Willow Oaks Craft Cider and Wine

Before coming to Willow Oaks, I had pretty much sworn off on American cider. What is available is generally too sweet and overly carbonated. At the suggestion of some friends, we stopped by the cidery when down for a visit from Ohio. I could write a few pages of the wonderful experience my wife and I had here. Lori and Eric were (and are) wonderful hosts. My wife and I are planning our next visit.

Everything tastes like nail polish remover. Can't recommend. Very unpleasant. Also a dog inside the barks incessantly and loudly.

The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about their product and the price was good. I am a bit surprised that the rating is so high here however. It was difficult to find on GPS, everything we drank tasted like nail polish or vinegar, and I was amazed they didn’t offer food considering there are so many around the area that do. Also considering they have an Airbnb apparently. They also did not have as much to sell in their shop as I thought they would and the fruit they did have for sale looked old. Considering how many other options this area has for cider, I’d consider going elsewhere.

Lovely place with great views and amazing cider. I appreciated the historical nature of some of the ciders and the explanations. The gentleman who explained their orchard was full of interesting information. I appreciated they sold produce here as well. I plan to return!

We stopped in for a tasting and had a wonderful experience. The owner poured our tasting and shared a lot of great information about the process and ingredients. The cider was delicious and the tasting room was very welcoming.

The owner was very kind and explained the history of the ciders which was interesting. The ciders were hit or miss but the view was great! It was calm and relaxing. Indoor and outdoor seating available. There was also a very cute dog there to greet us 😂. Make sure to look at the signs, you are going to go down a small gravel road. Next time we will bring more snacks because the cider would have tasted great with some sliced meat or cheese.

The right place to enjoy some special and wonderful cider you never tried in other place. I will call Eric an inventor. 😄

Such a nice experience and a beautiful view! This is a pretty artisanal cidery -- don't come expecting Angry Orchard and massive patio. Expect an off-the-beaten-path farm cidery with wonderful owners and a great history. Many of the ciders are aged and on the drier side, but there's something for everyone. And their mid-century tasting room feels like something from a Frank Lloyd Wright house-- if you want a place to relax and read a book with a view, this would be the place.

The location is off beat and the view from the porch area is so nice with the hills in the distance. The owner is extremely kind and helpful/knowledgeable. Do not expect to be met with fizzy, sugary ciders. These ciders are dry, full bodied and taste more like wine. Some reviewers liken it to nail polish remover. To that, I say they've never drank nail polish remover lol These are far from that but it can be a new experience for those that are accustomed to mass market ciders (no hate on those, they're fantastic). As they do not have food at the establishment, it is recommended to bring some snacks and definitely grab a glass of water from the counter to freshen your palate after your flight tasting and a good conversation. Overall, the indoor and outside seating area is great and accommodating, unique tasting experience and fantastic ​customer service.

Thank you for a lovely Sunday afternoon visit! We enjoyed a lovely tasting by the owners. We had emailed in advance letting them know we would be a group of 8 visiting but it wasn't too crowded for drop ins. Ciders were unique - varieties of apples, pears and berries. They have won several awards and have great hospitality.

Awesome spot for fabulous cider. They make a lot of different styles of award winning cider using heritage apples. Some ciders are blends, some are single varietals, but all are delicious. Gorgeous views of the surrounding farmland to enjoy while sipping tasty libations. Owner is charismatic, friendly and has been in the business for decades and his knowledge can be tasted in the quality of the ciders. Highly recommend a stop at Willow Oaks. Their tastings change based on what is available and meets the high standards of the owner. So glad we stopped by this gem!

I am going to try my best to write a review that does this place justice, but I would highly recommend experiencing it for yourself to truly appreciate it. Lori Rice (one of the owners) is the most warm, down to earth, welcoming host you could ever ask for. Walking into Willow Oaks simply feels like walking into your own home away from home. It is spacious, elegant, and family friendly. I was immediately greeted by her sweet dog, Aggie, and her 2 tabby cats, Fig and Newton. There are large farmhouse windows throughout the place, which provide a generous amount of natural light. The deck overlooks a beautiful view of farmland and on a nice day, the sky is gorgeous. In addition to the scenery and hospitality, the Cider is phenomenal. Lori crafts her Cider uniquely and in a manner that provides an exquisite tart flavor to each brew. They have about 8 different ciders, each of which bring a different taste to the table, and they are all equally delicious. I would highly recommend the affordable $5 tasting so that you can try them all. I ended up purchasing a bottle of their "All In" Cider, which is their most basic, traditional brew. They also have artwork, jewelry, and pottery for sale all throughout the building. You really cannot be bored here because there is so much to explore! Again, this place is very family friendly. There was a couple with their toddler son when I visited and there was plenty of space for all of us and more. Lori even has games you can play, including a 1000 piece puzzle set up on a table. This is overall a hidden gem and I cannot wait to return.

3.5 stars, with the extra half star is for the great service! I would consider myself a cider fan! I like it when it sweet, but I love it when it's dry. Give me an ice cold cider on any hot summer day and I'm a happy camper. That's why I was so excited about Willow Oaks. They keep their ciders simple, relying on organic apples and mother nature to do the work. With no added sugar, i thought I'd be in dry cider heaven. I'd better describe their ciders as "Bretty". For those who follow the craft beer scene, beers that are "Bretty" or "Farmhouse" are heavy on the flavor of a specific type of yeast. I'd also say that their fermentation process tends to make their ciders taste more like Kombucha than cider. Definitely not my favorite flavor. The combination of the two is not for the faint of heart, and will surprise most people expecting the "classic" (aka store bought) cider taste. There are other cideries in the DMV experimenting with a more natural fermentation process with no additives. I think Willow Oaks might want to add a few more traditional versions of their base ciders that incorporate a flavor profile for the general audience, maybe something that can ease our pallets towards their more distinct version. The service was excellent (young man with a full beard was enthusiastic and very knowledgable) and the working farm location is charming and off the beaten path (we really had to trust google maps wasn't taking us onto someone's farm/property)! I bought some of the delicious jerky that comes from the beautiful cows they grow on their property. They also sell plants and preserves as well as art. We brought in some sandwiches and enjoyed lunch while going through our tastings. Beautiful place, great service and a beautiful farm. I hope to come back one day and see what new types of experiments this small family-owned cidery comes up with.

Willow Oak has an impressive assortment of unique ciders that provide audiences with natural ciders that emphasize the native tastes of the fruits used. The environment is scenic and relaxing. The view is beautiful and highlights the countryside of Frederick county.

I like cider now. The wife and I met a friend here late on a Sunday afternoon, and it was cool. It's like you are hanging on an old friends back deck as they serve you their favorite ciders. I had never been to a cider-specific place before, but I'm a fan now. I had the flight of six ciders; all good and way better than I expected. We'll be back. Cheers!

Wonderful craft cider. Beautiful interior and lovely Maryland countryside view. Best organic cider varieties without added sulfites!

Thank you Yelp for popping this little gem of a place up on my suggested places!! I would have never known of it otherwise and I am so glad we discovered it. Willow Oaks is beautiful, homey, inviting, and delicious. Upon entering you'll meet Fig & Newton, the cutest furry and purr filled brothers. There's also Aggie who is happy to receive all of the pets you're willing to give! Behind the bar is Lori Rice (one of the owners), and she is hands down one of the sweetest, most down to earth people that has ever poured me a drink. The cider here is to die for. Everything is unique and fresh, with tons of different flavor palates to suit anyone's taste. Willow Oaks being a small business, supports other small businesses as well! There is a little farmers market inside with fresh food and jams/jellies to choose from. The shelves have locally made pottery and jewelry. The walls are covered with gorgeous local art all of which is priced to sell. While you're sipping on the perfectly crafted cider, there's plenty to look at and tons of board games and puzzles to entertain you and your friends. Lori also invites you to bring your own food! Pack a picnic basket, buy a bottle, and make it a relaxing afternoon at Willow Oaks. I can't say enough good things about this place, you have to experience it for yourself!

We had a delicious visit to Willow Oaks! Physically the space is beautiful with lots of adorable cows outback and vineyards all around the property. Our server was friendly and helpful, sharing more about the cider process. The owners and I had spoken by e-mail before arriving, so they gave great directions and told me about their tasting prices (very low for getting to try 7-8 different types of cider). My friends and I were fans of the Vocare their Ginger-Cider mix. *Avoid the blueberry cider. It's not so great ;(

Willow Oaks is a lovely place to enjoy authentic cider and countryside views. The owners are kind, welcoming, and extremely knowledgeable about their ciders and all of their farmstand products. Although their indoor service is suspended due to Covid-19, they are still doing flights of cider with outdoor seating. A hidden gem!

Fantastic Maryland made ciders! Wonderful people making a great product. Epitome of DIY. Gorgeous views at this place. Incredibly knowledgeable folks. Highly recommended and a definite destination to hang out and try small batch, handcrafted ciders. Tastings allow you to try essentially all of their products. I have to get back up there to get some more bottles of the Pairing and Gloaming for my cellar.

We had a great experience at Willow Oaks. They had a good variety of cider and everyone in our group found something they really liked. Lori did our tasting and she was really knowledgeable, welcoming, and super fun to talk to. We bought a few glasses of cider to stay and enjoy our lunch on their lovely property. If you're looking for a relaxed place to hang out and sip some cider with great views we'd highly recommend it! We went on a cold fall day, so we'll definitely be back next summer to spend some time outside on the deck.

Great visit to Willow Oaks. Beautiful setting with outdoor seating. Tasting room is nice and the owner who conducted the tasting was knowledgeable and friendly. Variety of ciders and they all tasted great! Will return