Arsenal Cider House & Wine Cellar
Arsenal Cider House and Wine Cellar is a U.S. Civil War thematic winery specializing in small-batch, hand-crafted hard apple cider, “cider style” fruit/grape wines, and mead. Opened just a few steps from the historic Allegheny Arsenal, our name sake, we have been dedicated to providing high-quality products, and a bit of nostalgia for over 12 years.
Born out of obsession, Arsenal Cider House was conceived in 2008 and with the support of our awesome neighbors & community groups, Arsenal opened the doors to its flagship cidery in June of 2010 to a supportive and enthusiastic base of kick-ass customers. (You know who you are!)
As the first cidery in Western Pennsylvania and also the first to sell wine in “beer kegs” and growlers in the State, Arsenal Cider has been an early pioneering influence in the craft hard cider industry. Pioneering products such as Hop Cider IPC, Grierson’s Ginger Hard Apple Cider, and Picket Bone Dry Hard Cider have made Arsenal an early industry leader. Satellite tap rooms soon followed at the orchards and farms whose apples are at the core of Arsenal’s products.
More recently, there’s been “movement along the western front.” After being urged to do so by Clevelanders who were regularly making the trip to our Pittsburgh location, Bill & Michelle visited the great City of Cleveland and its nightlife. They fell in love with it and just had to open a new tasting room and micro-production facility in Ohio City.
Scope out some of our award-winning ciders, sparkling fruit wines, meads and more on our Products page.
Author: Caroline Porsiel
Caroline Porsiel is a master distiller and liqueurist based in East Ellijay, Georgia. She founded House of Applejay, a fine spirits and liqueur distillery, in 2022 with her mother, Sabine, crafting award-winning products like Applejay from Ellijay, Mt. Frozen Knob Vodka, and Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. The distillery won a 2024 Best of Georgia Award and a 2025 Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. As a founding member of the AMBRU Campaign, launched in 2020, Porsiel advocates for the global recognition of American Brandy and Rum. She continues to drive innovation in the craft spirits industry from her active distillery in the heart of Georgia’s apple country.
