New York is known for its apple trees, and with these delicious apples comes an excellent selection of cider. When you’re looking to sample some of the best cider the Capital Region has to offer, check out a few of these cideries, cider houses, and brewpubs around Albany.
Nine Pin
Nine Pin is dedicated to creating exceptional ciders, which is why the company only uses apples that come from orchards in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley. Stop by the tasting room in the heart of downtown Albany and you’ll discover a rotating selection of hard ciders, local beers, wines, and cocktails. You can pair your drink with a cheese and charcuterie plate or house-made panini. While you’re there, be sure to take a tour of the 17,000-square-foot production facility to get a sample of cider in a souvenir glass.
Wayside Cider
Located about 90 miles southwest of Albany in the tiny town of Andes is Wayside Cider. The company is a collaboration between Irene Hussey and Alex Wilson. The two wanted to focus on creating ciders that showcased the flavor of the land. They pick and graft wild and abandoned apple trees to preserve the past and showcase the region. Stop by the taproom to enjoy a drink, buy a bottle or case of the cider, and savor some fresh, farm-to-table food.
Sundström Cider
Sundström Cider is a small cider producer located about an hour south of Albany in the little town of Milan. Leif Sundström, who started the company, focuses on selecting wild-harvested apples for his ciders. His approach to creating the cider is to have as little intervention as possible. Instead, he lets the natural yeasts ferment the cider to bring out its brightness and crispness. If you’re interested in purchasing some of the cider in the Capital Region, you’ll find bottles at Twenty-Two Second St Wine Co, Peck’s Arcade, and Lucas Confectionery.
Joe Daddy’s Hard Cider
Produced by Brookview Station Winery, Joe Daddy’s Hard Cider uses fruit grown on Goold Orchards that’s just 9 miles south of Albany in Castleton. Founded in 1910, Goold Orchards is the oldest family-owned and operated apple farm in the Capital Region. Cider master Joe Ciccolella has over 35 years of experience hand-selecting and blending the apples used for both the fresh cider and hard cider. Stop by the tasting room at the orchard to find hard cider flavors that include regular apple, apple cranberry, and triple hopped.
Slyboro Ciderhouse
Slyboro Ciderhouse makes still, sparkling, and ice ciders from apples grown in its orchard just over 60 miles north of Albany in Granville. You can stop by the tasting room at the orchard to try some of the unique creations, or you can buy bottles at Capital Wine and Empire Wine in Albany.
The popularity of cider is making a comeback in America, and if you’d like to try some of the best options in the Capital Region, head out and discover a few of these cider houses.
