With the onset of colder weather also comes the intensified craving for apple cider. Autumn mornings call for a warm glass of hot apple cider and fall evenings call for a hard cider by the fireplace. Here are our favorite Pacific Northwest (PNW) places to shop ciders all fall long.
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To begin let's talk about that perfect glass of apple cider on an autumn morning. For us, it always starts by picking up a jug at Lattin's Country Cider Mill & Farm. This farm located in Olympia has been perfecting the craft of cider making since 1976. They sort, cut and wash all their apples by hand to ensure all glasses of cider are perfected. With a wide range of flavors such as apple, spiced (perfect hot), strawberry, blackberry and raspberry everyone in your family will be sure to find a flavor they love. And with their sizes ranging from gallon to half pint, you can have as much or as little cider as desired. While you're picking up the cider, be sure to check out all the other farm happenings such as their annual apple festival that runs every weekend in October.
Open 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday; 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., Sunday; through December, 9402 Rich Rd. SE, Olympia, https://www.lattinscider.com/index.html
If you're looking for a cider that is more of a night vs. morning beverage, Cockrell Hard Ciders in Puyallup is a must visit. Owned by two brothers who have been making hand crafted beer and ciders for over 25 years and winning multiple local, state and national awards, we can honestly say they know how to do hard cider. Using only local fruit, much of it from their own farm they produce hand crafted artisan cider. They have a wide variety of options available that include their original cider, raspberry habanero cider, brown sugar cider and many more. Open Thursday-Saturday visitors have the opportunity to visit their tasting room and farm and also grab a snack from rotating food trucks. Check out their website for a full schedule of food trucks, or just swing by their location during their hours to pick up some cider to go. 21+ only.
Open 4-7 p.m., Thursday; 4-8p.m., Friday; 1-6p.m. Saturday; 6613 114th Ave. Ct. E, Puyallup, http://www.cockrellbrewing.com/
Another spot on our list for picking up some hard cider is, Whitewood Cider Co. in Olympia. This cider spot has been specializing in craft cider since 2005. A wide variety of different ciders that include Gravenstein, McIntosh, North Baker Flats and many other varieties are available. Outside their teeny tiny taproom as they call it, is a spacious beautiful deck to enjoy a cider, or we would recommend a flight. However, if the weather doesn't permit, or you're just wanting to grab the cider to-go that is always an option as well.
Open 2-7 p.m., Wednesday; 1-7p.m., Friday; noon-7 p.m., Saturdays; 1-6 p.m., Sunday; https://www.whitewoodcider.com/
However, you choose to cider this fall long, we can ensure you can't go wrong with the above places. Great options to accompany any holiday meal, or just to pour yourself a glass at any given time.