Move over Johnny Appleseed, meet the new era of apple experts.
Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes? More like the land of 10,000 apples. For real, you couldn’t ask for a better place to open a cidery. Apples? Check. Work ethic? Check. Cider lovers? Check-yah.
Luckily for us, these 7 locales have risen to the call and are turning your favorite fruit into your new favorite hard beverage. How do you like these apples?
Milk & Honey Ciders
Originally, you had to trek into the wilderness to get your hands on some Milk & Honey Cider. The trip was well worth it, the trio of brewers know their stuff. Adam Theis graduated from the Siebel Institute of Technology & World Brewing Academy, Aaron Klocker holds a certificate from the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM) on the appreciation of cider and perry, and Peter Gillitzer took classes with cider expert Peter Mitchell.
Luckily for you, these days, all you have to do to get your hands on their cider is visit St. Joseph, MN. Milk & Honey specializes in dry and highly aromatic ciders made from heirloom and traditional apple trees. They also specialize in being family friendly. So pack up the kids, or leave them with Grandma, and visit this year-round cidery.
Wild State Cider
What are two guys to do with talents in fermentation and marketing? Start a cidery, that’s what. Adam Ruhland and Andrew Price became buddies over their love of wild places and adventure. Ten years down the road, they started Wild State Cider.
Dedicated to crafting custom-blended ciders from fresh pressed juice, without added sugar or concentrates.
That means creating a family friendly cidery that benefits the outdoors and the people that love them. That means making cider that goes perfectly with a sunny day on the Mississippi River or a cozy, snowy night in, let’s be real, April. Who doesn’t want to cheers to that?!
Now one of Minnesota’s largest cideries, check them out in Duluth.
Number 12 Cider
This cidery was raised in a barn. You read that right. Owners Steve Hance and Colin Post originally shared their apple concoctions from a barn in Buffalo, MN. These days they’ve opened a 270-seat taproom in Minneapolis’ North Loop. The new space overflows with natural wood elements and offers a comfy lounge. Another bonus? A food truck serving wood-fire pizzas is in the works.
Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten the main act. Not only do they have 7 ciders on tap and 9 more on the way, they also serve up some delicious kombucha, apple juice and sodas. It’s artisanal apple cider at its finest.
Urban Forage
With no preservatives or flavorings, Urban Forage is all about keeping it real. Whether that is their cider, mead or wine, they produce everything from local fruit, flowers and honey. Yummy! Even better? They create every beverage in small batches by hand. Urban Forage doesn’t believe in taking the easy way.
Just because they work hard, doesn’t mean they can’t have fun. Every week you’ll find trivia, tours and live music at their Minneapolis taproom. Mix that with 4 taps of apple-y goodness and you’re found your new favorite spot. Also, feel free to bring the kids and food foraged from home or a nearby eatery. Sounds like a winner to us.
Keepsake Cidery
Nate and Tracy sitting in an apple tree, building a c-i-d-e-r-y. Okay, that doesn’t quite work, but you get the picture. Shortly after meeting in Colorado on a farm, Nate and Tracy ventured up to the Midwest to realize their own farming dreams and utilize Nate’s brewing and fermentation knowledge. Thus, Keepsake Cidery was born. And so were Tristan and Fiona, their two adorable kids you may spot running around the place.
With an emphasis on healthy living and crafting cider the old fashioned way, don’t miss out on Keepsake. You can discover Keepsake in Dundas, MN.
Duluth Cider
Duluth Cider is the multi year project of husband and wife team Valerie and Jake Scott. Their new venture in an historic building that was at one point a stable, seats over 100 guests. They’ve got a cider for everyone: sweet, dry, hopped, juice blend varieties and many more on the way.
Duluth Cider brings passion and enthusiasm to the growing Minnesota cider scene. Be sure to visit the taproom next time you’re in Duluth.
Yellow Belly Cider
Yellow Belly Cider is the most-organic-not-technically-organic cider you can find. Their array of awarded ciders, from the beloved Semi Sweet to the Lemon Basil are all made from 100% Minnesota apples and ingredients from the SapSucker organic farm. They’re currently building a new production facility and taproom at their Mora, MN, location. Can’t wait? Find out where it is served and sold here.
Are you drooling yet? We thought so. We won’t lie, we’re a little impartial to the second place on the list, but there’s plenty of cider love to go around. So whether you’re stuffing stockings or looking for a fun night out, keep these cideries top of mind.
If they’re open, go pay them a visit. If they’re still in the works, follow them on social. We’re lucky to live in a state that has mastered the apple.
Now, it’s time for us to master the cidery. So get out there and discover them! Get more travel inspiration from the Duluth Travel Guide.
