Downeast Cider House

Great cider and tour! If you can, make sure this is part of your experience when you are in Boston!

I really enjoyed our trip to Downeast Cider House. The location is a little questionable (like, a random warehouse in the middle of nowhere), but it’s worth a visit. We made a tour reservation for about 7 people at 12pm. We ended up running a few minutes late, and our GPS said we would arrive at 12:03. We called and they told us that we would have to wait for the 1pm tour because we would be too late. Kinda a bummer, but it ended up working out well– we brought in some food from Flour, drank some ciders, and hung out while some of us played Battleship. The area inside is fairly small– just a few «tables» (really just barrels) and a bar. The tables also were in the middle of what seemed to be a work area– for example, there was a workbench with tools (including some tools that might be questionable to have around drunk people) sitting right next to the tables. There is also an outdoor area, but it was a little rainy when we went, so as we left, the outside area was just getting busy. The staff was friendly, and we tried several of their ciders and loved them all. Our 1pm tour didn’t end up starting til 1:15, which was awkward since they told us 12:03 was too late for the 12pm tour. The woman giving our tour was really awesome. She had so many interesting facts and information, I feel like I would have to do the tour a few times to learn and remember everything. We also got to taste 4 different ciders. On the tour, we didn’t actually walk anywhere or do anything, because the place is pretty small! I was such a fan of their cider that I ended up buying 8 cans to bring in my carry-​on (all of them survived in tact!). I particularly loved their regular and summer ciders. We went to a few bars and restaurants the rest of the weekend, and ended up seeing Downeast Cider in a lot of them. I really hope this place continues to grow, they deserve it!

You guys are awesome and you have the best cider in Boston! You outdo Bantam And Cider Garden all the time. The ciders you guys make are definitely on point. And I’m a regular and love getting free cider every once in a while. Thanks for the awesome cider. Knee up the good work.

Friendly people, perfect atmosphere for hanging out with friends, and amazing cider the cider should be! Trivia nights are really fun too!

the tour is definitely worth checking out if you like free things and a good time (probably also cider/​alcohol). i’m not totally sure our tour went the full half hour, which i was okay with, and we got three small samples throughout. it’s a small facility so the tour pretty much only involves standing in a roped off area and listening to a guide while looking around a bit. our guide was engaging; at times i felt like she was trying a little too hard to be lulsy, but in general she was fun and kept the tour humming along. being from the midwest, i had never had downeast before, and it quickly became one of my all-​time favorite ciders. not too sweet, and it legitimately tasted like non-​alcoholic apple cider. i’m having phantom tastes of the original and maple blend because i miss them in/​around my mouth (don’t tell beer i said that).
i’ve had bigger samples on other (paid) brewery tours, but i think what we got for a free tour made sense. my girlfriend and i stayed after the tour for a few drinks and i bought a pint glass, and it was all surprisingly reasonably priced. the tasting room was a nice space for hanging out; i’d certainly recommend it for a date or an outing with friends. the staff were all friendly. we grilled someone about downeast’s cranberry producer (i was curious because i’m a wisconsin resident, and wiscy is the nation’s leading producer of cranberries) only to find out that she didn’t know the answer because it was her first day — she was a great sport! one of the guys we were chatting with hooked us up with free totes; good looking out, my pal. it was a good time, and if i’m ever in boston again, i would for sure try to stop in.
i thought about only giving downeast four stars because i’m pretty sure they’re not ever gonna distribute to the midwest, but that’s wild petty. distribute to chicago or madison. downeast pls ;n;

YUM!!!
I am not a big beer drinker but I could def drink these all day.
The original is my favorite. You can def taste the apples!
Check out the free tour but I do hope the girls directing in the front were a bit more organized and instructive.
Until next time down east!
*they are expanding soon :)

I absolutely love downeast cider. It’s always my first choice when I’m in the mood for a hard cider.
The tour at the Downeast Cider House isn’t really a tour… you just stand in the middle of the warehouse while a tour guide tries to yell over all the background noise and tell you about the brewery. The place isn’t very big so I understand they can’t really bring you around anywhere. But the tour is free so you get what you pay for…
The indoor and outdoor bars are really cool, we went in March so it was a little cold outside but I’m sure going in the summer would be really fun. They have cornhole and other games to play.

Their cider is amazing but you’re better off just buying it from the store. While it’s awesome that the tour is free, it has become more of a lecture and you get to try 3 samples. Past tours I’ve done there have involved more free samples so I don’t know if this is an off season for them. On a positive note, they do have board games inside which can make for a fun afternoon with friends :)
Also don’t bother with the groupon for this place, the growler is not free so I left feeling ripped off.

Recently purchased a GroupOn but found that it is completely deceiving. Firstly, the «tour» is not a tour. Secondly, the «tour» is completely, 100% free — you just make a reservation on their website. Lastly, for this you only get two mason jars BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE GROWLER.
Would not recommend buying the GroupOn. Completely deceiving.

As you may be able to tell from the pictures, Downeast is very much reminiscent of a frat house basement. Maybe that’s because it was (unofficially) launched in a New Hampshire dorm room, or maybe because it’s run by friendly hipsters who love to drink cider. Either way, the space was cramped, messy but oddly charming.
I arrived for the last tour of the day (5 p.m. on Sunday) without a reservation and was able to get a spot in line. The tour is about 30 minutes, perhaps a bit less, and you get small samples of different ciders as you learn about the process. It’s free, which is nice, and pretty informal. There is a «tasting room» or bar area, with board games and Downeast cider, growlers and paraphernalia for purchase.
Important note: the building is not climate controlled, so if you’re planning a visit, make sure to dress appropriately for whatever weather is outside. Ample parking, which is nice too! Finally, you MUST put «Moran Access Road» into your GPS or Über — NOT the address listed, or you will never find the place.
Happy Cidering!

Tasty locally brewed cider! Downeast does an unfiltered cider (different than typical varieties which are dry/​filtered) — enjoyed the cranberry (slightly tart) and maple (fragrant, without being overwhelmingly sweet). Free tours book up — make sure to reserve in advance. 4-​packs ($ 9 each), 9-​packs and jugs available.
Owners are converting current cidery to a tap room /​festival space later this year, moving operations to W. Boston. Friendly staff — wish them continued success!

Downeast Cider is difficult to find, as there is no real signage and the GPS gets very confused. However, once you find it, it’s an amazing experience. There are free tours of the cider house which include free samples of a few of their cider varieties. Our tour guide was great– he had a great sense of humor but we also learned a lot about the process of making hard cider. After the tour, there is a small bar area where you can buy cider by the glass, growler or flights. I really enjoyed the winter blend, cranberry and original flavor. The ciders here are more on the sweeter side, but they do have a drier cider, also. My husband and I have quickly become fans of Downeast Cider!

We came to the downeast cider house with a couple friends on a rainy Sunday afternoon. The cider house is located right under the Tobin bridge in an industrial park. It could not be harder to find, especially at dark. Make sure to budget extra time for getting lost and turned around trying to find the cider house.
Once you find the cider house, don’t expect a glamorous tasting hall or a well manicured tour. You are literally hanging out at the makeshift bar right next to the cider tanks. However, the people there are clearly passionate about cider and the makeshift, warehouse feel makes the tour much more authentic.
Overall, I enjoyed the tour and would definitely come back to hang out or attend a trivia night at the cider house!

Tour is free and free samples of their original (the best in my opinion) cranberry (drier), winter blend (nutmeg-​y) and a new one with maple and nuts. Tour guide (guy with glasses) is hilarious and very knowledgeable, will talk about the canning, fermentation process. Will also talk about the history of the founders.
I got the groupon $ 7 for two souvenir cups (you can choose mason jars too) and the deposit fee for a growler (they have small growler and big growler, small growler with Original blend is $ 6).
Anyways I didn’t see any free snacks when I was there but there were some board games in the bar area.
Use Moran Access rd to find the place on GPS properly!!!

This is a small Cider brewery… Second one in our brewery tour.
To tell you the truth, I wasn’t really excited about this one. I’m not a cider fan, I find them too sweet. But, hey, it’s part of the tour so, might as well try them, right?
Right! Thanks to them I found two ciders I like. The Cranberry Blend, which is a little tart, and the Original Blend, also a lot less sweet than the regular ones. After trying these two I was sad they had ran out of their Winter Blend, I was ready to try some more… also sad they are not available in FL. Figures, finally find one I like and can’t have it.
They don’t have tours on their own, only through the tour company, but we were told they are open to the public (I think) on the weekends, where the warehouse becomes a sort of little bar, so you can go enjoy their ciders, some games, music, and the company of friends.
Worth noting, this place was started by college students, who now at only 26 run a very successful business. Good for them but, makes you wonder about your career choices… :p
If you get the chance, visit them and try them, they are well worth it.

I need an unlimited supply of the Winter Brew ASAP — preferably cool and refreshing, but I’ll take it room-​temperature as well. Either way, I need some RIGHT NOW.
Downeast Cider is seriously one of the best ciders I’ve had; it is crazy delicious. And that Winter Brew is the cat’s pajamas. We got a growler-​full and that wasn’t even enough.
Though difficult (and sketchy) to find, it was well worth the trip out there. Located near the airport, amidst scary-​looking warehouses and unplottable by modern means, Downeast Cider is one of Boston’s most fun secrets. My friends and I took an Über there and we were one of the lucky few to actually get there without any sizeable mishaps (Tobin Bridge, I’m looking at you). The brewery itself was pretty small — it consists of some tanks, a packaging unit, and a tasting room. It’s a good thing they’ve expanded to another location for packaging.
When we arrived, it was 30 minutes until the next tour, so we headed to the tasting room to wait it out. The bartender was really cool — he let us sample all the brews and answered any questions we had regarding them. There honestly wasn’t a lot of sitting or standing room, so that was kind of a bummer, but we were able to commandeer a barrel for ourselves. It was a nice atmosphere — lots of board games and there was a tv. I saw a group that ordered in some pizza too. It was just super chill.
My friends and I bought the Groupon deal for two growlers and four souvenir cups; it covered the cost of the down payment. And it was such a great deal because we were able to get the growlers and cups for a fraction of the price!
The tour was nice. Our guide had a great sense of humor and the cider was a-​flowin’. It didn’t last long, but we got four samples and some cool info about the events coming up.
It’s honestly a fun thing to do with your friends or a cool date idea. I highly recommend it.
Pro-​Tip: Definitely drive if you can, there’s a parking lot.
PRO-​PRO-​TIP: Try the Winter Brew, in case you didn’t get the hint earlier.

Downeast is the best cider we have ever tasted, hands down.
Their vibe is really cool and unpretentious, check out their website if you want some laughs.
For instance, to access the website, the screen says «Are you over the age of 21 OR capable of lying on the Internet?» Not only are these guys and girls cool, their cider is just so damn good.
Visit the cider house for:
–a free tour (with tastings) on the hour
*** it can get crazy busy on the weekends, so you can actually book your spot online now! ***
–different blends like their OB gone wild and seasonal flavors
–card and board games on the tables and cornhole out front
–the overwhelming scent of fresh apples surrounding you
–the opportunity to buy merch and growlers (check Groupon and Living Social for some great deals on growlers and glasses!)
–to fill up your growler
Recommendations:
–Use Moran Access Rd address because some über drivers/​GPSs will take you on top of the Tobin bridge. The cider house is directly below the bridge.
–If it’s cold out, dress warmly. It’s only slightly warmer inside the cider house than it is outside.
–Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting the bottoms a little sticky. It’s a slightly messy brewing facility, not a fancy tasting room.

SO MUCH FUN!
Super laid back (basically you’re drinking in a warehouse) but it was a great experience. A little hard to find but I read all the Unilocal reviews that talked about being under the tobin bridge and was able to look for the tiny sign. Parking was easy despite it being SUPER BUSY. I wouldn’t be surprised if they needed to expand.
We were too late for a tour (they happen on the hour) but we did a flight for $ 10 and grabbed some playing cards and hung out for a while. I didn’t really see any option for free tastings but maybe it was so busy and we just didn’t think to ask…
LOVED the winter cider and am looking for it everywhere now!

My friends and I ventured to the Downeast Cider House one Saturday for the FREE tour/​tasting after trying out a can of their delicious Original cider, coincidentally I had also bought a Living Social deal (for 2 glasses /​deposit for growler) a couple months ago and all but forgot about it. I made sure to check their website for directions after reading about some of the difficulty others have had finding the place. Definitely use the «Moran Access Rd.» google map location if you are using a GPS, otherwise you might end up on the Tobin Bridge above the location and it will say you have arrived. Once you get to Moran Access Rd. after passing through what looks like an Industrial park in Charlestown, you will see a very small circle logo of Downeast and keep going straight and you will see a loading dock area and another logo. Thankfully there was plenty of parking!
Unfortunately we arrived at around 2:50PM and the 3PM was already full so we registered for the 4PM tour. They have a bar, seating and some board games for people to occupy their time with while waiting but we were hungry so we went back to the city to get a late lunch. Our tour group size was about 20 – 25 people and it was a bit cozy as the facility is quite small. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave a lot insight about their process and the different blends. We saw 2 areas and the whole tour was only about 30 minutes, but I honestly wasn’t expecting too much since I knew this was a small operation.
We sampled 3 of their year round and 3 of their seasonal ciders: Original, Cranberry, Unoriginal, Hard Honey, Lemonade, Maple Oak (only available on site)
I fully enjoyed the original, cranberry and the maple oak blends! The unoriginal one is supposed to comparable to the other hard ciders on the market like Angry Orchard, but it actually was my least favorite. Afterwards I picked up the 2 cute mason jars and my friend received a discount for the 32 oz. growler she filled with the maple oak cider. I definitely plan on coming back to grab my own growler and try the release of the Fall seasonable blends. Who doesn’t love a good pumpkin drink?!

Such a great cider house–
+Easy parking (or quick über ride from the north station train stop)
+delicious, gluten free cider with experimentals available at the cider house
+local, bates college boys from the north east who are changing the game of cider in boston (good bye angry orchard you pieace of shit cider)
+HUGE SPACE with fun parties to introduce seasonals and get people excited!
highly recommend :)