310: D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery | Youngstown, OH

310: D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery | Youngstown, OH

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist March 9, 2022 Duration: 52:44

The DOPE Brand

Hannah Ferguson is giving us all a reason to visit Youngstown, Ohio. Her DOPE brand is helping to introduce the city to cider like never before. The bio says that the DOPE brand is about a "Winemaker, Marketing, Event planning, other business services" but this only stays in step wit how she is keeping the door wide open for opportunity.  This Winter and Spring she is busy getting her new cidery up and rolling. It is located next to Penguin Brewing Company. The two business are both revving up the neighborhood where the wildly popular  Youngstown Flea [market] is located too. Expect the brewery and DOPE cidery next tood to all be open this year 2022. 

Cider Chat 310 Feature DOPE 300x200 Hannah Ferguson

The message behind DOPE

DOPE stands for Dwell on Positive Energy and Hannah radiates this vibe! Hear her story on how she got there and how she is able to stay there in this episode.

Per the DOPE website:

"DOPE isn't only a cider and wine manufacturer, but a lifestyle brand that takes pride in creating connections and experiences uniquely through cider and wine. DOPE brands LLC was established in 2017. Most importantly D.O.P.E. is about empowering underrepresented minorities in the industry as well as enthusiasts."

Contact for DOPE Cider House & Winery

Website: http://www.dopethebrand.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theDOPEbrand

Instagram: @dopethebrand 

Mentions in this Chat

Support these Sponsors of Cider Chat so they can continue to support this podcast and help you make great cider!

  • Fermentis - Yeast and Fermentation Solutions for Cidermakers
  • Sraml - Food Processing and Cidermaking equipment specialist
  • Ciderganza April 15th-18th Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Co.

Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving!

Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts.


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
247: Marijuana, Cider and the Law [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:49
Marijuana as of 2020 is now legal in 15 states in the United States. CBD products are popping up in can drinks nearly every where you look these days. Is it legal? Can cider now be fused with cider or at least CBD or per…
246: Becoming Pomona [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:54
Becoming Pomona was recorded at the 25th Franklin County CiderDays in November of 2019. The goal of this pomona panel discussion was to share personal stories on the inspirational effect of CiderDays on women in the cide…
245: Apples of New England [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:51
245: Apples of New England "Apples of New England" was presented by Russell Steven Powell Powell served as executive director of the New England Apple Association from 1998 to 2024 ( the NEAA closed it's doors on June 30…
244: Traveling the Cider Trail | Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:53
Franklin County CiderDays now has a "Cider Trail" with 16 stops covering western Massachusetts and the Berkshires! This is part 2 of the series on traveling the Cider Trail and we will look at 10 stops along the trail. E…
243: Cider Trail 2020 | CiderDays Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:34
Plan the Perfect Cider Road Trip! This is Part 1 of a two part series on the new Cider Trail for Franklin County CiderDays 2020. The following is a recommended loop to visit 5 venues on the map. You can go in either dire…
242: Selecting Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:41
Tips on "SelectIng Your Perfect Cider" With so many choices on the shelf, purchasing cider can begin to feel daunting! This episode will provide tips to help you make that choice when faced with a wide range of cider sty…
241: How to Bottle Cider at Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:26
How to Bottle Cider at Home is Part 6 and the final episode of the Cidermaker Series "Oh September" for 2020 Learn How to Make Cider at Home in Part 1 of this Cidermaking Series. Part 5 To Rack or Not To Rack is a must l…
240: To Rack or Not to Rack | Cidermaking Series Part 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:44
This chat provides a a sip of something for everyone, from makers who want to improve their skills to consumers who enjoy knowing why a cider tastes a particular way. In this Cider Chat, we look at the next step after pr…
239: Scrub-a-Dub Valves & Vessels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:25
Cleaning considerations for 3 different cider operations - DYI, Farm Winery and Production with Stormalong Cider. (l-r) Ben Roberts-Sano, Bright McConnell, Shannon Edgar DIY - Home Cidermaking It is soak and scrub for th…
238: Cidermaking Chemistry | Pt 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
This is Part 3 featuring chemistry safety tips for cidermakers! Part 1 - How to Make Cider at home, provides a recipe for making a 1 gallon jug of cider Part 2 - Makers Tips for Growth and Cleanliness was the first part…