Long known as a beer town, Bellingham is becoming a hot spot for craft beverages of all kinds. The latest trend? Craft cider. In 2018, three new cideries opened in Bellingham — joining a long-time favorite and transforming the once-sleepy cider scene into an up-and-coming industry. So grab your Tap Trail map and start sipping. Here’s our roundup of four cider tasting rooms in Bellingham.
Herb’s Cider
Located at 1228 Bay Street, Bellingham
Launched by Primus’ drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander in 2018, Herb’s is Bellingham’s newest cidery. The story goes that Tim’s great grandfather “was an old Kentucky moonshiner” — crafting bathtub gin for high-profile business folk and raising quite the ruckus during Prohibition years. With this family history in mind, Tim and his wife Shama began crafting their own cider at home. Their Bellingham tasting room opened in 2018, with cider maker Chris Weir — whose resume includes experience at Finnriver Cidery and Port Townsend Brewing Co. — at the helm.
Step inside the darkly furnished, chandelier-lit tasting room for a sip. Herb’s maintains a black/white contrast in their branding, from their packaging and Instagram account to the tasting room itself. As for cider, you’ll find a range from dry to sweet, with drumming-inspired names like Double Stroke and Ratamacue. All of Herb’s ciders are made from 100% organic Washington apples and without any added sugars. Try a taster flight and take some cans to go!
Lost Giants Cider Company
Located at 1200 Meador Ave, Bellingham
Lost Giants is the cidery for beer lovers. Opened in 2018 by three former Kulshan Brewing employees, they specialize in producing dry ciders for canning and distribution. Housed in a huge industrial space off Meador Ave (near the Inside Pitch batting cages), Lost Giants’ production facility features a spacious tasting room with a variety of colorful and experimental ciders on tap.
Walking in, you’ll likely be greeted by one of the owners behind the bar. Partner Brad Wilske helped us select several ciders for our sample tray, from the excellent dry and heirloom ciders to a cranberry graf (cider-beer) collaboration with Boundary Bay Brewery. We enjoyed sipping each sample while admiring the massive mountain panorama across from the bar — featuring an expansive view of Mount Baker and the North Cascades from Tomyhoi Peak. Outdoors enthusiasts ourselves, we felt immediately at home in Lost Giants’ tasting room.
Food is available from rotating food trucks outside. During our visit, the fun and fresh GypsyGrindz truck was on hand, passing out samples of their Hawaiian fare in the tasting room. Catch them each Thursday at Lost Giants.
Bellingham Cider Company
Located at 205 Prospect Street, Bellingham
If you’re looking to pair your cider with a full-service food experience, Bellingham Cider Company is the answer. Their family-friendly restaurant overlooking the Bellingham waterfront is a great place for cider lovers and newcomers alike. In addition to classic dry and semi-sweet ciders, Bellingham Cider Company offers an assortment of flavors. Blackberry Ginger, Blueberry Lemonade, and Cherry Vanilla are just a few of the small-batch ciders you’ll find on tap.
Complement your cider with a bite from the busy kitchen. Here you’ll find fresh salads and savory appetizers served alongside salmon, steak, spaghetti and more. If you’re seeking a cider alternative, you’ll also find beer, wine, and craft cocktails on the menu. They even serve brunch on the weekends. With such a wide variety of offerings, everyone can find something to love at Bellingham Cider. Check out our post, 5 New Spots to Grab a Drink in Downtown Bellingham for more info.
Honey Moon Alley Bar & Ciderhouse
Located at 1053 N State St Alley, Bellingham
A longtime Bellingham favorite, Honey Moon has been serving up mead and cider from its downtown hideaway since 2005. Recently, Honey Moon added “Alley Bar” to its name, denoting a subtle shift from meadery to cocktail lounge. The candle-lit alley bar now offers classic cocktails alongside their house-made cider, mead, and comfort foods. All the more reason to steal away to Honey Moon for an evening of live music and libation.
My partner and I dropped by on a weeknight to see what had changed since our last visit several years ago. I’m happy to report that the dimly-lit lounge retains its cozy, romantic feel. There’s new booth seating. The menu has changed. But at its heart, Honey Moon is still Honey Moon and that’s ok with me.
We visited during a quiet evening, greeted by rootsy Americana tunes and the friendly bartender. It happened to be Happy Hour (5pm – 7pm daily) so we took advantage of the $5 fondue while sipping Hot Spiced Mead and Ciderhead draft cider. There’s a cider (or mead) for everyone at Honey Moon, from dry and semi-sweet Ciderhead to mead/cider blends including rhubarb and raspberry.
Honey Moon is especially inviting during events. Stop by on Wednesday nights for Bellingham’s longest-running open mic, and keep an eye on the calendar for additional events.
