|Norumbega Cidery|
Like other businesses in Maine, Norumbega Cidery is adjusting to the times and finding new ways to make its product available. In the short term, Norumbega Cidery has discontinued its Saturday sales at the markets in Brunswick and is focused on store sales and online orders. It is now possible to order and pay online and pick-up cider curbside on Saturdays from 11 to 3 at Norumbega Cidery, 380 Woodman Road in New Gloucester.
For more info and to order online: https://www.norumbegacidery.com/ and check out the Norumbega Cidery Facebook page for places where the cider is sold.
Given this down time in business, it seems appropriate to provide some background on Norumbega Cidery – its name and history.
First of all, where does the term Norumbega come from?
According to Wikipedia, “Norumbega was a legendary settlement in northeastern North America which appeared on many early maps from the 1500s until American colonization. The houses were said to have pillars of gold and the inhabitants carried quarts of pearls on their heads. The word “Norumbega” was originally spelled Oranbega in Giovanni Da Verrazzaon’s 1529 map of America, and the word is believed to derive from one of the Algonquian languages spoken in New England. It may mean quiet place between the rapids or quiet stretch of water.“ Norumbega has been used as an informal name for our family farm for many years.
Fast forward to 2013, Norumbega Cidery sprouted from a cleared pine forest on the corner of Woodman Road and Meadow Lane. In the seven years since, a small orchard has begun to take shape, as well as a faithful following throughout the state for Norumbega’s year-round, seasonal and limited release ciders.
Norumbega’s ciders are available statewide through Craft Beer Guild Distributing, with a focus on small general stores, beverage outlets, bars and restaurants. In normal times, the cidery is also open in the summer months for on-site tasting open houses. It is still unclear whether or how much that will happen this year. Regardless of what happens with the summer, on-site pick up is always an opportunity to chat with Noah, the owner and cidermaker, so don’t be shy!
