World-class cider master Brian Shanks is a New Zealand native who makes hard cider in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Known to friends and fellow cider makers as Brian “Ciderman” Shanks, the president of Bold Rock Hard Cider in Nellysford, Va. has 25 years of experience in the hard cider industry. Within six months of opening its doors in July 2012, Bold Rock sold over 45,000 cases and is on track to more than double that amount this year.