Wispy clouds floating above Longs Peak blaze orange and pink as the sun begins to dip below the mountains. From my perch on a hillside in Lafayette, I watch this colorful spectacle unfold while sipping a glass of perfectly tart hard apple cider. All around me, kids squeal gleefully as they run and romp in the grass. Nearby, their parents lounge contentedly in Adirondack chairs facing west.
Epic sunsets aren’t technically on the menu at Acreage. But if you visit Stem Ciders’ restaurant and cider house in the evening, you’re likely to see one. Since opening in February 2018, the sprawling, 8-acre property (1380 Horizon Ave, Lafayette) has been luring diners and drinkers from across the Front Range with its nuanced ciders, elevated classic comfort foods and gorgeous mountain views.
“We strive to be a place for everyone, and we want people to feel welcome to relax, eat or play,” says Stem Ciders’ co-founder Eric Foster.
The story behind this beloved east Boulder County community hub dates back to 2013, when Foster and fellow entrepreneur Phil Kao joined forces to launch Stem Ciders, a Colorado-based craft cidery. Both Foster and Kao grew up in Michigan, then later moved to Denver, where they met in 2011. The two quickly became friends, bonding over their shared passion for Michigan football—and hard cider. Foster was an experienced homebrewer, while Kao had trained as an engineer, so they decided to combine their skillsets and start experimenting. They bought some apples and a press, and began making cider of their own. The first batch was so good they decided to go into business together.
Like many startups, Stem Ciders first launched in a garage. But, in 2014, the duo decided to set up shop in Denver’s then-burgeoning River North Arts District (RiNo). As the company’s craft ciders caught on, it didn’t take long for Stem to outgrow the space. “Within three years, we had already hit the max capacity of what our original cider house could handle,” says Foster.
They began looking for a new property that would help support Stem Ciders’ rapid growth. In Lafayette, they found enough room to build a 30,000-square-foot cider house that would allow them to increase production from 2,500 barrels a year to upwards of 65,000 barrels a year. But, just as importantly, they saw that the hilltop plot had the potential to become a “destination cider-drinking experience for the greater Colorado community,” says Foster.
“We immediately fell in love with the stunning views and foresaw the perfect opportunity for family and friends to gather and experience our ciders in a welcoming and relaxing environment,” he adds.
Lafayette’s central location—10 miles east of Boulder, 20 miles north of Denver and 50 miles south of Fort Collins, with numerous other communities in between—was also appealing.
The team wanted to model Acreage off a traditional cider house—like something you might find in Basque Country in northern Spain and southwest France. For help making that dream a reality, they turned to Emily Stack, the principal architect and owner of Boulder’s Daedalus Studio. Together, they designed a spacious, modern venue that’s part production facility, part restaurant and part outdoor gathering space. Acreage also has two private event spaces for weddings, parties and corporate groups.
“We knew how lucky we were to be established on such an incredible piece of land,” says Foster. “Facing west and overlooking the Boulder Flatirons, we wanted as much space for guests to enjoy the breathtaking views. Inside, a top priority was having plenty of windows to allow for natural light to shine in with views of the mountains, no matter where you sat. The outside is filled with fire pits, outdoor games, Adirondack chairs, hammocks and a playground for kids.”
For the restaurant’s food menu, they wanted to take a farm-to-table approach and use as many regional ingredients as possible. Many of Acreage’s dishes are cooked in a wood-fire oven and grill, but they also wanted to put their own spin on classic comfort foods—like their Colorado lamb burger or their duck confit poutine. Diners will also find a selection if fine-dining entrees on the menu year-round, like the New York strip steak and the seared salmon.
“We adjust ingredients and sides seasonally and run specials weekly to ensure we’re providing a variety of fresh and fun dishes for our guests,” says Foster. “We appreciate simplicity, comfort and delicious healthy meals that you want to enjoy time and time again.”
As you might expect, craft cider takes centerstage on Acreage’s drink menu. Here, you’ll find Stem’s core ciders on tap, including Off-Dry, Real Dry, Raspberry, Chile Guava and Apricot Haze. Acreage also serves up special-release ciders—like Tangerine Whip (made with tangerine puree and Madagascar vanilla beans) and Hard Mango Lemonade—as well as cocktails, craft beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks.
You’ll also be able to try ciders here that you can’t find anywhere else. Since the restaurant is just steps from the cidery, the team uses Acreage as a testing ground for new offerings.
“It’s pretty common to find at least one or two tasting room-only, small batch releases on draft at Acreage at all times,” says Foster. “Many of our specialty releases first began as a small batch release in the Acreage tasting room. We truly value the input of our customers, and over the years, there’s been no better indicator of future success than the response of our Acreage community.”
If you’re a first-time visitor to Acreage, Foster recommends starting with a flight so you can experience both the classics and more experimental ciders. (If you like what you taste, you can buy cans of many different Stem Ciders to take home—or have the bartender fill up your growler.) And though you really can’t go wrong no matter where you sit, try to snag a seat outside on an Adirondack chair or at a communal picnic table—and be sure to bring some friends or family members along with you.
“Because who doesn’t want to watch the sunset over our beautiful Front Range while sipping on some cider with great company?” Foster says.
Tip: If you’re planning to visit Acreage on a weekend, it’s best to make a reservation. Also be sure to check out Stem Ciders’ other restaurant, Ghost Box Pizza, in downtown Lafayette.
