Millstone Cellars - Monkton

So this place has a hipster feel and yet not exclusionary. Tours and samplings of over a dozen ciders are free, so it 's a great place to take a little picnic (... read more So this place has a hipster feel and yet not exclusionary. Tours and samplings of over a dozen ciders are free, so it 's a great place to take a little picnic (their website encourages it! . Came with some friends in December. It 's an old mill (i.e. poorly insulated so it was quite cold when we went there in December. There 's a lovely outside deck that overlooks the millstone well; when the weather 's warm, I imagine this is a pleasant place to enjoy some food and cider! Most of their ciders are on the dry side. In general, their few sweeter ones are only semi-sweet. I happen to like a dry cider, but I was puckering up for a while after drinking so many dry ciders. Return a bottle for a $1 credit and enjoy a few that they have on tap. My favorites: Farmgate, Cherrykriek, Thistle mead, and Hopvine. The Pomme Jacques is a pretty good take on apple brandy! Definitely a great place to enjoy local cider.

This is one of my new favorite places to take friends who are visiting in town. There's a free cider tasting and tour of the mill, and everything looks rustic A... read more This is one of my new favorite places to take friends who are visiting in town. There's a free cider tasting and tour of the mill, and everything looks rustic AF. Love it--totally my aesthetic. If you're into sour and dry ciders (also ceysers and meads , this is definitely the place for you. Everything they make here is all natural and they have a lot of experimental, creative, small-batch ciders that cycle every season/year, which adds some fun variety to their classic winners. Definitely do the tasting, then head up to the tasting room, order your fave cider and have a picnic (bring your own food! .

WE HAVE HEARD WORD AS OF 7/14 that Millstone is likely closed! We stopped by today after multiple websites confirmed they were open, to find the door locked and... read more WE HAVE HEARD WORD AS OF 7/14 that Millstone is likely closed! We stopped by today after multiple websites confirmed they were open, to find the door locked and nobody there. Another group showed up shortly after we did and said they drove 40 miles with visiting friends from Toronto and were very disappointed. We dropped by a liquor store about 5 mins away that carried their mead, and the employee there told us he believes they're done with business altogether, or at least are taking a hiatus he drives by almost every day and says there has been no activity whatsoever for the past month or so. So to all considering coming, I would backseat that idea altogether, or at least call and see if they are open. Currently, the number goes straight to voicemail. We are disappointed, their cider and meads were unparalleled.

This charming cider mill in Monkton is truly remarkable. Although it appears small from the outside, stepping inside reveals a spacious interior filled with cid... read more This charming cider mill in Monkton is truly remarkable. Although it appears small from the outside, stepping inside reveals a spacious interior filled with cider barrels, artistic touches, and a delightful countryside vibe. The rustic atmosphere, accentuated by strings of hanging lights, gives it a nostalgic feel reminiscent of a scene from an '80s movie—think of the final party scene in "Footloose"! My wife and I enjoyed a bluegrass band (cleverly named Fried Pickin!) this past Friday, sitting just a few feet away on bales of hay draped in burlap. Could it get any better? While they don’t offer food to accompany their impressive selection of ciders, meads, and cysers (a food truck would be a great addition!), you’re welcome to bring a picnic. They also offer tours, which I hope to experience soon.

Came here on a Saturday afternoon on a whim. I guess there's only one person working here. He was in the middle of a tasting tour with another group, so we wait... read more Came here on a Saturday afternoon on a whim. I guess there's only one person working here. He was in the middle of a tasting tour with another group, so we waited 20 minutes for them to finish up so we could start our tasting tour. Another 15 minutes after they ended, he said we would wait to gather more people. There were about three other groups waiting. My friend and I grew impatient and left. He seemed very informative and well received by the group before us though, so I'm sure the tour was very good and interesting.