After moving into a new location just east of downtown Spokane, Liberty Ciderworks is seeing growth in both distribution and visits to its family-focused taproom after a major revamp this year.

“We want to appeal to families,” says co-owner Jamie Pratt. “We've had families come in with their kids, and they play board games and puzzles. Being family-friendly was a huge thing for us, and now that we are, it feels really good to be able to encourage people to come in with their family.”

Formerly located in a 21-and-over space at 164 S. Washington, Liberty Ciderworks, the trade name for Cider Architects LLC, moved its production facilities in January 2023 to a 3,700-square-foot building at 213 E. Third, across from a Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest store. The cidery's retail section and taproom remained closed until June 2025.

Liberty Ciderworks shares a two-story building with Copeland Architecture & Construction Inc. The two companies jointly purchased the building in 2022 for $900,000 and invested $500,000 in a remodel, says co-owner Ben Pratt.

Comparative retail sales have increased 19% from the previous location in just four months, Ben Pratt says.

The Pratts joined Liberty Ciderworks, which was co-founded in 2012 by head cider maker Rick Hastings, in 2019. Hastings’ wife, Charlotte, also is a co-owner. Since the Pratts joined, annual revenue has grown from $60,000 to $170,000, Ben Pratt says.

Liberty Ciderworks was able to continue expanding throughout the pandemic thanks in large part to the company's farmers market presence and regional retail placements, including at Spokane Valley-based Yoke’s Fresh Market and Portland, Oregon-based New Seasons Market, which Jamie Pratt describes as a specialty grocery chain.

Hastings says he founded the company after developing a passion for fine cider, particularly European varieties. His curiosity evolved from basement fermentation to professional training with U.K. cider expert Peter Mitchell, he says.

Jamie Pratt, a former health care worker, is now trained and certified in Washington state as a pommelier — a highly knowledgeable expert, which is the cider industry's equivalent of a sommelier.

Hastings says Liberty Ciderworks prides itself on being both hyperlocal and family-oriented.

“Our apples are from our local area,” Hastings says. “We can get … these specific kinds of special apples that are grown just for cider and are a little harder to find.”

Liberty Ciderworks bottles feature labels designed by both Hastings and Jamie Pratt, as well as by local artists including Chris Bovey, Matt Smith, and David Wang. Pratt recently began contributing her own watercolor paintings to the label collection, adds Hastings.

Sourcing most of its fruit from the cities of Garfield and Prosser, Washington, Liberty Ciderworks offers a rotating lineup of over 30 cider varieties. Ciders range from single-varietal options, such as Gravenstein and Kingston Black, to Spanish-inspired ciders. A fan favorite, Hastings says, is a Spanish Sidra.

Jamie Pratt adds that the company is focused on English, French, and Spanish styles of cider varieties. 

Liberty Ciderworks currently employs five staff members, with additional seasonal sales representatives working across several farmers markets throughout the year, Jamie Pratt says.

Open Wednesday through Saturday from 4-9 p.m., and Sunday from 2-6 p.m., Liberty Ciderworks' new taproom features a cozy lounge, bookshelves, and board games. The establishment offers cider flights ranging from $10 to $12, along with a food menu that includes flatbreads, artisanal sandwiches, cheese, and pickle plates.

Liberty Ciderworks also hosts community events such as Puzzle & Pours, a puzzle-solving competition that draws close to 30 participants. They’re also launching Vinyl Nights, where guests are invited to bring and play their own records, Jamie Pratt says. 

Beyond the taproom, Liberty Ciderworks maintains a strong presence at regional farmers markets. According to Jamie Pratt, about three-quarters of their team focuses on these markets, offering samples, educating the public, and introducing customers to the diversity of cider.

“That is a really good place for us to educate people,” Jamie Pratt says. “They can come and they can do micro samples of the ciders, and we can walk them through … a little world tour of ciders.”

The company also offers a membership program, called the Core Club, which gives cider enthusiasts exclusive access to small-batch releases. Club members receive a quarterly trio of bottles and a 10% discount on all purchases. Tastings for members are often paired with curated snacks, Jamie Pratt adds.

Liberty Ciderworks has earned national and international recognition, most notably through the Good Food Awards, says Ben Pratt. The annual award is presented by the Good Food Foundation to recognize exceptional food crafters who top the charts in a blind tasting and meet the environmental and social responsibility standards of the award, according to the foundation's website.

Liberty Ciderworks self-distributes regionally and works with distributors in Seattle, Portland, and beyond, says Jamie Pratt. In addition to retail placements in Yoke’s and New Seasons stores, the company's ciders can be found in Seattle’s Market of Choice and Spokane-based establishments such as The Grain Shed and Hogwash Whiskey Den, some of which serve Liberty Ciderworks' ciders exclusively, she adds.