A look at Wild Hare Cider Pub in FXBG

Walking into Wild Hare Cider Pub, one can tell that this new addition to the bar scene of downtown Fredericksburg has something special on its hands. It has not taken long for residents of Fredericksburg to discover Wild Hare Cider, which is perfectly situated at the intersection of William and Caroline streets (it is located in the building that formerly housed Mercantile). According to Patrick Madaj, co-owner and general manager, their opening has been met with resounding success. 

Madaj co-owns Wild Hare Cider with his father, Jim. Fredericksburg is their fourth location; their other tasting rooms are in Leesburg, Middleburg and Warrenton (the ciders themselves are fermented in Berryville). When Madaj contemplated the opening of a fourth tasting room, he was consistently told that Fredericksburg would be the perfect spot. He was immediately drawn to the historical building on William Street, from its original brick and absolutely gorgeous, expansive back courtyard; and, of course, its perfect location downtown. 

Now that Wild Hare Cider Pub has opened, Madaj said that business has been fantastic from the beginning. He noted that the clientele consists of both new guests, as well as returning regulars (not bad for being open only five weeks). He believes guests enjoy and return to Wild Hare not only because of its delicious ciders, but because of its wonderful, homey atmosphere. The courtyard has already been a hit among locals, where they can sit and enjoy live music on weekends. Madaj said that their atmosphere, as well as being the only cidery in Fredericksburg, has allowed them to thrive from the start. 

Of all the flavors and styles of Wild Hare, Madaj said the most popular are probably the Firebelly (mango and habanero) and Willow (berries and lime peel). And while many of their staple flavors will remain on tap for a while, they will have new ciders as well. For instance, Wild Hare recently made the semi-sweet flavor Rocket, which will go on tap this week. Rocket is a bit of a branch-off from the normal flavors of Wild Hare, as they normally focus on dry ciders. According to Madaj, many cideries have placed emphasis on sweet flavors; personally, the Madajs find dry ciders to normally taste much better. And based on the success of Wild Hare Cider Pub so far, the residents of Fredericksburg seem to agree. 

There are a number of exciting developments to come at Wild Hare Cider Pub, including the opening of their kitchen, as well as trivia nights. Wild Hare Cider Pub is located at 205 William St. Follow them on Facebook.