LIST: Sip on hard apple cider this fall at these 5 Central Virginia cideries

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — For those who are looking for something a little stronger than a pumpkin spice latte this fall, here’s five cideries in Central Virginia that will happily serve you a hard apple cider this autumn.

The Virginia Tourism Corporation has a list of cideries included in its guide to “Everything Apple” across Virginia. Five of those cideries call Central Virginia home.

Here’s a little bit about each one, in case you’re craving an adult take on this crisp fall fruit:

Albemarle Ciderworks in Albemarle County

Albemarle CiderWorks , located at 2545 Rural Ridge Lane in the North Garden area of Albemarle County, is a family-run cidery with a tasting room.

According to the corporation, its ciders are made with heritage varieties of apples, which thrive in Albemarle.

“Thomas Jefferson experimented with 18 or more varieties of apples at Monticello, only a few miles from our orchard at Rural Ridge,” the corporation’s page on the cidery reads. “We grow a dozen or so of those heritage cultivars that are still extant as well as other old-fashioned varieties that are blended to create full-bodied ciders to rival those produced in the Colonial era.”

The hours of Albemarle CiderWorks’ tasting room vary depending on the time of year. From January to August, it’s open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays. From September to December, it’s open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.

Castle Hill Cider in Albemarle County

Castle Hill Cider , located at 6065 Turkey Sag Rd. in the Keswick area of Albemarle County, is a cidery with a tasting room that opened in 2010. It operates on Castle Hill Estate, which cidery owners say has a rich history.

“Colonel Thomas Walker, the original owner of Castle Hill Estate, was the first to bring Newtown Pippin apple scions to Central Virginia following his return from the Battle of Brandywine in 1777,” Castle Hill Cider wrote on its website . “The variety was planted at Castle Hill and became known as the Albemarle Pippin apple. Albemarle Pippins were quite popular and eventually turned into a major export crop for Virginia.”

As of the time of reporting, Castle Hill Cider’s tasting room and grounds are available by appointment only. You can request such an appointment via email at events@castlehillcider.com .

Blue Bee Cider in Richmond

Blue Bee Cider , located at 4811 Bethlehem Rd, Suite A in Richmond, was opened by two Springfield natives in 2013 and prides itself on being Virginia’s first urban cidery.

“We produce artisanal ciders from heirloom Virginia apples on a seasonal basis, and we are committed to creating locally-grown, balanced ciders true to their Virginia culinary and agricultural heritage,” Blue Bee Cider wrote on its website .

The cidery’s name comes from one of Virginia’s native bees, the osmia lignaria — or the “Blue Orchard Bee,” which is known to pollinate apple blossoms.

Blue Bee Cider’s tasting room is open from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays through Fridays, from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Buskey Cider in Richmond

Buskey Cider , located at 2910 W. Leigh St. in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition, calls a former railroad car loading building its home — though the owner first began crafting ciders in his Hampden-Sydney dorm room in 2012, according to the cidery’s website .

When the cidery officially opened in 2016, it was the first cidery in Scott’s Addition. It serves what owners describe as “100% fresh pressed Virginian apples,” with “no added sugar and no dilution.”

“The dream of opening a cidery was inspired by a love of history and of craft beverages, so it was only appropriate that our brand came from a word Ben Franklin recorded hearing in a tavern back in colonial times,” Buskey Cider wrote. “An old drinking word with no known definition was perfect for the little cidery that would help bring back the old tradition of cider with a modern, innovative approach.”

Buskey Cider’s tasting room is open from 3 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and from noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Coyote Hole Ciderworks in Louisa County

Coyote Hole Ciderworks , located at 225 Oak Grove Dr. in the Mineral area of Louisa County, is a cidery with a tasting room that sources its apples from the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Its selection includes a wide selection of ciders, including multiple limited-edition varieties.

Hours at the Coyote Hole Ciderworks’ tasting room are different almost every single day of the week. Here’s when you can visit to try one of its many drinks:

• Monday and Tuesday : Noon to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday : Noon to 8 p.m.
• Thursday : Noon to 9 p.m.
• Friday : Noon to 10 p.m.
• Saturday : 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday : 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRIC ABC 8News.