What begins as a dream among friends, often over a few good drinks, can sometimes turn into something unexpectedly extraordinary. For Nate Carson, co-founder and cidermaker at Uncommon Kin Cidery, that’s exactly how the journey began.
Nate and his close friends, childhood companions from Pennsylvania, were looking for a way out of the corporate grind. They craved something more meaningful, more grounded. As fate would have it, one of them had access to a family property dotted with old apple trees in upstate New York. A casual visit to the Confer property became a turning point, and before long, cider started flowing and so did ideas.
Having come from the craft beer world, Nate brought a brewer’s instinct and a love for fermentation. His longtime friend Caleb Confer, with a background in home winemaking and landscaping, added a keen sense of terroir and heritage. The two, along with Caleb’s brother CJ, father Corey Sr., and at the time a few other friends began nurturing those old apple trees. They realized they had stumbled upon something far bigger than a weekend hobby.
The most rewarding part for Nate? “It’s watching a shared dream with your closest friends evolve into a real, tangible passion,” he says. “We’re doing something we love and we’re doing it together.”
Today, Uncommon Kin is known for its hands-on, small-batch cider. Each bottle is hand-pressed and tells a story of community, collaboration, and place. Their tasting room in New Berlin, NY is open Saturdays and Sundays from 2–8 PM, welcoming guests into the heart of the orchard experience.
While they’ve just started making their way into restaurants, Nate and the crew remain deeply connected to their roots, literally and figuratively. They plan to expand online sales in the near future, but for now, much of their cider remains a local treasure.
Looking ahead, Nate hopes to see Uncommon Kin become a sustainable, thriving business for all involved—something that grows in both reach and recognition while staying true to its community-driven beginnings.
With every pour, Uncommon Kin raises a glass to friendship, hard work, and the joy of building something meaningful together.