Nothing screams Fall in New England quite like a crisp afternoon of leaf peeping while sipping cider with your friends & fam!
Did you know that Connecticut is HOME to some of the oldest operating Cider Mill‘s in the country?! (SAYY WHATT?) Many of these CT Cider Mills are family run businesses that have been operating for generations and generations. If you want the 'real deal' as far as apple cider experiences go--- look no further. Trust us, these spots are brewinnn up homemade apple cider (& cider donuts) that will make your taste buds go wild!
WHETHER YOU LIKE YOUR APPLE CIDER HOT OR COLD...SWEET OR SPIKED... WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED WITH A LIST OF OUR GO-TO SPOTS FOR APPLE CIDER MILLS THAT ARE PERFECT FOR YOUR FALL ADVENTURES!
It's hard to talk about Cider without mentioning Apple Cider Doughnuts... am I right?! All of the cider mills mentioned below also have delish donuts and we added a bonus list of our FAVE spots for cider donuts at the bottom of the blog.
BEST CIDER MILLS IN CT...
Beardsley's Cider Mill
Beardsley's Cider Mill, Shelton CT This spot much closer to home (for us) than Clyde's (and a stone throw away from Jones Family Farm) so it's a great option if some of the other spots are far from your location. Fantastic cider!! **According to Beardsley Cider Mill... "It takes approximately 25 average size apples to make 1 gallon of cider!"
@Beardsleys.Cider.Mill
Clyde’s Cider Mill:
Clyde’s Cider Mill, Mystic CT: This CT winery produces cider, hard cider, and apple wine. Clyde’s is the oldest steam-powered cider mill in the United States and it's a national historic landmark. Enjoy their free cider tastings before you buy a carafe... and then head to the picnic tables and sip your hard cider under the gorgeous fall foliage! Check their event schedule before going because we noticed that they offer live music some weekends this season.
@clydescidermill
Hogans Cider Mill:
Hogans Cider Mill, Burlington CT: Perhaps one of the most picturesque cider mills you'll ever see, Hogans is a family-run Cider Mill with the most vibey tap room around! They have an outdoor tap room for your socially distant needs. We love posting up here for the afternoon and enjoying their outdoor live music. Hogan's offers a wide variety of Hard Cider, as well as a full menu of food to snack on! This place is definitely doing it right. **Don't miss Hogan's Honey Hard Cider! @HogansCiderMill
Holmberg's Orchard:
Holmberg's Orchards, Gales Ferry CT: Go for the hard cider & wine, and stay for the cider donuts. Holmberg Orchards is a fourth-generation family-run farm located in the picturesque hills of Gales Ferry, Connecticut, located just minutes from Mystic, Foxwoods, and Mohegan Sun. The orchards and wine tasting room are open seasonally to the public. The Farm Market is freshly stocked year-round with fruits and vegetables, homemade baked goods, and tempting specialty foods.
@holmbergorchards
New England Cider Company:
New England Cider Company, Wallingford CT: In our opinion, New England Cider Company is less of a cider mill... more of a brewery. Except, instead of brewing beer, they brew delicious hard ciders that are well crafted, and all natural... using the freshest ingredients from New England. After trying these hard ciders, we couldn't leave them off the list!
@newenglandcider
Spoke + Spy:
Spoke + Spy, Middletown CT: This microbrewery was suggested by an Instagram follower, we've been psyched to give them a try this season (of course, we will update you guys once we do)! According to their Instagram-- Their quest to find the best ciders in the world has led them to craft their own unique award-winning lineup of ciders. They focus on local ingredients, working with nearby orchards to bring local flavor to your glass. When local isn't an option, they will seek the best and most unique ingredients while maintaining their commitment to producing the highest quality ciders! Check them out!
@spokeandspy
Yankee Cider Company:
Yankee Cider Company, East Haddam CT: Ever visit a cider "tap room"? Yankee Cider Co. is your go-to destination for experiencing the authentic taste of New England-style hard ciders, meticulously crafted from the finest apples grown in East Haddam, CT. They offer a delightful selection of flights and individual pours of our signature ciders, complemented by a choice of Staehly Farm Winery wines. They are open Thursdays & Fridays: 4 PM to 8 PM, Saturdays & Sundays: 12 PM to 8 PM!
@yankeeciderco
PLUS-- OUR FAVE SPOT'S FOR APPLE CIDER DONUTS:
- Buell's Orchard, Eastford
- Lyman Orchards, Middlefield
- Blue Jay Orchards, Bethel
- Silverman's Farm, Easton
- Bishops Orchards, Guilford
- Rogers Orchards, Southington
- Old Bishop Farm, Cheshire
** If you have a suggestion for us-- we would love to hear all about it! Let us know about your fave cider mills in the comments so that we can add them to our list :)