D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery, Youngstown

Hannah Ferguson opened the doors at D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery in Youngstown in 2022, and the young company is already gaining a loyal following. A lot of that has to do with the enthusiasm of the hometown girl who founded it.

After moving back to Youngstown a decade ago, Ferguson started making wine at home before taking a job as an assistant brewer at Modern Methods Brewing. Her experience in multiple segments of beverage alcohol gave her the idea to open D.O.P.E., which stands for Dwelling On Positive Energy. As only the second Black female cidery owner in the country, she’s excited to expand the horizons of the craft beverage world.



“The crowd has been great,” says Ferguson, whose brewing area is open and visible to guests in the taproom. “There’s a really chill vibe with couch seating and comfortable barstools, and I always get asked if I really brew the cider right here.”

She does, and these aren’t your standard hard ciders. Flavors like caramel apple, pumpkin spice and strawberry are available in season, along with wines on tap and several seltzers. D.O.P.E Cider House & Winery’s facility is attached to Penguin City Brewing, and the companies recently collaborated on Dope City, a blend of cherry cider and golden ale that proved to be popular in both taprooms, and there is a regular crossflow of visitors between the buildings.

“The feedback I’ve been getting is amazing, and I love being able to introduce people to something new in our area,” says Ferguson. “I’m definitely glad that I was able to do this at home. Everyone’s loving it.” 460 E. Federal St. Suite B, Youngstown 44503, 330/406-9340, dopethebrand.com