Vermont Hard Cider - Middlebury

Wow Woodchuck greatly exceeded my expectations. I assumed they only offered the two standard flavors you are likely to see at a retail store. Turns out this is a great spot to drop in and try a wide variety of ciders. A while ago they featured my favorite cider, Campfire Pancakes. Seriously, it invoked the campfire taste because it was made with maple syrup. How Vermont of them! Among the usually fruity suspects you can also find different takes like spicy cider. There is a self-guided tour but...I didn't do it. I visited a lot of places that day! Do not sleep on this place!

I stopped in and tried a couple of flights. I have had woodchuck cider before and thought it was just ok . I have to say that the ones I had while there were all very good! In fact the blueberry and barrel select were so good I got some to go! Wish they had some real food to eat, could have used something to take the edge off while sampling. I might have stayed longer if I wasn 't so hungry. The bartender started off pretty aloof and not very helpful or engaged. I was one of 2 people there so there was no excuse to not interact with us. After I asked a bunch of questions, he warmed up and started educating us on cider and informing us about some of the business behind it. Took a bit to get him going but once he warmed up he was good. That said a taproom bartender should be on his game with info and not have to be drawn out. Good spot to sample and shop but not a place to hang out. Make it a stop along the way.

Had a blast here. There is a short self guided tour of the cider process. The tasting room is fun with a lot of variety. Lots of space, clean, and the employees were happy and friendly. Def stop in if you are driving by. You need about an hour.

Stopped at Woodchuck Hard Cidery on Friday afternoon. A place that is not afraid to showcase their products, but what they are missing is a more comfortable and enticing outdoor space. Quality: Woodchuck Hard Cidery is part of a collection of different cider companies owned by C&C Group. A bunch of the other companies are featured on the menu at Woodchuck Hard Cidery, but it is Woodchuck products produced in this area. We really made our way down the samples list, trying all of the Woodchuck options except Woodchuck Mimosa, as well as Wyder's Prickly Pineapple, Wyder's Reposado, and Magners Irish Cider Original. The highlights for me were Woodchuck Blueberry and Woodchuck 802 Collection Lil' Dry. The only one I would avoid is Woodchuck Pumpkin, even the menu notes it is a whole lot of pumpkin. Quantity: Sample Flights came with four 2oz Pours, helpful if you are tasting on your own. Value: $3 for a Sample Flight. $5-$7 for a Draft Pour. Ambiance: Woodchuck Hard Cidery is a massive production facility, offices, and taproom, located in Middlebury, Vermont. The taproom is quite large, highlighted by a big U-shaped bar. They have a small store near the front, as well as couches in a lounge area inside. Outside, they have turned a parking lot area into additional seating. I felt like more could have been done to make this area more desirable, as it was just a few picnic tables on blacktop. Inside they had a few snacks available, so the addition of a food truck outside was very necessary. Crowd: A small crowd on Friday afternoon. Most folks gravitated around the inside bar, but it was a nice day so outside also drew some customers. Dogs are allowed both inside and out. Service: The bartender had pouring flights down to a science. With a clear goal to have individuals try their products, they encourage flights and make sure they come out quick. Parking: Huge private parking lot next to the facility.

My friend and I had a fantastic experience at this cidery! We loved exploring their tour and sampling various flights of their different cider options. The bartender was incredibly helpful and friendly, which added to our enjoyment. If you happen to be passing by, I highly recommend making a stop.