Virginia’s first urban cidery, Blue Bee Cider is located in the heart of downtown Richmond’s Old Manchester district at the fall line of the James River. Our ciders are made with rare and heirloom variety Virginia apples that are prized for their tannin, acidity and flavor. At Blue Bee Cider, we aim to create balanced ciders true to their Virginia roots from a culinary perspective and true to the fruit from a cidermaking one. Each apple variety ferments differently, creating its own flavors which vary year to year depending on weather conditions. One of Virginia’s native bees, osmia lignaria, or the Blue Orchard Bee, provided the inspiration for our cidery’s name. These hardworking bees are solitary and wild, emerging early in the cool spring just in time to pollinate apple blossoms.