The Local-ish Cider Mill That's Perf For Your Next Autumnal Adventure With Your Fav People

Hay rides, apple picking, harvest festivals, corn mazes, spooky events…there is so much to love about fall in New England! Last weekend, I was looking for some autumnal fun but the weather was cold and rainy. It is much too soon to retire to a couch cocoon and watch one holiday movie morph into the next while skimming Pinterest for holiday recipes. (Seriously, Hallmark, much too soon! Don’t deprive me of Golden Girl reruns until after Thanksgiving!)   

Photo Courtesy Of The B.F. Clyde’s Instagram

I pulled on my wellies, braved the weather and made my way over to B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill in Mystic, Connecticut. The mill has been in operation since 1881. The cider making equipment has been on site since 1898 and is the “last steam powered cider mill in the U.S.”  You can watch the entire process of apples becoming cider every weekend up until December. 

Photo Courtesy Of The B.F. Clyde’s Instagram

The B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill compound has multiple small buildings and turned out to be the perfect venue for a rainy fall weekend. We started in the building with the snack shop and perused a wide array of baked goods, preserves, syrups, honey and hot sauces. We made our way over to the wine tasting building and sampled some wines and hard ciders. Some gifts were purchased and we sipped hot cider on the porch until it was time to watch the cider mill in action.  

Photo Courtesy Of The B.F. Clyde’s Instagram

Demonstrations are held at 11AM and 1PM and it is like peering back through time. The cider-making team work in unison through well-rehearsed steps to prepare, produce, tidy-up and get the next batch going. They pause in between to genially answer questions and chat with onlookers of all ages. Many curios and artifacts from yesteryear are showcased in this building.

You don’t have to wait until it is raining to visit B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill. There are plenty of picnic tables to enjoy your treats in the fall sun. Get directions to the mill and hours here.

About The Author

Christina is a life-long Rhode Islander who has been dedicated to mission-driven human services work. A mother of two, she recycles, composts, and runs her household with solar energy. An animal lover and a world traveler, this bon vivant has jumped out of a plane, bungee jumped (twice!), run over the Newport Bridge, swum across Narragansett Bay, and penguin plunged.