The official fruit of Washington makes a hell of a drink, one which may rival our hoppiest beers. Cider makers—and we’re speaking in regards to the onerous form right here—are unfold throughout the western half of the state, and make for ideally suited highway journey locations. Simply keep in mind to convey a delegated driver prepared to sip on plain previous apple juice. And needless to say given the family-run nature of some cideries, tasting rooms could have restricted, seasonal, or weekend-only hours.
Snowdrift Cider Firm
East Wenatchee
It is solely becoming to drink cider in Wenatchee, the city so deep in apple manufacturing that it holds an annual competition devoted to the fruit. Positioned on the east aspect of the Columbia, Snowdrift cites each the plentiful sunshine and its namesake snow as being answerable for their apple high quality. Positioned out in East Wenatchee’s farmland, the cidery is clearly a household operation—which means guests get to attach with the cider maker himself.
Finnriver Farm and Cidery
Chimicum
Within the rolling farmland simply south of Port Townsend, the Finnriver orchards stretch throughout 80 acres utilizing greater than 20 completely different forms of apple tree. And for good purpose; the menu is lengthy and various. With each its personal kitchen and visiting distributors dishing meals, Finnriver is ready up for a most-of-the-day go to. The farm additionally hosts studying teams, dance nights, used good swaps, and workshops, plus common dwell music.
Mill Haus Cider Firm
Eatonville
Although a quaint water wheel turns exterior the wooden cabin–type cidery, it is there for adornment, not energy manufacturing. Nevertheless it makes for a pleasant backdrop in one of many state’s most intensive out of doors areas dedicated to cider—firepits, picnic tables, a pond. The drinks menu reveals an affinity for the wild forests that encompass the small city of Eatonville by that includes huckleberry and marionberry. Flatbreads and avenue tacos maintain down the menu, with burnt-end sliders topped with slaw an actual spotlight. On summer time evenings, crowds cease right here on the best way dwelling from close by Mount Rainier Nationwide Park.
Tieton Cider Works
Yakima
Although one of many state’s dominant cideries is called for Tieton, the small city during which it was launched—and during which its fruit continues to be grown—at present its tasting bar is settled sq. in the midst of close by Yakima. Acquainted to anybody who’s gotten fruit-forward drinks on draft in Seattle, Tieton makes crowd-pleasing apple standbys, however has additionally unfold lavender honey and bourbon peach into the native mainstream. The tasting room has a bocce courtroom exterior and machine for cider slushies, each properly suited to the Yakima sunshine.
Westcott Bay Cider
San Juan Island
Like the remainder of the San Juan Islands, the cider maker close to Roche Harbor is a small-batch, artisanal operation, the cider made in live performance with liquor at San Juan Distillery. The homeowners decide the heirloom selection apples themselves from a small orchard close by and make solely three cider varieties; the driest makes use of no sugar in any respect. The cidery is open to guests on weekends in summer time, however when you catch somebody at one other time you may rating a chat and a style.
Nashi Orchards and Dragon’s Head Cider
Vashon Island
It is a two-fer! Vashon Island, a brief ferry trip from Fauntleroy, is dwelling to 2 completely different cider makers, making it ideally suited for a comparability tasting by automotive and even bicycle. Nashi Orchards focuses on apple cider in addition to perry, which is an identical drink made with pears—not apple cider flavored with pears, as so many pear ciders are. They turned an previous artist’s studio right into a tasting room however do require tasting reservations.
Dragon’s Head, only a mile away, grows most of its personal apples and focuses on highlighting the person varieties in every cider. The tasting room is extra of a picnic space with Adirondack chairs subsequent to the orchards. Curated tasting flights assist guests evaluate the subtleties between varieties.
Bellingham Cider Firm
Bellingham
The menu at this far north cider maker reads like a produce stand: Rainier cherry, cucumber lime, and raspberry rhubarb, amongst others. Their imperial line reaches above 8 % ABV. The downtown restaurant in quirky Bellingham has a patio that overlooks a park and the bay, dishing woodstone pizzas and a full dinner menu. It is positively extra of an in-town expertise than a reference to the orchards and makers, however all of the ciders are product of Washington apples, and the bar features a cider slushy machine.
