Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Adams.
Hi Heather, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am an architect by trade, but my journey into cider began as my husband Doug’s creative hobby. In 2016, while we were living in Mississippi, we started homebrewing beer together and quickly discovered we had a natural talent for it. One day, we decided to try making cider. It turned out so well that we made a triple berry cider for a family event, and it was a huge hit! From that moment, our passion shifted from beer to cider, and Doug was right there beside me, supporting every experiment and sharing in all the excitement as our hobby grew.
During our last year in Mississippi, we spent a lot of time at Hops and Growlers, a brewery started by a former CPA who had left accounting to follow his passion. One snowy day, looking out the window, I thought to myself, “I want to open a place like this someday.”
After moving to Denver, I started exploring how to open a brewery in Colorado. I noticed the growing interest and enthusiasm around cider, and I felt inspired to focus on cider instead of beer. In 2023, with my dad’s support, I started casually looking at breweries for sale, just for fun at first. After realizing that many required million-dollar investments, I began exploring other possibilities.
In the fall of 2023, we found a cidery for sale that was already under contract. While trying to buy their equipment through an auction, we realized prices were even higher than buying new. Around that time, we discovered Lady Justice Brewing was closing their East Colfax location. After touring the space, my dad and I put in an offer within a week and won the bid.
Next, we finalized the branding, applied for our liquor license, started cidermaking and transformed the space into Vanishing West Ciders. Six months later, we opened our doors, bringing a creative community gathering space to life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest learning curves was figuring out all the necessary licenses and navigating the compliance side of things. We also had to learn how to scale up production, work with commercial equipment and source ingredients at a larger scale. This was all very different from homebrewing.
Another important hurdle was figuring out how to reach our audience and build a community around our cider. Thankfully, we had an incredible referral for branding, and Vicarel Studios helped us create an identity that really captured who we are and connected with people from the start.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We’re all about two things: making buckin’ good cider and bringing people together. We focus on small-batch, handcrafted ciders that are easy to love and perfect for sharing. But honestly, what we’re most proud of is the community we’re building around them.
We’ve created a space where people can hang out, relax and connect. We offer a variety of events (trivia night, live music, mini markets, yoga classes, etc) where people are able to catch up over a pint. What makes us different is that we care just as much about the people in the room as we do about what’s in their glass.
At the end of the day, we want folks to come for the cider but stay for the good vibes and great company. That’s really what Vanishing West is all about.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
We really believe in the power of networking and community connections. For us, being active and visible has been key. We’re proud to be involved with Visit Aurora, which has been an incredible resource for meeting other local businesses, finding support and staying connected with the Aurora community.
Our advice? Put yourself out there and say yes to opportunities to meet new people. Building authentic relationships and showing up consistently has helped create a supportive network that goes far beyond business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vanishingwestciders.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanishingwestcider
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanishingwestcider
