As the country’s leading producer of apples, it’s no surprise there are plenty of places to taste cider in Washington. Visit during the fall for the chance to enjoy the tangy zing of a warm glass of fresh-pressed apple cider, or unwind with a cold bottle of hard apple cider. No matter which type of cider you prefer, Washington State is the best place to find it.
Local Cider in Washington
Family-run farms across the state have produced fresh cider for years, perfecting their growing and pressing techniques along the way. At the same time, cider mills in Washington are creating delicious apple-based alcoholic beverages using innovative ingredient combinations.
Here are some great options for where to taste Washington cider across the state (check individual business hours before visiting). For fresh cider and u-pick experiences, apple harvest season typically takes place from mid-August to November. Looking for even more cideries? Check out the Northwest Cider Association’s handy map or view the recent winners of the Northwest Cider Cup.
Fresh-Pressed Cider & U-Pick Apples
Fresh-pressed Washington cider (the non-alcoholic kind) comes from squeezing the juice out of the entire fruit using an apple press. To find a great natural cider that goes straight from the orchard to your glass, stop by one of these Washington farms. Families can often enjoy apple-picking, games, and more.
West Valley U-Pick, Yakima
Head to West Valley U-Pick in the agriculturally rich Yakima Valley for apples, pears, and freshly pressed cider. Find their produce schedule on their website. After you pick, press your own apple cider on their old-fashioned hand-cranked cider presses. They’ll even press for you if you like. Bring your own jug or purchase one on site. Wine lovers can also enjoy fall harvest events and sample local wines in scenic vineyards.
Bellewood Farms, Lynden
This family-run orchard in Northwest Washington features a whopping 25,000 apple trees of 21 different varieties. Come for harvest season and pick your own juicy Honeycrisp and Cosmic Crisp apples. Bring the kids and navigate the corn maze, ride the apple bin train, or book a farm tour, all while taking in views of Mount Baker. In addition to serving up fresh-pressed cider, Bellewood Farms makes a bubbly, non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider that highlights a blend of apples that are pressed and carbonated on the farm.
Hidden Acres & Beck’s Harvest House, Green Bluff
Head north of Spokane to Green Bluff for farms and fresh produce year-round. From mid-August through October, Hidden Acres offers u-pick apples and the ability to press your own fresh, raw cider during apple season. Kids will also love the petting zoo, where they can meet the resident sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and other friendly farm animals.
Beck’s Harvest House also serves up unfiltered, fresh-pressed cider made from their own apples during Fall Harvest Festival (dates in September and October). In addition to cider, the festival features a corn maze, pumpkin patch, homemade pies, food trucks, and more.
Lattin’s Country Cider Mill & Farm, Olympia
Since 1976, Lattin’s Country Cider has been producing top-notch cider at its charming farm. Lattin’s presses fruity ciders like blackberry and strawberry, plus a delightful original apple cider, and a spiced apple cider for folks who want a bolder flavor. Lattin’s market sells numerous apple products, including farm-picked whole apples, apple butter, apple sauce, and dried apple chips, and the bakery offers fritters and cider donuts. And if you’ve never had an apple cider slushie, Lattin’s is the place to try it.
Swans Trail Farms, Snohomish
For nearly four decades, Ben and Carol Krause—and now their kids—have operated Swans Trail Farms. They produce fresh Washington cider pressed daily using apples picked straight from their orchards along the banks of the Snohomish River. Swans Trail sticks to four apple types: Ambrosia, Cosmic Crisp, Honeycrisp, and the more tart Jonagold. On fall weekends, visitors can pick their own apples or observe the cidermaking process at the cider mill. During the Fall Festival (late September-October), the country store, donut shop, and apple shack sell mouthwatering treats like caramel apples, cider donuts, and apple-filled pastries.
Hard Cider Producers
Take things up a notch with some distinctive, apple-based alcoholic beverages. Head to one of these cideries for a taste of Washington’s apple bounty.
Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Chimacum
Finnriver, located on the Olympic Peninsula, offers more than just a great beverage. With a food menu, live music, art events, and festivals year-round on an 80-acre farm, a visit to Finnriver is an entertainment experience that tickles all the senses. Guests can participate in tastings and tours through the organic fields and the “hall of tanks” to learn how this Washington cider is produced. In addition to hard ciders, Finnriver also serves up seasonal hot drinks and non-alcoholic offerings.
Finnriver uses blends of Washington dessert apples and other produce (habanero peppers, berries, lavender) to create a range of thoughtful products. Try Sidra, a Spanish-style dry cider with an acidic tart, or Apple Abbey, a Belgian-style semi-sweet cider with nutty and fruity notes.
Snowdrift Cider Co. & Union Hill Cider Co., East Wenatchee
The hot, dry summers of East Wenatchee help to cultivate an unusually large number of apple varieties in Snowdrift’s orchard, including lesser-known types like Dabinett, Frequin Rouge, and Foxwhelp. That gives Snowdrift the flexibility to experiment with creative flavor combinations for its small-batch ciders. The cidery’s popular Cliffbreaks blend is a golden English cider with a rich, bittersweet flavor. Check their website for tasting room hours.
At Union Cill Cider Co., growing apples has been a family affair for more than 50 years. Sit on the patio at their scenic tasting room (which is kid and dog-friendly!) and enjoy gorgeous views while you sip cider made with apples from their orchards. Their menu features local beers as well as light bites.
Dragons’ Head Cider, Vashon Island
Located on a small island in the Puget Sound, Dragon’s Head does all the pressing, fermentation, blending, and bottling on their farm using their own apples or those from other small Pacific Northwest growers. From May through October, visit their orchard for a cider tasting among the trees, or head to their tasting room year-round. Sample their Bittersweet Cider crafted from more than 20 traditional English and French cider apple varieties grown in their orchard, or try the Wild Fermented Cider for a farmhouse-style cider.
Tieton Cider Works, Yakima
Located in the heart of Washington cider (and wine) country in Yakima, Tieton’s Cider Bar has a half-dozen flavors on tap, and their cans and bottles can be found at retail outlets around the state. The top seller is Wild Washington Apple Cider, which incorporates multiple bittersweet and bittersharp apples into a perfect semi-dry blend.
Bone dry cider is a crisp beverage that mixes bittersweet and dessert apples, while dry hopped cider takes an acidic apple cider and adds three kinds of hops. Tieton also produces tangy fruit ciders, such as peach, cherry, and huckleberry, all of which incorporate Washington apples into the mix.
Seattle Cider Co., Seattle
In 2013, Seattle Cider became the city’s first cidery since the Prohibition era. While the company makes several ciders, including basil mint and seasonal pumpkin and marionberry flavors, its original apple-based cider remains a customer favorite. Find Seattle Cider at the vibrant Woods Tasting Room in the city’s SoDo neighborhood, or on tap in bars across the region and in 14 states.
Methow Valley Ciderhouse, Winthrop
The Methow Valley Ciderhouse is a hidden gem on the eastern edge of the North Cascades in a valley laden with rich soil. Although it’s a full-service restaurant with an extensive menu, the cider remains one of the primary draws for visitors.
Methow Valley Ciderhouse produces six ciders named after the region’s animals. Try Pinnacle Goat, a semi-sweet cider with a robust ginger infusion, or Black Raven, a tart dry cider with a bit of natural blackberry sweetness. You can sample many of Washington’s hard ciders at annual events like Cider Smash each June in Kirkland or Marcus CiderFest in the fall in Eastern Washington.
Washington Gold Cider, Chelan
An old apple packing shed from the 1930s now serves as the cider house tap room for Washington Gold Cider. Operated by the same folks behind Lake Chelan Winery and located just steps from the beautiful lake itself, Washington Gold creates bright-tasting ciders that never use any artificial flavors or colors.
The cider mill’s offerings include a sweet and crisp Golden Delicious cider and an original cider featuring subtle vanilla and floral notes. Also check out the inventive apple pie hard cider, which adds nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar to recreate the comforting flavor of this favorite dessert. Note: The taproom closes seasonally, so check hours before visiting.
Whether you’re cozying up a taproom or joining the family for a farm-fresh adventure, these Washington State cideries have got you covered.
About the Author
Scott Shetler is a freelance writer and avid road tripper who has explored nearly every corner of Washington. Find him on Instagram @quirkytravelguy.