Citrus fruits have been part of Southern California’s history since the 1700s when cassock-clad Franciscans brought lemons, limes and oranges with them from Spain. Thus, when most people think of palm tree-lined San Diego, they probably don’t equate it with a booming apple scene. However, just an hour or more east of the city lie the Laguna Mountains and at around 4000 feet elevation it is the perfect terroir for growing unique apples. Dave Carr of Raging Cider and Mead Co. has tapped into this region and has produced the most thoughtful orchard-driven cidery in Southern California. Dave only uses produce from San Diego County and has invested heavily in the agricultural community around Julian, California where he works with orchardists and even serves as caretaker of a couple of estates. This passion for local fruit is evidenced in the lineup with single varietals, blends, perries, plum jerkums, scrumpies and sidras. The warm and dry conditions of the region also produce fruit with higher sugar content, and thus higher ABVs, producing rich and bold flavors even though most I had were fermented fairly dry.

The tap house is located in San Marcos, just inland from the beach villages of Carlsbad and Oceanside, and a quick jaunt down the 15 from Orange County or Riverside. The spot is centrally located in a light industrial park where some of the production happens as well. There are a couple of spots to sit inside amongst the barrels or you can go out to the patio where you are surrounded by, you guessed it, more fruit. The owner has embraced his punk rock roots with Ragey the apple punk serving as the main logo, and with a number of punk tunes threaded throughout the indie playlist on the stereo. I immediately picked up on a little tension, however, as Lee, an apple crusher and bar manager is from Manchester and is made to serve drinks with Liverpool FC banners and scarves hanging all around him. In fact, it was an argument over English football that brought these two British ex-pats together and it is a pairing that has born much fruit. (excuse the puns) The relaxed atmosphere produces great people, great conversations, and great drinks. Indeed, one of things that makes this place perfect is that it is an expression of the individuals who work there and their passions—football, punk rock and fermented-fruit beverages. While one might not equate these three things as going together, it certainly pleased this former punk rawker and made me feel at home.

My two favorite drinks of the night were their sidra, which was rich and approachable, and their Arkansas Black which had all the character you would expect from that famed cider apple. Though I love a good mead, I wasn’t able to try any of those selections as Lee kept the ciders rolling all evening and I never got around to it. I did go home with a box of bottles to try later including their very last pet-nat. (Again, a reminder to visit your local cider houses in person, because you are bound to get lucky occasionally and try or go home with things you just can’t find online or at your local bottle shop) If you live in Southern California or roll through on vacation, you need to seek this spot out. They have constant new releases based on local bounty as well as food pairing sessions which create one of the highest quality cider experiences one can have. All of this makes Raging Cider and Mead Co. a premium cider destination. Rage on!