It’s Fall and that means a trip to Clyde’s Cider Mill in Old Mystic, Connecticut. We took a ride out there on Sunday. The weather was perfect and it wasn’t too cold to be out walking around. We haven’t been to Clyde’s in a long time so we forgot how busy it can get. They have a parking lot in back and a lot of folks park up and down along the road. You can park there as long as your tires are off of the pavement
The first thing we spotted was free wine tasting so we joined in and then browsed around the gift shop. Clyde’s produces their own apple wines and they have quite a variety. The gift shop is filled with all kinds of treasures including their wines, pottery, and a working pot belly stove to warm yourself by. If you look on the ceiling you will see some of the old cider mill equipment that was used in the past hanging from the rafters.
Depending on when you visit Clyde’s, you may be able to watch as they press the apples to make their famous apple cider with their steam powered cider mill. It is the only steam powered cider mill in the U.S. They run demonstrations on Saturdays and Sundays.
Around the back of the cider house you can get a complimentary taste their hard cider and also purchase a bottle or a growler. They also have a good variety of the hard ciders and you can taste each one if you like (21 years and older).
Now, if you want to buy their cider donuts, sweet cider, or any of their specialty jams, jellies, and canned veggies, mixes or breads and pastries, you will have to get in line. The line is in the front and the back of the store and they have registers on either end so it doesn’t matter which line you get in. If you go on a weekend you will be standing in that line for a good half hour. If you don’t mind standing in line, and we didn’t, grab a bag of their fresh-made kettle popcorn. I’m munching on some as I write this article.
Clyde’s Cider Mill is open 7 days a week from September until December and closed the rest of the year. Check their website for exact dates. Clyde’s starts their season in September with hard ciders, apple wines, jams, jellies, local honey, maple syrup, fudge, and what many people call “The best sweet cider on Earth!” We can attest to that. It is sweet and creamy and full of goodness. Clyde’s also offers apples, apple pies, pumpkin bread, gourds, Indian corn, pumpkins, candy apples, kettle corn and apple cider donuts that they make right in the back of the store.
Clyde’s Cider Mill has been in operation since 1881 and still makes some of the best apple cider you will ever taste. If you go on a weekend along with the crowds of people you will also find a variety of vendors selling Connecticut-made products and food items. If you don’t like crowds then we suggest you go during the week.
