The Ultimate Guide to Pennsylvania Hard Cider

Craft cider is one of Pennsylvania’s true secret gems. Everyone knows about the amazing breweries, distilleries and wineries across the Commonwealth, but the local craft cider industry is just starting to gain the recognition and attention it deserves.

And it does deserve your attention: PA craft cider is a true agricultural product, one that epitomizes the incredible abundance of the state’s soil — Pennsylvania is, after all, the 4th largest producer of apples in the country. 

Cider is the result of the transformation of the fruit grown at local orchards and farms across the state, both crunchy sweet culinary apples in varieties you know (Gala, McIntosh, Granny Smith, etc.) and tannic bittersharp and bittersweet heirloom apples whose names may be less familiar (like Wickson crabapples, Kingston Black and Dabinett). Through the skill of cidermakers and the magic of fermentation, these apples, along with other fruits, herbs, botanicals and spices, develop complex flavors, expressing characteristics from light and crisp to rich and mysterious.

Whatever your taste, there is a PA cider out there for you. For beer-lovers, there are citrusy hopped beers; bourbon fans will dig vanilla-scented, woodsy ciders aged in oak barrels; wine-lovers can pop open Champagne-like sparkling ciders, or still ciders that rival the crispest Riesling. Some ciders are meant to express the terroir, or the soil and geography where the apples were grown, and some are packed with fun, irreverent flavors made simply for cracking and chugging. 

Pennsylvania’s cider community is also thriving! The Pennsylvania Cider Guild, a trade organization founded in 2014, organizes and advocates for local makers; the PA Cider Competition at the PA Farm Show, which spotlights the best in our state, is going into its sixth year and has grown exponentially since its founding — the 2020 cider competition featured 101 entries across nine categories! [Note: the 2021 PA Cider Competition was canceled due to COVID-19]. The PA Cider Fest is also organized every year to bring together cider makers and fans to celebrate the bounty that is our local cider industry.

Ready to explore all that Pennsylvania cider has to offer? Follow our trail, in-person or virtually, to find your newest favorite local cider — many cideries have cozy outdoor extensions of their tasting rooms and are offering easy ways to buy their ciders from home!

Northeastern PA

Colonel Ricketts Hard Cider: This rustic, no-frills cidery offers its hard ciders and kombucha in a tasting room in the Green Acres Barn. It’s a family-owned business that values the outdoors, which shine through in its semi-sweet and semi-dry ciders.

• Hours vary, but during September, October and November you can visit Fridays from 3 – 6 p.m., Saturdays from 12 – 6 p.m. and Sundays from 12 – 4 p.m.

4360 Red Rock Rd., Benton; (570) 974-1944.

Deep Roots Hard Cider: After two years of selling hard ciders at festivals and farmers markets, Deep Roots built a tasting room in Sugar Run. While waiting for its orchard to grow, this upstart cidery sources its fruit from Miller’s Orchard in Clarks Summit. 348 Back Rd, Sugar Run, PA; (570) 746-3222

• A list of current items is shared via Deep Roots’ website; products include pure apple ciders and sweet, fruit-blend ciders.
• Tasting room hours are Friday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m in the winter. 

Spacetime Mead & Cider Works: An experimentally focused producer of different fermented beverages, including cider, mead and wine. 419 S. Blakely St., Dunmore, PA; (570) 504-5758

• Shop online or head over for in-store shopping, which is available Thursday through Saturday, with hours varying by the season.
• Scheduled curbside pickups and delivery are offered; shipping also available in PA and to most states across the country.

Hardball Cider: This cheeky hard cider brand appeals to baseball fans, with cider names like Puckerball, Hey, Blue! and Splitter. 805 Orchard Rd., Mt. Bethel, PA; (484) 341-3101

• Hardball’s taproom is open with outdoor seating Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 2 to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.
• You can shop online for 4-pack cans and growlers of cider, as well as bottles of wine, which can be picked up at the cidery. Shipping across the US is available, but requires shopping from a different website.

Five Maidens Craft Cider: Started by hobby homebrewers-turned-cider makers, this newcomer to the Lehigh Valley specializes in fresh, local, modern cider.
327 Polk St., Bethlehem; no phone.

• Visit the Five Maidens tasting room, open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m.
• You can order merch online to pick up at Five Maidens.

 Southeastern PA

Manoff Market Cidery: This craft cidery, founded in 2018, was launched by a popular pick-your-own fruit farm. It produces a line of a dozen rotating ciders, including fruited blends and single varietals. 3157 Comfort Rd., New Hope, PA;  (215) 297-8220

• The cidery is open for tastings and take-out Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Bottles can be purchased to go during market hours and you can also call ahead to schedule a curbside pick-up.
• Shop online for shipping to PA and a number of other states or join the Cider Club with semi-annual shipping options.

Frecon Farms: This family-owned and operated farm has been growing some of Pennsylvania’s finest tree fruits and berries since 1944. Its handcrafted ciders use apples from the farm, both culinary and cider-specific fruit. Also worth noting: They make amazing pies! 501 S. Reading Ave., Boyertown, PA; (610) 367-6200

• Bottles of cider, as well as many other goods, may be purchased from Frecon’s Farm Market and Bakery, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Shop online for Frecon’s ciders in 4-packs and 750ml bottles. Shipping is offered across PA and many other states.

Stone & Key Cellars: The extremely talented cellar staff at this world-class MontCo winery also crafts great ciders within their facility. As an urban winery/cider, Stone & Key sources apples for its hard ciders are from Solebury Orchards, also located in Bucks County. 435 Doylestown Rd. Montgomeryville, PA; (215) 855-4567

• Bottle sales are offered daily, as is the full-service tasting room, complete with outdoor seating. See here for current hours. 
• For orders that require shipping, shop here. Ciders available in 4-packs; wine also available. Local delivery is offered within 10 miles of the winery (and is free on orders over $75). 

Hale & True Cider Co.: This husband-and-wife team makes cider from fermented fresh Pennsylvania apple juice, straight from the orchard and into their tanks. Their urban cidery is located in Philly’s charming Bella Vista neighborhood, right between South Street and the Italian Market. 613 S. 7th St., Philadelphia, PA; (267) 639-4334

• Hale & True’s taproom is open with indoor and outdoor seating and a take-out window Wednesday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 8 p.m.
• Order ahead to buy 4-packs of cans for scheduled pick-up.

Part of Hale & True’s founding mission was to make quality cider more accessible. When we opened, many of our customers had never had cider at all, or only drank super-sweet, mass-produced brands. Meanwhile, there is such wonderful craft cider to be found, made in PA from PA apples! 

– Risa McKenzie, Hale & True Cider Co.

Commonwealth Ciders: This urban cidery makes hard cider the traditional way, fermenting the juice until dry without any additional back sweeteners, artificial flavors or colors. The core line of flavors includes dry and fruited flavors. 2440 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia; (215) 427-2739 

• Enjoy at the outdoor patio at Philadelphia Brewing Company, the parent company of Commonwealth Cider. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sundays through Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Order online for pick-up at the brewery.   

Young American Hard Cider: This small-batch craft cidery offers traditional hard cider made with apples sourced from local, PA orchards. From fall through spring, the Young America team ferments cider from fresh-pressed juice, using the same methods used by the early American settlers who inspired their name. 6350 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA.

• The taproom is open for takeout and seating on Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. There is a full food menu, as well as ciders, PA beers and non-alcoholic options on the beverage menu.

Dressler Estate: Husband-and-wife team Brian and Olga Dressler turned their passion for DIY cider-making into a craft cider brand. They make a range of styles, including single varietals, still ciders and barrel aged ciders.

• Shop online: 750-ml bottles of still and sparkling cider. Dressler ships to 38 states and offers a separate ordering portal for local delivery, pick-up or farmers market orders.
• Weekly pick-ups available at Dressler Estate’s location in Downingtown or the Phoenixville and Chestnut Hill farmers markets. 

Comparing cider to beer limits the opportunity you have to experience the rich variety that cider can offer. It’s our mission to make quality ciders so you can explore their unique identity which can be similar to wine but more approachable, relaxed and fun.

– Olga Dressler, Dressler Estate

Excursion Ciders: PA brewer Doug Reeser (co-founder of Hidden River Brewing Co.) teamed up with Jillian Antonelli and sisters Jenna and Emily Bless to start a cidery, which celebrated its soft open in August of 2022. Using local fresh pressed juice, Excursion crafts fun and unexpected ciders, like Honeysuckle Hop and Rustic Red (cider blended with raspberry wine). 14 Prizer Rd., Kimberton, PA

• Visit Excursion Cider’s taproom in Kimberton, PA to try cider on draft or purchase cider to-go.

Old Stone Cider: This family-run orchard is nestled in the rolling hills of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Working out of a fully restored historic barn, the Gruber family crafts British-inspired ciders in a variety of flavors. 959 Chesterville Rd., Lewisville, PA; (484) 441-3344

• The cidery is open with outdoor seating on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m.
• Order online: 32- and 64-ounce growlers and 24-oz. cans of cider; beer also available.

Central PA

Good Intent Cider: This family operated cidery offers up complex, nuanced ciders fermented with fruits, honey, tea and more.

• Visit the cidery Saturdays from 12 – 10 p.m.
• Order ahead online for weekend pickups.

167 S. Potter St., Bellefonte; (814) 355-1654.

Stone Mountain Wine Cellar: This is the label of Jersey Acres Farms, which grows a variety of fruits and vegetables. While primarily a winery, Stone Mountain does produce one cider, Cowboy Hard Cider, which is semi-sweet and slightly effervescent.  1615 Panther Valley Rd., Pine Grove, PA; (570) 739-4418

• The market and winery are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Complimentary wine tastings are available during those hours. 

Levengood’s of Lancaster: An urban cidery serving up a variety of its own handcrafted cider in both familiar and experimental flavors, like blood orange mint and lime-ginger. 219 W. Walnut St., Lancaster; (717) 509-0938

• Open, with limited seating, Wednesdays through Sundays with varying hours.
• To order online, go through Commons Food Hub for pick-ups on Saturdays through late October.

Lancaster County Cider: A cider brand under Mount Hope Estate that proudly upholds the traditions, creativity and craftsmanship of the area where they live and work. 2775 Lebanon Rd. Manheim, PA; (717) 665-7021 

• Visit the tasting room or estate and winery for samples, pours and sales on varying days/hours.
• Shop online: Growlers and 12-packs of cider, as well as wine and beer, with pick-ups at the tasting room, or flat-rate shipping throughout PA. 

SpringGate Vineyard and Winery: A family-owned winery located on 60 acres of farmland between the rolling hills of Lancaster County and Blue Mountain. 5790 Devonshire Rd., Harrisburg, PA; (717) 884-8048 

• Open to the public with limited seating, as well as special tasting events and food trucks, Thursdays through Sundays with varying hours.
• Shop online: Apple and fruit ciders in 750-ml bottles and 12-oz. cans; wine and beer also offered.

Wyndridge Farm: A picturesque farm that functions as an event venue, and also a brewery that makes cider, as well as beer and craft soda. 885 S. Pleasant Ave., Dallas, PA; (717) 244-9900

• Visit its restaurant or grab to-go food, beer and cider Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• For shipping to PA and other states, shop online: 6-packs of 12-oz. cans of cider, including hopped and fruited flavors; beer also available.

Ploughman Cider: Fifth-generation fruit farmers bring together agricultural expertise and traditional cider making to create cider that is both classic and complex. Ciders range from funky heirloom ciders to esoteric flavors, like cucumber and quince. 14 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, PA; (717) 420-2582

• Ploughman’s taproom in downtown Gettysburg is open with outdoor seating Tuesdays, noon to 9 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Shop online: 750- and 500-ml. bottles and 12-oz. cans of a variety of ciders. Shipping offered across PA and to multiple other states.

Cidermakers in PA have a very close connection to the fruit growers who supply their cideries — in many cases, those jobs are performed by the very same person! Every apple that’s turned into cider in this state was harvested by hand, crushed and squeezed locally, and fermented and bottled locally. Scores of hard-working people contributed to the beverage in your glass, and they’re all depending on the vitality and growth of these rural, agricultural communities. It’s a connection with a place and a community of people that makes local cider unique. 

– Ben Wenk, Ploughman Cider

Jack’s Hard Cider: This long-standing craft cider brand is under new leadership and veteran owned and operated. Enjoy cider with a tasty bite at its accompanying The Doghouse taproom and bar. 1865 Gettysburg Village Dr., Gettysburg, PA; (717) 334-4888

• The Doghouse is open Thursday and Friday, 4:30 to 9 p.m., Saturday noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
• Order online for shipping to your door.

Big Hill Ciderworks: Orchard and cidery utilizing traditional, time-honored cider-making methods of slow fermentation, barrel-aging and wild yeast fermentation. Big Hill’s taproom is under construction, but its products can be found in many local beer and bottle shops.

• Shop online for a gift card, or use the Cider Finder to locate the products near you.

Reid’s Orchard and Winery: A local, family-owned and -operated orchard and winery, featuring small-batch wines and hard ciders. 400 Baltimore St., Gettysburg, PA; (717) 334-7537

• Check out the Cider House food menu, available Friday and Saturdya from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
• Order online for pickup. 

Armstrong Valley Winery: A production facility situated on 100 acres of farmland first established in 1769 by Robert Armstrong. Though it primarily makes wine, both dry and sweet, Armstrong Valley also makes a small selection of award-winning ciders. 212 Rutter Rd., Halifax, PA; (717) 896-7700. Read more about Armstrong here. 

• The winery tasting room is open seven days a week: Monday through Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., Friday from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
• Shop its wines and ciders online and have them shipped to you.

Western PA

Maria Kretschmann of After the Fall Cider

After the Fall Cider: This newer cidery was founded by second generation orchardist, Maria Kretschmann, who grows apples at Kretschmann Farm, founded by her parents Don and Becky Kretschmann in 1971. 257 Zeigler Rd., Rochester, PA; (412) 254-6346

• Shop online: 750-ml bottles of After the Fall’s offerings, Gold Rush Dabinett and ciders made with rhubarb, pear and pawpaw. Shipping offered across PA and to many other states.

Brother Monk Cider: This cidery specializes in orchard-driven, handcrafted, hard cider, and cider-style fruit wine and mead. The apples used in production, both heritage and culinary, are sourced from Brother Monk’s 24-acre farm on the eastern border of Indiana County. 779 Elm Rd., North Cambria, PA; (814) 626-8800

• Shop online: Variety of 4-pack, 12-ounce cans and 500-ml bottles. Shipping is available across PA; free shipping offered on orders of 6 or more items.

Bella Terra Vineyards: Bella Terra is a 17-acre winery that produces an assortment of red, white and blush wines, as well as a handful of varieties of hard cider. In addition to the winery in Hunker, Bella Terra also operates a tasting room in downtown Bedford. 121 Sunny Lane, Hunker, PA; (724) 635-3658; 107 E. Pitt St., Bedford, PA; (724) 635-3658

• The two winery locations and bistro are open daily for service; see here for current hours.
• Ciders, as well as wine, can be ordered online for shipping or curbside pick-up.

Knockin’ Noggin Cidery & Winery: What began as the Novosel family’s home winemaking hobby has blossomed into a professional wine and cidery operation, which produces a variety of traditional and seasonal ciders, as well as wines. 600 Main St., Volant, PA; (724) 533-7333.

• Knockin Noggin’s Cidery is open with outdoor seating Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Pulaski Shed is open Fridays and Saturdays.
• Order online: Single cans and bottles, plus 4-packs of cider cans, for shipping or local pick-up.

Arsenal Cider House: A U.S. Civil War-thematic winery specializing in small-batch, handcrafted, hard apple cider, “cider-style” fruit/grape wines and mead. Arsenal operates three locations in the Pittsburgh area, including tasting rooms at Soergel Orchards and Trax Farms, and one in Cleveland, too. 300 39th St., Pittsburgh, PA; (412) 682-7699; 2573 Brandt School Rd., Wexford, PA;  (724) 777-2402; 528 Trax Rd., Finleyville, PA; (412) 403-6174

• Arsenal is open at most locations with outdoor seating. See here for the current hours.
• Shop online: Cider, fruit wine, and mead are shippable to 39 states.

Threadbare Cider: This prolific urban cidery produces farmhouse, bottle-conditioned, hopped, wild-fermented and barrel-aged ciders. 1291 Spring Garden Ave., Pittsburgh, PA; (412) 322-5100

• Threadbare’s Cider House is open Wednesday through Friday, 5 – 10 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Pennsylvania has an amazing history of apple growing and cider production. At Threadbare Cider, we are excited to retell the story of Johnny Appleseed and his role in PA cider. We produce cider here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where many of Johnny’s apple seeds came from.

– Brian Bolzan, Threadbare Cider

KingView Mead, Wine & Cider: This PA Limited Winery produces award-winning mead, hard cider and wine, and also supports local farmers and provides assistance to the beekeeping community. KingView has four locations for you to try its lovely cider and mead offerings: Mt. Lebanon, 101 Beverly Rd., Mt. Lebanon; (412) 388-1990; Tanger Outlets, 2200 Tanger Blvd., Suite 520, Washington; (412)335-0070; KingView at Cranberry Lumberjaxes, 20111 Route 19, Cranberry Township; and Harborcreek, 7895 Buffalo Rd., Harborcreek; (814) 616-MEAD (6323).

• Shop online: Apple and fruit cider; wine and mead also available. Shipping offered across PA, or pick-up at KingView location. For shipping outside of PA, head here.

Conneaut Cellars Winery: For over 30 years, this winery has been producing wines from grapes grown in the Lake Erie region. It also makes sparkling hard cider, perry and dessert ciders. 12005 Conneaut Lake Rd, Conneaut Lake, PA; (814) 382-3999

• The winery and tasting room are open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Shop online: Bottles of cider, wine and vermouth shipped to PA and many other states.

As we hope is clear, there is so much amazing cider to try, right in our own backyard! Visit your local cidery, shop online, or visit your favorite bottle shop to taste PA cider for yourself.

• Feature, Ploughman Cider and Grand Illusion photos: Dish Works
• Apples, Frecon Farms and Reid's photos : Cider Culture
• Dressler Estate photo: Dressler Estate
• All other photos: Courtesy of the respective cideries