Willow Oaks Craft Cider and Wine

Really phenomenal spot! Absolutely gorgeous, the ciders were very unique and tasty, the desert wine tasting was fantastic, family friendly small business. I’m excited to try the cheese board next time, we didn’t know food was available so we bought a picnic as did others. We bought so much fresh stuff including eggs and amazing figs, and are excited to cook the meat when we get home. Loved it, will be coming back again asap and with friends!

Friendly staff, excellent cider! Their taproom has groups views of the mountains. You can also get organic meat and plants from the farmer who owns it. There is also local art. Come all year round for a peaceful afternoon.

Ask for a taste test before getting a glass! Or get a flight. This cider isn’t sweet and won’t be like Stella Artois or anything sweet from the store. Delicious once you find one you enjoy!

Willow Oaks is in a beautiful location with friendly staff. There is a gentle, friendly dog who visits with you at your table, which was a highlight. The interior is cozy, the porch is lovely. The cider, however, was not to our taste. We tried their tasting of 6 ciders, and each one was sour and vinegary. Not dry, sour. It was a little shocking, frankly. We expected to enjoy at least one of them. This type of cider might appeal to people whose palates lean towards sour beers. Their dessert wines were not included in the tasting, so we can’t comment on those. I would not recommends doing the tasting; try one of their ciders. If you don’t like it, know that they are all going to have that base sour flavor.

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

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.

Just visited this beautiful, serene cidery. The ciders on offer are extremely tart, but tasty. If you are expecting something like a traditional store-bought hard cider (Strongbow, Magners, etc), you may be in for a surprise. These ciders are more sippers than thirst quenchers. The dessert wines are sweeter, less tart, and more approachable. The setting and atmosphere are very relaxing. The owners are exceptionally helpful and friendly. Picturesque views of the rolling hills combined with a distinct lack of road noise makes this an excellent place to visit for folks looking to enjoy a quiet gathering with friends. Regarding some of the negative reviews I have seen: Ginny the dog is a sweetheart. For those unfamiliar with dogs, they sometimes bark. When I was there, Ginny barked only when greeting new visitors and then quickly resumed her pets/snack patrol amongst the patrons. The owners are very upfront about what to expect from their ciders and dessert wines. Yes, the ciders are very tart. No, they do not taste like nail polish remover. Those individuals posting reviews complaining about the cider may not have paid attention when the owners described their ciders, and those complaining about Ginny should probably avoid dogs in the future. I am looking forward to visiting again in the fall or winter!

Found this hidden gem while in the area for an autumn hike. I love checking out local businesses so I thought I'd give it a try. The ciders and libations here are for the adventurous tastebuds. From the agricultural lesson in describing their product to the scents and tastes of the ciders, it is a full sensory experience. Even one of the ciders I didn't care for evoked memories. My favorite was the Pairing. One sip and I melted into my chair in full relaxation. It was the kind of taste where I could curl up in a blanket in a dusty old library with a book and just sip for hours. As I said - full sensory experience. If you have adventurous tastebuds and a penchant for nostalgia, give Willow Oaks a try.

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