Meet Our Partner: Sociable Ciderwerks
Sociable Ciderwerks is a partner we’ve been lucky to have since the beginning. Located in the heart of Northeast Minneapolis, Sociable is a fixture of our city, serving up the most refreshing cider and offering the perfect setting for our [past and future] markets. Their VERY large parking lot has been known to transform into marketplaces, concert venues, and skating rinks. And their amazing cider selection is always keeping us on our toes. It’s safe to say that we love Sociable for many reasons, and can’t wait until it’s safe enough to set up shop there again!
Images courtesy of Kianna Notermann and Darin Kamnetz
For Minneapolis Craft Market
A Sociable Chat
We sat down (virtually) with Jim Watkins, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Sociable. Read on to learn more about their 2020 pivot, memories of craft markets past, and how you can keep supporting them now.
MCM: Do you have a favorite past market that Sociable hosted? Which one & why?
JW: The obvious choice here is the first one we did, which I think was one of the first markets you all did in Minneapolis. That said, think our 5th Anniversary really stands out too. We launched our taproom on Black Friday kind of by accident… it happened to correspond with our MN Department of Agriculture inspection, and both Wade and I had family in town so it felt really natural. Its turned into such a fun tradition with artists, musicians, vendors, and special tappings of ciders we had cellared over the year. Its a day I look forward to every year.
MCM: How has Sociable had to pivot this year due to COVID-19, and what about it are you most proud of?
JW: We have been really really fortunate to have a strong distributor partner and a rock-star packaging team. We have been driving the wheels off of our canning line, which has had to soak up all the product that would’ve otherwise gone out in kegs or in pints out of the taproom. We’ve also been really proud to offer a taproom experience through so many of our guests point out as being a well thought out and safe environment. With very little input from management our staff has delivered on everything from a bullet-proof table cleaning protocol to our use of 1-way compostable glassware to our individualized wood-fired fire tables.
MCM: How can folks support Sociable this winter?
JW: We are really excited (and lucky) to host our ice rink for the second time this year. We have free skate most nights and a curling rink for groups to get in a couple of ends of the OG of socially distanced sports.
Supporting Sociable This Winter
Taproom Takeout: Order online and pick up at the taproom! Click here for online ordering.
Taproom Direct: Sociable has partnered with Pizza Luce and Fair State Coop to offer cider pickup at Pizza Luce locations across the metro. Ensuring that everyone has easy access to their favorite local brews! Click here for more information.
Outdoor Patio and Skate: Bundle up and hang out on the Sociable outdoor patio - complete with hot cider, ice skating, curling, s’mores kits, and more! Click here to read COVID safety protocols for Sociable’s patio.
Merch: Show your support even when you’re not drinking! Click here to shop Sociable’s awesome merch collection.
Sociable Ciderwerks outdoor winter patio