How do I choose a cidery in Pennsylvania?

To choose a cidery in Pennsylvania, start with the 64 cider makers listed for the state on Cider Radar (as of 2026-10-02) and choose an area: Adams County near Gettysburg is the state's apple country, and there are city cideries in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania's alcoholic cider is between 0.5% and 8.5% ABV.

Updated 2026-10-03

Key facts

Live count. Cider Radar lists 64 cider makers in Pennsylvania (as of 2026-10-02).
Apple state. Pennsylvania produced 503.0 million pounds of commercial apples in 2025, the fourth-largest crop after Washington, New York and Michigan, from 18,500 bearing acres. [1]
Legal definition. "Alcoholic cider" is primarily derived from apples or pears, at 0.5% to 8.5% ABV and no more than 6.4 g/l of carbonation, and is sold "as alcoholic cider and not as a wine". [2]

Which Pennsylvania regions are known for cider?

Adams County. The Pennsylvania Cider Guild calls it "The Fruit Belt": the area around Gettysburg "is the largest producer of apples and peaches in Pennsylvania". [3]
Philadelphia and Bucks County. City cideries and farm cideries along the Delaware River.
Central Pennsylvania. Cideries around State College and Bellefonte.
Pittsburgh and the west. Urban cideries in Pittsburgh and orchard producers in the north-west. Apart from Adams County, the areas follow where makers appear in the Cider Radar catalogue.

Which cider makers are listed in Pennsylvania?

Seven catalogue makers spread across these areas, listed alphabetically within each; the Adams County and central picks are also named in a Pennsylvania Cider Guild article. [3] They are examples, not a ranking.

Adams County: Big Hill Ciderworks (Gardners), Ploughman Cider (Aspers)
Philadelphia and Bucks County: Commonwealth Ciders (Philadelphia), Manoff Market Gardens and Cidery (New Hope)
Central Pennsylvania: Good Intent Cider (Bellefonte)
Pittsburgh and the west: After the Fall Cider (Rochester), Davenport Cidery & Winery (Meadville)

Is Pennsylvania cider sold as beer or wine?

Pennsylvania splits cider by how it is sold. The Liquor Code defines alcoholic cider as a drink sold as cider "and not as a wine", in containers of the type used for beer. [2] The Liquor Control Board explains that "Limited wineries may produce and sell alcoholic cider, mead and, most recently, fermented fruit beverages, even though such products are classified as malt or brewed beverages (beer) under the Liquor Code." [4] A limited winery is one with "a maximum output of two hundred thousand (200,000) gallons per year". [2] Stronger apple drinks fall outside the alcoholic cider definition.

How do I pick a cidery?

Orchard or city. Adams County cideries sit among the orchards; city cideries pour more experimental styles.
Apples. Ask about the fruit and whether it is grown on the farm; see do cideries use local apples and the glossary entry for cider apples.
Style. Try a single-varietal cider to taste one Pennsylvania apple at a time.
Ratings. Compare drinkers' ratings on Cider Radar. Nearby states are covered in how to choose a cidery in New York State and in Virginia.

Find it on Cider Radar

Cider makers in Pennsylvania: 64 makers listed (as of 2026-10-02).
Guide: browse by place · Glossary: cider apple
You can order directly from the maker in Cider Radar (iOS, Android and web).
Open the map: app.ciderradar.com · iPhone · Android

Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.

Questions

Is cider beer or wine in Pennsylvania?

It can be either. Limited wineries may sell alcoholic cider as a malt or brewed beverage, and the PLCB says the key distinction is the winery's decision to market and distribute the product as beer and not wine. [4] [2]

How strong can Pennsylvania cider be?

To be sold as alcoholic cider, it must contain "at least one-half of one per centum, but not greater than eight and one-half per centum, alcohol by volume". [2] For strong ciders elsewhere, see strongest cider.