Ah, hot cider. Is there anything more quintessentially ‘fall’ than a cup of it on a chilly night? We remember cider as a fixture at Halloween parties and even getting it by the jug come autumn. Fall in North Carolina is practically synonymous with it. While hot cider is delicious, of course, as humans do, we’ve found ways to turn a fall favorite into a spiked libation, making parties a bit more fun or stories ’round the campfire a bit more interesting. From small craft cideries to eclectic cider mills, these six amazing cider mills in North Carolina will make your fall complete.

1. Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill
2075 Pleasant Hill Ave, Morganton, NC 28655, USA
Facebook / Apple Hill Orchard and Cider Mill
Of course, Apple Hill made our list of eight must-visit orchards in North Carolina, and while you might come for the apple picking, stay for the cider. Each week in autumn, typically six-hundred-gallon batches of fresh apples are pressed and turned into sweet cider. The cider is so yummy it even won an award from the North American Farmers Market Association. Their cider comes cold, hot and spiced, or even in slushie form.
2. Noble Cider
356 New Leicester Hwy, Asheville, NC 28806, USA
Yelp / Noble Cider
It's entirely possible you might've seen Noble Cider at your favorite local bottleshop or bar, but if you find yourself in Asheville you'll want to visit the airy and modern tap room and even get a behind the scenes peek of how it's made. As Asheville's first hard cider company, the apples are pressed fresh and the ciders made with no artificial ingredients or flavors...also, all ciders are gluten free. Noble offers their flagship cider described as 'clean, crisp, dry,' a tart cherry cider, a ginger-based cider, and even a cider with chai spices.
3. Old Cider Mill & Applesolutely Gift Shop
1287 Main St, Glastonbury, CT 06033, USA
Facebook / Old Cider Mill & Applesolutely Gift Shop
This cider mill is indeed VERY hard to miss with an eclectic outside and inside. It's more than just cider but getting an inside glance into the steeped traditions that go into 'America's First Craft Beverage.' The mill lets you see how the apples are pressed, processed, then bottled. They've been pressing cider for over 35 years in the historic 1900s building that also served as Bat Cave's first post office. After sampling some of the freshest cider made from some of the freshest regional apples; visit the wildly cool gift shop and country store. You will find the Old Cider Mill & Applesolutely Gift Shop open seasonally from August through October.

Related Stories

The Best Times And Places To View Fall Foliage In North Carolina

The Best Times And Places To View Fall Foliage In North Carolina

 A Renaissance Themed Festival Is Coming To North Carolina And It’s Pure Magic

A Renaissance Themed Festival Is Coming To North Carolina And It’s Pure Magic

 Go Pumpkin Picking, Then Sleep In A Cabin Surrounded By Fall Foliage On This Weekend Getaway In North Carolina

Go Pumpkin Picking, Then Sleep In A Cabin Surrounded By Fall Foliage On This Weekend Getaway In North Carolina
4. Black Mountain Ciderworks + Meadery
104 Eastside Dr #307, Black Mountain, NC 28711, USA
Facebook / Black Mountain Ciderworks + Meadery
Described as 'off the beaten path,' Black Mountain Ciderworks uses only the freshest local apples and honey for cider and mead. They describe it as: "We embrace the terroir of our Southern apples, fermenting cider in small batches blended from heirloom apples throughout the harvest and pressed in house." If you're wondering what mead is, it's an alcoholic beverage made of fermented honey and water, sometimes accompanied by spices, fruits, grains or hops. The owners of Black Mountain came from a home-brewing background with small batch processing first and foremost. They found the taste of commercial ciders too sweet and set out to craft their own while on a trip in England. Today, a great way to take it all in is visiting their taproom offering up to 30 seasonal rotations.
5. Millstone Creek Orchards
506 Parks Crossroads Church Rd, Ramseur, NC 27316, USA
Facebook / Millstone Creek Orchards
You don't need a 21+ I.D. to visit Millstone Creek Orchards. This family-friendly option offers a variety of freshly picked apples and fresh cider by the half-gallon. While cider might be the main event, save room for their scrumptious apple cider donuts and slushies. 'AppleFest' takes place each September weekend and includes cider pressing demos, apple sling shot, apple pie eating contest and hayrides.
6. Flat Rock Ciderworks
305 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC 28792, USA
Yelp / Tara S
Looking for a refreshing adult beverage while exploring downtown Hendersonville? Stop in at Flat Rock Ciderworks. While Hendersonville might indeed be known as 'apple country' and also home to nationally distributed and produced Bold Rock Hard Cider, Flat Rock is emerging as a craft cider staple using only local apples and getting inventive with fruit-based blends. From peach, strawberry, blueberry and mango, Flat Rock is known for their fruit-infused ciders that range from tart and crisp to supple and sweet. The cozy cider room is great for grabbing a drink or even getting a flight. Flat Rock is well-known for their Blackberry Gold cider which combines fresh local apples and mountain-grown blackberries. Flat Rock's commitment to using and staying local is what makes it so special.

Talk about a fun way to enjoy fall! Have you visited any of these cider mills and taprooms before?

For more ways to make the most of fall in North Carolina, follow our foliage road trip!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Cider Mills in North Carolina

Tori Jane | August 30, 2022

Are there many North Carolina apple cider mills I can visit?  

There are! North Carolina is a beautiful state with lots of gorgeous orchards and cider mills you can even visit! Among our favorite North Carolina apple cider mills are gems like Millstone Creek Orchards, in Ramseur, which is one of the very few non-pasteurized apple cider mills left in the whole state! We also really love the delightful folks at the appropriately named Apple Hill Orchard and Cider Mill, which can be found in Morgantown.  

What is there to do in the fall in North Carolina?  

There are plenty of fun things to do in North Carolina in the fall! It just so happens to be one of our favorite seasons for exactly that reason. Life in North Carolina is beautiful and peaceful, and it gets a lot more colorful during the fall. Some of the best things to do in the fall include visiting some of the absolutely amazing state parks in North Carolina, where you’ll be fully immersed in a world of vibrant golds, oranges, reds and crimsons. We also love doing fun stuff like a North Carolina fall color scenic train ride, and we can’t get enough of all the delightful fall festivals in North Carolina, either. If you prefer something a little more low-key, no worries – rent an amazing cabin in the woods and soak up the autumn amazingness in peace and quiet!  

What is fall in North Carolina like?  

Life in North Carolina is beautiful, and the fall color in North Carolina is even more beautiful than that! Turns out, North Carolina is one of the best states for fall color, and it’s got some truly pleasant weather at this time of year, too – all the better for all sorts of fun activities like the ones we mentioned above. Typically, leaves will begin changing in early October, as daylight hours fade and night begins to take over sooner. The temperatures in North Carolina in the fall steadily decrease as well, typically dropping over the weeks from the 70s to the 60s, and then continuing to drop beyond that. The summer heat and humidity are gone, though, and honestly, that’s enough for us!  

Related Articles

Explore North Carolina