Brooks Dry Cider Now at Trader Joe’s

After five long years, Brooks Bennett has brought Brooks Dry Cider to a local store right around the corner from where he grew up in Windsor Square. We picked up a four-pack at Trader Joe’s on La Brea and Beverly Blvd. to drink a toast to Bennett over the weekend.

Bennett was inspired by the English-style hard cider he’d tasted growing up in London, where he lived with his family during his formative years.

“I started out with the goal of creating something reminiscent of what I had in England,” Bennett told the Buzz.  Getting his award-winning cider into Trader Joe’s was a long journey, so Bennett is savoring this moment…even though he’s already thinking about another product in the works.

Writer Corie Brown, publisher of Zester Daily.com, which is also based in Windsor Square,  has written a wonderful profile on Bennett and the story of Brooks Dry Cider in her latest book, “Start your Own Microbrewery, Distillery or Cider.” 

According to Brown, Bennett’s great breakthrough came when he figured out he could get a winery in nearby Napa (he now lives in San Francisco) to press his apples during their off season. Unlike grapes, apples can be kept in cold storage and pressed on demand.  The winery he found also had experience making cider.

Brooks Dry Cider has won awards for taste as well as flavor. The package design by Creative Director Tosh Hall and illustrator Luke Dixon won a Gold Pentaward in 2015. Credit goes to Brooks’ mom Carolyn Bennett, a garden designer, who came up with the name.

“Brooks personifies the new cider entrepreneur, creating a drink that reflects personal taste and vision. His love of clean, fresh flavors comes shining through. You will want to drink his cider all day,” said Corie Brown.