How do I choose a cidery in Washington State?

Key facts

• Live count. The Washington catalogue page lists 79 cider makers and 10 other cider places (as of 2026-10-02), second only to New York.
• Apple state. Washington produced 7,163 million pounds of commercial apples in 2025, out of 10,718.5 million pounds for the US. [1]
• Two sides of the mountains. The state tourism board describes a cider maker with sites "on both sides of the Cascade Mountains", in Cashmere and Seattle. [2]

Which Washington regions are known for cider?

• Seattle and Puget Sound. City cideries and taprooms, plus island farms: Vashon Island is "a small island in Puget Sound". [2]
• Olympic Peninsula. Chimacum has an organic orchard cidery with tours. [2]
• Wenatchee. "East Wenatchee's hot, dry summers help cultivate a number of apple varieties", including lesser-known varieties such as Dabinett and Foxwhelp. [2]
• Methow Valley and Yakima. Orchard valleys east of the North Cascades; the Northwest Cider Association lists member cideries there and across the state. [3]

Which cider makers are listed in Washington?

Eight catalogue makers spread across these regions, alphabetical within each; each is also named by the state tourism board or the Northwest Cider Association. [2] [3] Use them as a starting point; this is not a ranking.

• Seattle: Greenwood Cider (Seattle), Yonder Cider (Seattle)
• Puget Sound and Olympic Peninsula: Dragon's Head Cider (Vashon), Finnriver Farm & Cidery (Chimacum)
• Wenatchee: Snowdrift Cider Co. (East Wenatchee), Union Hill Cider Co. (East Wenatchee)
• Methow Valley and Yakima: Methow Valley Ciderhouse (Winthrop), Tieton Cider Works (Yakima)

What rules apply to Washington hard cider?

Washington law treats cider as wine: the state defines wine as any alcoholic beverage "obtained by fermentation of fruits (grapes, berries, apples, et cetera)". [4] For the federal hard cider tax rate, a cider must be derived primarily from apples or pears, contain no other fruit or fruit flavouring, have no more than 0.64 g of carbon dioxide per 100 ml and be at least 0.5% but under 8.5% ABV. [5] Oregon, across the Columbia River, has its own state definition up to 8.5% ABV and taxes hard cider at the malt rate. [6] See how to choose a cidery in Oregon.

How do I pick between them?

1. City or orchard. Seattle taprooms pour many styles, from dry to fruited and hopped cider; orchard cideries east of the mountains often press their own fruit.
2. Apple type. Ask whether a cidery grows cider apples or uses dessert apples; best apples for cider explains how that changes the taste, and single-varietal ciders show one apple at a time.
3. Season. In autumn many farms also sell fresh-pressed cider, [2] and Cider Summit Seattle, a festival with more than 40 cider, mead and spirit producers, is held each September. [7]
4. Ratings. Compare drinkers' ratings on Cider Radar. For how American styles compare with English ones, see English vs American cider.

Related answers: where cider is made in the US · how to choose a cidery in Oregon

Find it on Cider Radar

• Cider makers in Washington: 79 makers and 10 other places listed (as of 2026-10-02).
• Guide: browse by place · Glossary: hopped cider
• 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.