There are plenty of ways to sip your way around the city, from a host of urban taprooms and cideries, plus, a number of cideries open to visitors just a short drive away.

Locust Cider’s (1222 Post Alley) Post Alley taproom offers both indoor seating and an outdoor patio for sipping throughout the year. The folks behind the bar are happy to provide on-tap recommendations ranging a crisp Blackberry to local favorite Vanilla Bean.

Schilling Cider House Lauren Stelling

At Schilling Cider House (708 N 34th St) in Fremont, curate your own flight from the 32 local and international ciders on tap, or choose from more than 300 ciders available by the bottle (the largest lineup in the nation). For a behind-the-scenes look at the production process, spend an afternoon at the Schilling Tasting Room in Auburn (a half-hour drive south) and sip limited release drafts right in the warehouse. Try the Chaider, a spiced chai cider infused with meant-for-fall aromatic flavor.

Nearby in Ballard, Bale Breaker and Yonder Cider Taproom (826 NW 49th St) is a collaborative taproom for both cider and beer drinkers with 30 taps. Their sprawling outdoor patio is perfect for families and four-legged friends, and their tent makes the space enjoyable all year long.

Last but not least, SoDo-based Seattle Cider Company (4660 Ohio Ave S) prides itself on highlighting the natural flavors of Washington apples.

Finnriver Farm & Cider Kristin Gillespie

Thirsty for More?

Look to the Northwest Cider Association for the inside scoop on everything from new and noteworthy cideries to local production techniques. With fall harvest fast approaching, Executive Director Emily Ritchie recommends taking full advantage of the season by attending a festival or tasting, or even planning a visit to an area orchard. “It’s really fun to go out where the apples are growing and the grass is under your feet, and sip cider at an actual orchard.” Alpenfire (220 Pocket Ln), Eaglemount Wine and Cider (1893 S Jacob Miller Rd), and Finnriver Farm & Cidery (124 Center Rd) on the eastern end of the Olympic Peninsula all make for an excellent day trip.