Today we're staying in my good old hometown of Rochester NY to talk about Blue Barn Cidery. While driving to meet a date, I passed by here and it caught my eye. Unfortunately (at the time, but fortunately now) this sighting was the best part about the date, I knew I'd have to make a stop in since I am a cider fanatic. Turns out my mom, 2 sisters, and I went there on accident when picking apples one day. Momma mentioned that our usual place, Green Acres Farms, had moved their Upick location, and when we pulled in, I knew it was fate, I had to see what it was all about. Well, I guess fate is a bad word for it since I had forgotten to bring my ID, but I texted my best friend Sami right away after going in to check out their selection.
Cut to a week or so later and I had returned, ready to sample their flights. I was also surprised by the selection of food and opted to try their everything soft pretzels, like an everything bagel but pretzel-y! The taps are filled with unique flavors from their own creations as well as other local cideries and breweries. When we went they had a great selection from sweet to dry, fruity to bubbly and others in between. My picks for the flight were the Jostaberry Jam, Sweet Cherry Spy, Blueberry, and Steam Punk Cider and were a nice mix of all of the mentioned characteristics. They also carry Embark Ciderworks, 1911 Spirits (their raspberry cider my #2 favorite cider ever), Blackbird Ciderworks, Empire Brewing Company, K2 Bros Brewing, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, Rootstock Ciderworks, and Three Heads Brewing. Which, per their website, "Blue Barn Cidery is licensed as a NY State Farm Winery, which means we certify that all of our products are crafted from 100% homegrown ingredients...Every brewery and cidery on our menu carries a Farm License as well. Which means you can enjoy your drink that much more knowing that 100% of the ingredients you're enjoying were grown right here in New York, supporting local farmers like us."
Blue Barn Cidery has a large outdoor space, and although I wish we could have enjoyed it, it was very cold when we visited and staying warm with fingers curled around a glass of the good stuff sounded better. I can't wait to come back in the summer though because it looked like they had some fun outdoors games to play! Speaking of things to do on site, the cidery hosts many events such as trivia night on Wednesdays, craft events, and classes like cake/cookie decorating. If you're looking for an even bigger event, Blue Barn has you covered there too.
Pomona, behind Blue Barn Cidery, can host your weddings or private events of 75-225 people and includes a dance floor. Based on the photos, it looks like you have the ceremony outside and then the reception to follow in the actual "barn." I use the term barn loosely because it was specifically built with weddings in mind, but has the outside look of a barn with the beautiful amenities of an upscale wedding venue inside.
Please check out their gorgeous site in person at
928 Manitou Road
Hilton, NY 14468 (585) 366-7358
Hours:
Wednesdays 3-9:30pm
Thursdays 3-9:30pm
Fridays 3-10:30pm
Saturdays 1-10:30pm
Sundays 1-6pm
For fruit-picking information visit http://www.greenacreupick.com/
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