Press release from Daidala Ciders:
Drinkers and art-lovers, rejoice! A new combination cider bar and art gallery is slated to open in the River Arts District (RAD). Christopher Heagney, owner of Daidala Ciders, has partnered with local artist Andy Herod to launch Daidala Ciders and Andy Herod Gallery, a tap room where one can sip on an eclectic array of hard ciders while perusing Herod’s original works.
Herod and Heagney met two years ago, shortly before Daidala Ciders launched as a nomadic operation. Herod designed the labels for the cidery, which feature an illustration of a fox called “The Nomad.” Heagney specifically sought out the artist, whose work he had seen in downtown Asheville’s Horse and Hero, for the cidery’s label artwork. “Chris and I met up for a beer, and somewhere between the first and seventh or eighth one, I knew this was going to be fun,” says Herod. “I really love the interesting things he is doing with cider in terms of both flavors and his business model, and this type of work has been a dream of mine for a long time. Merging our spaces just seems like a really exciting next step.”
Daidala Ciders and Andy Herod Gallery will be located on the second floor of The Historic Cotton Mill Studios. “The Cotton Mill Studios has such beautiful open spaces and I really want more people to come through and experience it,” says Herod.
Daidala Ciders prides itself on creating innovatively flavored ciders for any and all types of drinkers. “Because we’re a small batch producer, we can focus on creating unconventional and unique styles of cider,” Heagney says. Visitors can look forward to ciders like the fruity Mandarina Sangria, the heavily-hopped Green Glory and Barrel Bruiser, a blackberry-blueberry cider aged in Bourbon barrels. “This tap room is important to Daidala Ciders because it means we can connect with our customers in a more meaningful way,” Heagney says. “We know Asheville is full of sophisticated drinkers and we are excited to provide them a new space where they can enjoy high-quality art and beverage at the same time.”
The grand opening will start at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. Food truck grub will be available and the first ten people to arrive get a free Daidala Ciders t-shirt!
The Historic Cotton Mill Studios is located at 122 Riverside Drive directly across the river from New Belgium Brewing Company’s Liquid Center. There is plentiful parking immediately next door to The Historic Cotton Mill Studios as well as limited parking right in front of the building.
For more information about the Grand Opening of Daidala Ciders and Andy Herod Gallery, visit daidalaciders.com or find Daidala Ciders on Facebook.
ABOUT ANDY HEROD
Andy Herod is a self-taught illustrator, painter and print-maker from the US. Fueled by coffee and the promise of great adventure, he is always up for new challenges. His work can be found in galleries and stores across the US. For more information about Herod’s work, visit andyherod.com.
ABOUT DAIDALA
Daidala is a small-batch cider company based in Asheville, North Carolina. Our company is nomadic, which means we collaborate with other cider producers to create rare and unconventional ciders. We design (and indulge in!) experimental and traditional styles of cider while constantly seeking influence from other industries and cultures. The name stems from Daedalus, a craftsman and artist from Greek mythology. In ancient Greece, the word “daidala” referred to an object of fine design. With every batch of cider, Daidala strives to meet this standard of quality and creativity.
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