Award-winning Barossa Cider Co reveal plans to take SA made brand national

The brothers behind an awarded SA made cider brand have revealed plans to expand their tasty tipple across Australia.

They’re the Barossa brothers brewing up fame, fortune and a cloudy tipple for Australia’s thirsty palette.

Fresh from winning three major gongs at the Australian Cider Awards, entrepreneurs Oscar and Hugo Bowen have revealed they plan to take their premium craft cider brand national.

“It gives us more of that national reach, to build brand recognition across the country,” Oscar Bowen said of Barossa Cider Co’s recent winning Best in Show, Best Specialty and Best Australian Cider.

Barossa Cider Co founders Hugo and Oscar Bowen. Picture: Amy Maynard

“Hugo is the cider maker – he’s constantly been improving the cider and it’s been fantastic to see that acknowledged and respected by our peers and judges in the industry.”

Their ciders have been a hit and are now sold in all states across the mainland with plans afoot to get major distribution in Tasmania.

While their best-selling cider is apple, cloudy has overtaken pear as the second most popular in the range.

The brothers said many cloudy ciders had chemicals added to get its signature hue and texture but instead they used cloudy apple juice to craft a sweeter and completely natural product.

While they are also trialling two limited edition flavours, Raspberry & Apple and Ginger & Apple, in SA venues seeking customer feedback to ensure its perfect before it’s released in packaged bottles.

“Now that we have that foundational range, the core three ciders, it gives us more opportunity to experiment with different flavours, different fruits,” Oscar said.

Life's pretty sweet at Barossa Cider Co, with two new limited edition ciders getting golden reviews from customers. Picture: Supplied

“Off the back of the awards, it opens up avenues with retailers nationally and it’s a good news story for local SA products.

“It helps bring around customers who maybe weren’t that keen on cider before.”

Hugo said craft brewing was popular across the country.

“Especially with the boom in craft brewing, there’s a lot of local places interstate where they will just have their own brews, plus the commercial beverages,” he said.

“But I find with attention after the national awards, it means our company has better breakthroughs in these kinds of areas.”