Wondering where one can find hard cider in Seattle? Two cider enthusiasts are here to help track down the best cider in Seattle. And they assure you, there are many options to choose from. Whether one is looking for a spot to try seventeen different ciders from the same producer, or craft a flight from more than 40 options, all color-coded from dry to sweet to help find the right cider for one`s tastes, they are in the right place.
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Cideries in Seattle
Here are four places to discover cider in Seattle that really make their own cider, rather than bringing it in from other spots.
Schilling Cider
The initial option on the listing is an exception. The Schilling Cider House located in Seattle`s Fremont neighborhood is our most favored hard cider bar in Seattle without a doubt.
I say they`re an exception because they both make their own cider and acquire it from other places. They have an impressive 30-40 different ciders on tap, such as their own and a wide variety of local ciders from the Northwest, occasionally including some fun ciders beyond the region.
As if the aforementioned was not enough, an expansive bottle selection is also featured containing novel and intriguing ciders in various forms. Schilling Ciders favorites like Grapefruit and Chill or London Dry are stocked in cans and bottles, alongside what could be the premier cider-dedicated bottle shop in Seattle. An assortment originating from the Pacific Northwest and beyond is showcased to take home.
The menu is helpfully color-coded from dry (blue) to green (sweet) to ensure you find the right cider for your tastes. But you should definitely get a flight of six to try a variety while you play board games and enjoy conversation with your companions.
We bring almost every visitor to Seattle to Schilling whether they like cider or not, and they usually end up liking cider by the end of the evening.
Address: 708 N 34th St, Seattle, WA 98103 (Fremont)
Seattle Cider
Seattle Cider crafts approachable and easily drinkable ciders in cans that have become widely present in Seattle these days, though the real enjoyment begins when you visit their industrial taproom in SoDo, where they share space with Two Beers Brewing Co.
My fondest memory of Seattle Cider is when we went around the holidays and I asked about a seasonal cider they had on tap. The bartender stated “oh yeah, we literally just put a Christmas tree in with the cider to see what happens.” So I ordered it, because who doesn’t want that, and it was truly like being embraced by a Christmas tree, but much more pleasant. Although, I’ve never been embraced by a tree, so I guess I can’t really say.
We truly enjoy their Pineapple Agave, which has a semi-dry taste and is a delectable summer cider, and trying some of their more experimental ciders that they have available for sampling.
Address: 7800 1st Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117 (Phinney Ridge)
Yonder Cider
A newcomer! First of all, whoever did the promotional materials for Yonder Cider deserves high praise (coming from a previous marketer focusing on food & drink products). We really enjoy it.
“Whether relaxing in a hammock, enjoying a hike in nature, or discovering a unique hidden gem, Yonder welcomes all. Over Yonder, every possibility is within reach — and something beautiful awaits just around the next turn.”
YES.
Yonder uses apples from the fertile Wenatchee valley, which is prime apple-growing territory in Washington State. I’d be willing to bet that you have likely eaten an apple from there in the past year, even if you do not live in the Northwest.
They utilize a blend of bittersweet and dessert apples in crafting their ciders, and this comes through in how their “regular” ciders – the dry and semi-sweet varieties – exhibit more complexity than some competitors. Their seasonal options – the blackberry and sage-containing Palisades, and the cranberry and cherry Cashmere – were especially impressive according to our experience.
Another fascinating aspect about Yonder is their storefront, which is literally just a garage in Phinney Ridge just north of Seattle. When I mention “a garage,” you may be thinking it`s NOT ACTUALLY a garage. But no, it`s a garage, and it`s awesome. There, you can obtain crowlers of their ciders – usually such as their flagship products, a seasonal selection, and a unique one. And you can purchase merchandise, which as you can imagine is impeccably designed.
The distinctive cider when I was there was a Roxbury Russet single variable that was highly tannic and bitter, but in an excellent way.
Address: 7800 1st Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117 (Phinney Ridge)
Locust Cider
I have mixed thoughts regarding Locust Cider, but they definitely deserve a spot on this list.
Positively, they have numerous handy locations like one near Pike Place Market, in Ballard, and on Alki Beach.
However, their cider is sweeter than preferred, so it is difficult to write about without that factor influencing any description provided.
If you prefer ciders on the sweeter side, you’ll likely enjoy Locust. I will say that we did appreciate a couple of their summer seasonal varieties – the Pineapple Smoked Pepper and the Rosemary Plum – even though they were a touch too sweet for our tastes.
This cider spot is pleasant place to pass some time, featuring lively atmospheres and games like pinball for entertainment. Their taprooms exhibit brightness and fun. The one located in Ballard offers a few special ciders not available elsewhere that make exploring their selections an enjoyable afternoon activity.
Cider Bars in Seattle
The following locations in Seattle offer a decent selection of hard cider, though producing cider is not their main focus.
Capitol Cider
In this scenario, cider is their primary focus. Capitol Cider offers more than 20 taps of cider at any given time, and also happens to be one of our favorite gluten free eateries in Seattle. It was the first cider bar in Seattle that I can recollect ever visiting, and it`s been a staple on our Seattle trips since I can remember. Actually, the first time I brought Alysha to Seattle, this was one of our initial stops!
They have an upstairs restaurant-style area and downstairs bar featuring board games for a distinct “pub” atmosphere.
The food is pretty good too, though it’s on the expensive side because it’s 100% gluten free.
Address: 818 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 (Capitol Hill)
The Noble Fir
The Noble Fir is an airy bar in Ballard that provides a selection of local ciders, mostly packaged in bottles and cans. This was the first place I ever sampled the Finnriver Black Currant, which remains one of my favorite hard ciders of all time even today. It`s a suitable spot to grab a beverage if you find yourself in Ballard craving cider.
Address: 5316 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 (Ballard)
Brouwer’s Cafe
Dim and dingy, or dim and sentimental? Which is it? I think sentimental.
Brouwer’s is a beer bar located in Fremont that focuses on Belgian beers but also happens to have an excellent selection of hard ciders. The very first time I tasted Sea Cider, which is a must try during any cider lovers road trip around Vancouver Island, was at this establishment. They generally have numerous cider options available in bottles from producers such as Finnriver, Alpenfire, and Sea Cider, along with one or two selections available on tap
Address: 400 N 35th St, Seattle, WA 98103 (Fremont)
Places to Buy Cider in Seattle
If you’re looking to purchase some cider in Seattle, either to enjoy at home or take home with you, here are three places to inspect with an extensive selection of local ciders in bottles and cans.
Schilling Cider is also a really good spot for this, as I already pointed out above.
Full Throttle Bottle Shop: A bottle shop in Georgetown with what I believe is the best cider selection in Seattle, without a doubt. They had numerous new and intriguing ciders that I hadn’t seen elsewhere.
Chuck’s Shop: Mainly offering beers, they also have a decent selection of ciders (though nothing astounding). They have locations in both the Central District east of Cap Hill, and Greenwood.
The Ale Crossway: A retail shop in West Seattle that also offers various ciders on tap, in bottles, and cans alongside their beer selection.
You can also find a respectable selection of cider at higher end grocery stores like Metropolitan Market,PCC, and, of course, Total Wine & More. But we think you should totally support the small local bottle shops above!
That’s all we’ve got for the best cider in Seattle!
If you want more Seattle travel recommendations, we`ve got you covered.
- A Guide for Celiac Visitors to Seattle`s Food Scene
- Accommodation Options in Seattle, Washington
- The 11 Most Interesting Hotels in Seattle and the Best Home Rental Choices
- A Perfect 3 Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors to Seattle
- The 6 Best Day Trips One Can Take from Seattle
- 7 Weekend Getaway Options from Seattle
- The Finest Coffee Available in Seattle
- The Coolest Home Rental Choices in Washington State
- The Ultimate Self-Drive Tour of Washington State
