There’s nothing like a cool, crisp glass of freshly made cider to get you in the mood for fall. This is the time of year when cider becomes more popular than ever, even among craft beverage enthusiasts who typically gravitate toward beer and wine. Both hard cider and non-alcoholic cider are available in cities, small towns, and rural areas all across the U.S., so you can embrace the cider trend while supporting local businesses!
Angry Orchard Hard Cider – Walden, New York
One of the most famous and recognizable cideries in America is Angry Orchard. This hard cider company is located on a 60-acre orchard in the Hudson Valley and in a place where cider has been made for over 200 years. You can visit Angry Orchard on Tuesdays through Sundays. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. This is not an orchard where you can go apple-picking. But it is a pet-friendly and family-friendly tasting room with an in-house kitchen that serves food. Tours and tasting packages are available here.
Seattle Cider Company – Seattle, Washington
The Seattle Cider Company offers award-winning cider in the Pacific Northwest and has a tasting room open every day of the week. This is a 21+ venue that does not allow children or anyone under age 21. It has been a craft cider leader since 2013 and serves year-round and seasonal offerings. There are also low-calorie, low-carb, low-sugar, sparkling, and high-ABV cider options here. The ciders are known for not being overly sweet but rather ones that showcase the amazing flavors of Washington-grown apples and fresh ingredients.
Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Co. – Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Located just outside of Albuquerque, Brew Lab 101 is a hot spot for cider fans in New Mexico. This friendly and welcoming local business is a brewery and cidery that embraces the science behind making craft beverages and maintaining its locally-owned vibe. Brew Lab welcomes pets both inside and outside, and it even has a kids’ play area and games to create a family-friendly atmosphere. Not only does Brew Lab make cider, but also unique cider cocktails. Try the caramel apple cider cocktail for fall! There’s always something fun going on at Brew Lab, including food trucks, live music, trivia, yoga, stand-up comedy, and festivals in tents outside in the parking lot.
3301 Southern Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124, USA— +1 505-962-1587
Urban Orchard Cider Co. – Asheville, North Carolina
Among the many craft beverage options in Asheville is the Urban Orchard Cider Co., which has a South Slope Tasting Room and West Tasting Room. Both locations have indoor and outdoor seating. All of the ciders here are aged a minimum of eight months and made from Henderson, North Carolina, apples. The ciders you’ll find here range from bone dry to semi-sweet to suit your taste. The downtown location has pre-packaged snacks, while the West Asheville location has a more extensive food menu with sandwiches and charcuterie.
Downeast Cider – Boston, Massachusetts
Downeast Cider was first imagined in a dorm room at Bates College and is the creation of brothers Ross and Matt Brockman. In addition to the Original Blend cider, there are also fall seasonals to look forward to, such as the Pumpkin Blend, and limited releases, like Cider Donut. Cider House Series ciders, like Mojito and Black Cherry Lemonade, are crafted in small batches and are only available at the Boston Cider House. The East Boston taproom is open from Thursday to Sunday for flights, full pours, cans, and growlers. Downeast Cider also ships ciders and merchandise nationwide.
256 Marginal St #32, East Boston, MA 02128, USA— +1 857-301-8881
Wildcraft CiderWorks – Eugene, Oregon
Based in Eugene, Wildcraft CiderWorks offers seasonally produced and naturally fermented ciders. It has a tasting room that is open from Wednesdays to Sundays and also offers local beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. The ciders here are made from 100 percent Oregon-grown fruits and botanicals. This is a dog-friendly place with plenty of parking and a sunny patio. The cidery shares a space with a Thai restaurant that you can order takeout and bring into the tasting room. There’s also a venue above the tasting room that is available to book for private events.
Uncle John’s Cider Mill – Saint Johns, Michigan
At Uncle John’s Cider Mill, you can enjoy a glass of non-alcoholic cider, hard cider, or a fresh doughnut. There’s a little something for everyone at this family farm that has been passed down through the generations. There’s a taproom here that serves hard ciders, wines, and spirits. Hot spiced cider is also available at the cider mill and is perfect on chilly days. At this location, you can visit the pie barn that sells homemade goodies and the gift shop with seasonal décor for sale. You can visit the cider mill seven days a week or plan your visit to attend a local event with live music and family activities.
OK Cider Co. – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
OK Cider Co. is the only cidery in Oklahoma and a place where you can enjoy good times in a great atmosphere. The taproom here feels like a brewery, and the ciders are beer-inspired, which means that they are made with different styles of ingredients and are not overly sweet. These ciders are gluten-free and vegan. The OK Cider Company was founded in 2015, and the tap room opened in July 2020. Now, it is open every day in the afternoons and evenings. Unique ciders on the menu include Screwy Mimosa, Big Naughty Dickel, and Lemon Ginger Radler.
705 W Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, USA— +1 405-501-8877
Red Clay Ciderworks – Charlotte, North Carolina
Another North Carolina cidery is Red Clay Ciderworks, which has a name inspired by the red clay soil in the region. It’s a great cider to enjoy during your outdoor activities because it comes in cans that you can pack in and pack out. This was North Carolina’s first cidery, and it opened in July 2015. Ciders are made from North Carolina apples and are gluten-free. The taproom here is open from Wednesdays through Sundays and is a five-minute walk from the Scaleybark Station light rail.
Citizen Cider – Burlington, Vermont
Vermont is home to numerous cideries, including Citizen Cider in Burlington. This cidery was founded in 2010 and has gone through a lot of expansions since then. It has a tasting room that is open every day of the week and also has a food menu that includes shareable appetizers, burgers, tacos, and more. Meanwhile, all of the ciders are made from locally sourced apples and gluten-free, with year-round, specialties and Pine Street Cellar Series offerings available.
316 Pine St #114, Burlington, VT 05401, USA— +1 802-497-1987
Maiden Rock, Apples, Winery, and Cidery – Stockholm, Wisconsin
There’s something that everyone will enjoy at Maiden Rock Apples, Winery, and Cidery. This Wisconsin business is open during different hours depending on the time of year, but in the fall, it’s 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Maiden Rock dates back to 2000 when the owners planted their first apple trees. It is located on an 80-acre farm and makes gluten-free ciders and wine from fresh, local fruit. Cider and wine tastings are available at the tasting room during business hours, as well as flights, glasses, and full bottles. There are other opportunities here for fall fun, too, including a straw maze, corn maze, and hay rides.
Urban Tree Cidery – Atlanta, Georgia
The Urban Tree Cidery is an Atlanta cider destination that welcomes dogs and has games to play in the tasting room. The apples used to make these ciders come from the Northeast Georgia mountains and the Cathey family of Mt. City Orchards. You can visit the tasting room and patios on Thursdays through Sundays. This family-owned and operated cidery is located in an industrial space in Atlanta’s West Midtown area. It’s also one of the participating tasting rooms on the Atlanta Beer Bus tours. Descriptions of Urban Tree Cidery’s flagship and seasonal ciders are available on the cidery’s website.
1465 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, USA— +1 404-855-5546
Wise Bird Cider Co. – Lexington, Kentucky
Here’s a small, family-run cidery that makes small-batch, traditional ciders in Lexington, Kentucky. The Wise Bird Cider Co. uses apples from Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to make its ciders. At Wise Bird, you can enjoy ciders by the glass, carafe, or bottle. Flights are also available to help you decide which one you like the best. Other menu offerings are cider and spirit cocktails and local beer. Meanwhile, Little Fork adds a dining option to the cidery and serves “trailer gourmet” cuisine from a permanent food truck onsite. There is also an event space at Wise Bird where you can host parties and events.
1170 Manchester St #140, Lexington, KY 40508, USA— +1 859-309-1863
Stowe Cider – Stowe, Vermont
At Stowe Cider, you can sip local ciders and also check out fun events, such as open mic nights and live music. The taproom at Stowe Ciders is open on Wednesdays through Sundays and offers flights, pints, and cider to go. Live Forever Foods is onsite, adjacent to the outdoor patio, and serves organic food. Dogs are allowed here as long as you keep them on a leash. If you love cider, join the Golden Apple Club to receive customized, limited-release ciders right to your doorstep.
Island Orchard Cider – Ellison Bay, Wisconsin
Another top place for cider tasting is Island Orchard Cider, which is a hard cider company at the tip of the Door County Peninsula. The ciders here are grown from apples, pears, and hazelnuts on Washington Island. The history of the orchard dates back to 2005, when the owners planted 200 dwarf apple trees. This cidery has a tap room that is open daily and offers flights, full pours, bottles to go, and snacks. Here, you’ll find a dog-friendly outdoor patio and welcoming indoor space. Cider fans can join the Island Cider Club and get membership benefits that include three bottles of classic cider and one bottle of the cider maker’s choice per release.
12040 Garrett Bay Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210, USA— +1 920-854-3344
101 Cider House – Westlake Village, California
With zero sugar and probiotics, 101 Cider House offers natural ciders by working with local farms to produce raw juice. It is pressed in small batches, fermented, and aged for three months to create a cold-pressed juice. This cidery prides itself on being eco-friendly and a healthier option for enjoying adult beverages. You can rent the entire cider house taproom for an event with a seating capacity of 150 and a standing capacity of 300.
Atheneum Cider – Fort Worth, Texas
Atheneum Cider does cider differently and loves to experiment with new ingredients and interesting flavor combinations. Here, you’ll find everything from rose petals to hibiscus, pineapple, habanero, and more. It’s a great cidery for adventurous cider drinkers and was founded by a husband-wife duo. This cidery lists its current and past cider creations on its website, and these include some great flavors for fall. The cidery sells cider and merchandise at local events, such as Hops & Props, Beard of Thrones, and other community happenings in the Fort Worth area. This is a fairly new cidery, so follow the business on social media to keep up with what’s next for Atheneum.
1029 N Saginaw Blvd f3, Saginaw, TX 76179, USA— +1 817-782-9012
