location
TOASTIE ROOM
&
FARM VISIT
Est. 2014
Learn how the apples are grown and the cider is made
A lot of thought goes into sourcing and growing our apples. Nate can be found ranging between technical and philosophical. This is an art from start to finish and there’s something new to learn every time you visit.
Draft and bottled cider at the source
Come to the tasting room and try our full line of ciders, including special batches only available at the cidery. Ciders will range from medium sweetnes to bone dry, from tannic apple to sour cherry, from sparkling to still. Each has its own voice and story- All from local fruit, unfiltered, and ready to enjoy!
MMMM Food
There’s all kinds of local fare to nibble or devour. Imagine if each of your neighbors raised and grew a different savory treat. They pack up the freshest of their cheese, vegetables, and pastries to cart over to a cozy parlor every day. At the cidery, one of us will lovingly combine all these local ingredients into scrumptious toasties, soups, and more.
Our newest experiments available in flights
ALL THE PLACES
with our cider
They changed my mind about cider. Thanks for serving up tasty beverages and education about making cider!
Kathy M.Best cider, and the best kind of “apple nerds”. Period.
Mark S.TAP ROOMS • BOTTLE PURCHASE • FARM VISIT
CIDER CLUB
Our Cider Club is a throwback to our days working on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms.
You support us financially during the growing and pressing season and then reap the benefits
Members are integral in the success of our small family business crafting natural Ciders. We have members that have been with us from the start and have become part of our Keepsake Family!
WHO WE ARE
We are a family owned cidery, orchard, and tasting room.
Our aim is to produce delicious, high quality cider from simple ingredients and time honored methods.
Nate
UW Midwest Apple Growers Class
MOSES Organic University Orchard Course
Cider and Perry Academy
Appreciation & Sensory Analysis
Principles & Practice
Certified Cider Professional level 1
Tracy
Born and raised in the upper Midwest on a small farm in the woods. Through young adulthood she developed a firm belief in hard work, the power of community, and a deep respect for the earth. After joining forces with Nate, they built their life around those philosophies, putting down roots (literally) in the Cannon Valley Region of Minnesota.
Jump in and ask her about the detritus in the woods, or almost any nuanced question on the region. It’s a great free education for the seekers and listeners.
Orchardists in training, Tristan & Fiona, were born just before Keepsake and keep busy chasing butterflies and eating apples. When Tracy is not working on the farm, raising kids or slinging cider, she works as an Emergency Medicine Doctor.
Weather the Storm
Many a storm has come through, but the dense foliage has helped protect our orchard, home, and tasting room.
We are a ZONE 4 growing region, meaning it can get pretty darn cold. Interestingly, it can also be extremely hot. Weather and farming in Minnesota is a challenging roller coaster, but also contributes to great apple orchard health.
Frosty winters do a number on pests, aiding in organic farming practices. Cool nights in the fall are perfect for apples. The apples react to tough conditions in interesting ways, and you’ll taste it in our cider.
The Woods
Surrounded by the Cannon River Wilderness Park, we are constantly in sight of old growth forest. Basswood, oak, maple, elm, and ash are the dominant species, but there is a diverse number of flora in the park, including the wild apple! The forest is a big reason we live here. We are lucky to have the protection from the wind and the constant calming presence that only a giant tree can bring.
Critters
Other less common neighbors are skunks, badgers, pheasants, praying mantis’, wood frogs, wood turtles, and great horned owls. All are welcome except for a few pests in the orchard. In fact we gauge the health of the orchard and farm on how much wildlife we see!
We'd love to hear from you!
Cidery and Toastie Farm Hours Summer/winter
Opening May 18 Saturday & Sunday 11am-8pm / See Events
Toastie Farm
4609 135th St E, Dundas, MN 55019
413-552-8872
keepsakecidery@gmail.com