Taking it beyond the cidery, Schilling also sits on the executive board for the Northwest Cider Association as secretary, where he lead efforts to overturn Washington StateвЂ™s ban on the growler filling of cider and continues to make additional legislative moves in the name of craft cider. He continued making ciders in his dorm throughout college and knew the historic bevvie would always be a part of his life. Having made his very first cider at the age of 14, he was stuck on the fermented fruit. вЂњA part of doing that was finding a good deal on the rental space that weвЂ™re in.вЂќДЄ business man at heart but a cider lover in his soul, Schilling says heвЂ™s grown up around cider. вЂњA big part of our motto is make really high quality craft cider out of the best local ingredients, but donвЂ™t rip people off while youвЂ™re selling it in the market, just an honest fair price,вЂќ Schilling says. Although wanting to be based 100 percent in the Emerald City, the price on the rental space is what makes them remain.

So quickly, in fact, that they had to purchase a few more warehouses to store product, finding themselves planted south of Seattle, in Auburn, Washington. Even with a limited budget, the space turned into their vision and Schilling ciders were rapidly well-received by the public.

The hand-built facility was stocked with brand new, made-to-order equipment, including a few customized wine tanks to work for cider in a way they sought out. By February 2013, they received their permits and, two months later, Schilling Cider was on shelves in both Washington and Oregon. The next month, they filed their paperwork. The two friends went on a hike - as Northwesterners do - and talked about the logistics of opening up a cidery. With a business degree and a corporate position in the rear-view mirror, Colin Schilling, along with his college friend Mark Kornei, left his desk job to chase that creative entrepreneurial dream, starting Schilling Cider in November 2012.

The Pacific Northwest is a breeding ground for both large-scale technology and artisan ingenuity, home to both Amazon and the DIY, handmade craftsman.