Short’s Brewing begins to bottle, distribute Starcut Ciders

Awesome branding and artwork. Kudos to Jesse Den Herder.

Short’s Brewing Co. is committed to keeping Michigan happily drinking with a variety of Michigan-only beverages. First off, it’s making lots of “Pure Michigan” craft beer that is purposefully only distributed in state. Now, Starcut Ciders, a division of Short’s Brewing that crafts hard cider made with fruit sourced from Michigan, announced statewide bottle distribution last week.

Originally introduced at Short’s pub in Bellaire, Mich., Starcut Ciders has been available on tap across the state throughout the summer. Starcut Ciders began sharing its craft ciders throughout the Mitten State in bottles on August 30. Starcut Ciders is introducing two flagship varieties: Octorock, a semi-sweet cider and Pulsar, a semi-dry cider as well as a rotating seasonal release. The first seasonal release, Squishy, a semi-sweet cider made from a late season blend of apples, Balaton, and Montmorency cherries, will also be available on store shelves following the flagship release. Starcut Ciders will be packaged in 12-ounce bottles in six-pack carriers.

The label illustrations for both Starcut Ciders flagships and Squishy were completed by artist and designer, Don Pendleton. Most widely recognized for his portfolio of skateboard graphics and for the album artwork for Pearl Jam’s tenth studio album, Lightning Bolt, Pendleton was approached by Starcut this past winter. According to Short’s Art Director, Jesse Den Herder, “It was important to create a memorable icon for each of these ciders. Don’s work is so unique and was a perfect vehicle to express the personality of each cider.”

When asked about working with Starcut Ciders, Don explained: “It’s exciting to see what is being done with craft cider and to witness this swell of independent companies who are focusing on creativity and injecting their own personal taste and style into the product. Having been a part of skateboarding since the ‘80s and seeing that industry being driven by smaller brands and unique perspectives, it’s very reminiscent of the DIY spirit I grew up with. It’s always great to see people who are passionate about something doing what they love and putting so much into every detail, whether it’s the taste, the quality, or the packaging.”

Starcut Ciders is distributed by Imperial Beverage, who has distributed Short’s beer for over a decade. Find Starcut Ciders on tap and at stores near you using this Starcut Ciders locator.