Fall in New Hampshire is made for slowing down. And what better way to savor the season than with a glass of locally made hard cider. From orchard-side tasting rooms to cozy taprooms, New Hampshire cideries are putting their own spin on this classic fall favorite.
So when you’re out looking for the best fall foliage, exploring a farmer’s market or simply looking for a new way to enjoy the season, add a stop at a cidery to your itinerary. Here are seven New Hampshire cideries worth a visit this fall.
Bradford Bear, Bradford
Small-batch and family-run, Bradford Bear puts a distinctly New Hampshire spin on hard cider. Its lineup ranges from crisp and dry to sweeter, more fruit-forward varieties, with creative options that showcase local ingredients. Look for seasonal favorites and limited releases, including ciders made with locally gown apples and maple syrup. You can visit Bradford Bear at local events and find its cider in local stores and on tap at restaurants around the state.
Butternut Farm Cider House, Farmington
Make a day of it at Butternut Farm, where apple picking and hard cider go hand in hand. Tucked among the farm’s orchard, the Cider House serves up cider made with apples grown right on the property. Stop in for a flight, a glass, or a growler to take home, and pair it with one of the farm’s fresh-baked doughnuts. With the orchard at its most colorful during the fall, this is a quintessential New Hampshire farm stop.
Contoocook Cider Company, Contoocook
Located at picturesque Gould Hill Farm, Contoocook Cider embraces the idea of tree to glass. The cidery crafts its ciders from heirloom and locally grown apples, with a lineup that ranges from traditional varieties to so many creative flavors. Pair your pour with a cider doughnut or one of their specialty handmade pizzas. Then settle in and enjoy the incredible mountain views. If you time it right, you might just catch some local live music on the patio.
Crucial 10 Craft Cider, Thornton
Set against the backdrop of the White Mountains, Crucial 10 is a cozy stop for cider lovers exploring the region. The on-site taproom and outdoor cider garden offer flights, full pours and bottles to go, with a rotating selection of small-batch ciders. Favorites include the semidry Northstar, New England Hazy Cider and Bonez Dry, while new and seasonal creations keep the lineup interesting. Add live music and the surrounding mountain scenery for a perfect fall afternoon.
Farnum Hill Ciders, Lebanon
For those who like their cider on the dry side, a visit to Farum Hill is a must. At Poverty Lane Orchards, generations of apple-growing knowledge have gone into cultivating the unusual bittersweet and bitter sharp apples that give Farnum Hill ciders their distinctive character. The result is a complex, aromatic cider that’s made to be savored. Explore the orchard in fall and discover a side of New Hampshire cider that’s decidedly different form the sweet, spiced varieties often associated with the season.
North Country Hard Cider, Rollinsford
With a rotating lineup of handcrafted ciders, North Country Hard Cider is a great stop for anyone who likes having plenty of choices. The family and dog-friendly tasting room in Dover offers flights, pours, growlers, and cans to go, with everything from dry and off-dry ciders to creative fruit and spice-infused blends. There’s also a full calendar of pop-up food trucks, live music and other events, making it easy to turn a cider tasting into a fun fall afternoon.
Rhythm Cider, Tap & Grille, Lincoln
Cider and the scenery in the White Mountains make a pretty unbeatable combination. Rhythm Cider crafts its ciders at Seven Birches Winery in Lincoln, where visitors can now sample cider and wine in the expanded tasting room at RiverWalk Resort. Consider booking a cider tour to get an inside look at how Rhythm’s ciders are crafted. Then settle in at the Tap & Grille for food and a glass with views of the Pemigewasset River and surrounding mountains.
