Hard cider and spiked soda brand files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

“In 2025, Cider income performed good astatine positive 2%, led by apical marque Angry Orchard (plus 3.6%),” Christal Torres, elder manager of lawsuit insights astatine Circana, told the website.

• For the 52 weeks ending Dec. 28, 2025, hard cider income reached $502 cardinal successful full U.S. multi-outlets, grocery, drug, wide merchandisers, convenience, military, and prime nine and dollar retailers, according to Circana data.

• Of the brands, 8 of the Top 10 showcased growth.

Despite maturation successful the space, Rainmaker Cider LLC, a Washington authorities brewery that makes hard cider, hard lemonade, and Jones Spiked Soda nether license, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to a filing connected Pacer Monitor.

Rainmaker Cider has a precise constricted website that shows the brands it produces. Those see Locust Cider, Colorado Cider Company, Smack Hard Lemonade, and Jones Spiked Soda, which it produced nether licence from Jones Soda Co.

The soda enactment launched with immoderate fanfare successful 2024.

"Jones Soda has perfected its ain iconic flavors and tastes with implicit twenty-eight years successful beverages and a passionate instrumentality assemblage that spans crossed the USA and Canada," said Ranmaker laminitis Jason Spears successful a property release.

"The marque has leveraged cardinal partners with affluent expertise and relationships to seizure this and bring it into caller markets and caller merchandise categories, similar Spiked Jones. We are a large match."

Rainmaker volition proceed to run during the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. The institution filed the customary motions required to wage workers and vendors.

In 2024, Locust Cider, a Rainmaker brand, closed six taprooms crossed Washington state, KIRO News 7 reported.

More intoxicant manufacture bankruptcies and closures:

• Another fashionable brewery closes, files Chapter 7 bankruptcy 

• 37-year-old liquor and brew marque files Chapter 7 bankruptcy, liquidating

• Another beloved brew marque closes its brewery forever

• Filed successful the Washington Western bankruptcy court

• Case #: 3:26-bk-40555

• Assets: $1,000,001 to $10 million

• Liabilities: $1,000,001 to $10 million

• Filing date: March 2; adjacent hearing, March 4
  Source: PacerMonitor

• Founded: Rainmaker Cider LLC was founded successful 2015 successful Woodinville, Washington, by Jason and Patrick Spears (with Rebecca Spears).

• Employees: The institution has astir 50 employees.

• Distribution: Locust Cider, produced by Rainmaker, distributes its products wide — retail and market availability spans Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, Alaska, Montana, and Kansas, according to the Locust Cider website.