Spring is almost on its way, and we think it’s high time to cheers the changing of the seasons with a local tasting tour. Yes, there will be awesome, inventive beers, but there will also be handcrafted ciders, hand distilled liquors, and stellar wines. The best part of the tour, besides the tastebud tickling that awaits? You can take it any time of the year!
Try to tackle all of these stops in one tour (in which case, sip sensibly), or take your time and sample a new spot each time you visit. This White Mountains tour showcases the best breweries, wineries, cideries, and more in the state of NH.
CRUCIAL 10 CRAFT CIDERY (Thornton, NH)
Start your White Mountains tour with Crucial 10 Craft Cidery. This Thornton, NH stop uses locally sourced apples to craft a variety of different ciders. Pay a visit to their 8-tap tasting room to sample year-round and seasonally crafted ciders, purchase merch, and hit the road for the next leg of your trip.
RHYTHM TAP & GRILLE (Lincoln, NH)
Hop in your car and head north; Rhythm Tap & Grille is up next. In addition to a seasonally inspired, creative menu, Rhythm has all the trending concoctions of the moment, including fruit-infused hard seltzers (perfect for those hot summer days), honey and local berry meads (you’ll find us gulping these down with gusto in spring and fall), and classic hard ciders with labels designed by local artists.
Rhythm Tap & Grille is located inside RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain.
SEVEN BIRCHES WINERY (Lincoln, NH)
Seven Birches Winery is a major reason that Lincoln is a perfect town for adventurous oenophiles. Hard to believe it, but this stop grows its own grapes onsite at Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain. Opt for a simple tasting, or you can always plan ahead and reserve a spot on one of their popular “Meet the Winemakers” tours.
If you go with the latter option, consider splitting your adventure into two days and booking a night at one of these places to stay.
WOODSTOCK INN BREWERY (North Woodstock, NH)
Now, it’s on to the beer! Take a five minute drive to North Woodstock, NH – you’ll find the Woodstock Inn Brewery there, taking center stage on Main Street. This sprawling pub/brewery/inn has live music and open mic nights, as well as a great menu packed with chowders, burgers, nachos, and other comfy mainstays. But the main draw is still, undeniably, beer. Take a tour through the 30-barrel production facility and lab to get the inside scoop on local staples, including seasonal brews like the Kanc Country Maple Porter (made with maple syrup brewed right in town), and the Double Pig’s Ear Brown Ale (a heady 8.4% brew with caramel and toffee notes).
If you’re interested in taking the tour, plan your excursions around the Woodstock Inn Brewery. For more information and to reserve a spot, visit the Woodstock Inn Brewery website.
TWIN BARNS BREWING CO. NORTH TAPROOM (North Woodstock, NH)
You might have seen it driving into town - another great spot for for sampling beer in North Woodstock. This time around, it's Twin Barns Brewing Co. North Taproom. Regular live music on Friday and Saturday nights, plus a curated selection of local snacks and occasional food pop ups, are reason enough to add this northern outpost of the Lakes Region's Twin Barns Brewing Co. to your tour, but what's on draught is also outstanding. Memorable lagers, IPAs, porters, and blond ales are just the start.
SCHILLING BEER CO. (Littleton, NH)
Can you hear it? Franconia Notch is calling your name. Get on I-93 and head north. You’ll pass towering mountains on either side plus Echo Lake and the site where the Old Man of the Mountain once stood on your way to brewery #3.
Schilling Beer Co. is housed in a historic gristmill on the banks of the Ammonoosuc River. This spot is renowned for its mouthwatering array of flatbread pizzas, as well as its pretzel twists with flaky salt and beer cheese or mustard dipping sauces. Take your pick of the menu and also what's on tap; Schilling keeps a rotating list of seasonal offerings and classics that keep the crowds coming, year after year.
If there’s still time after you imbibe, take some time to shop Schilling's take-home offerings and explore Littleton. This charming town has received numerous national accolades, and its boutiques, antique shops, and galleries are well worth a walk around town.
REK’-LIS BREWING CO. (Bethlehem, NH)
Rek'-lis Brewing Co. has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years. Initially a brewpub with Baja-inspired eats and classic burgers, rek’-lis also now lays claim to The Pint House, a hip tasting room with great outdoor spaces in the warmer months, a food truck, and plenty of special events throughout the year. Grab a flight to sample the latest beer on tap, and pick up some swag on your way out the door.
CATHEDRAL LEDGE DISTILLERY (North Conway, NH)
For the last leg of your tour, head to a spirits tasting at Cathedral Ledge Distillery. This gorgeous timber frame barn houses New Hampshire's only certified organic distillery, and their "grain to glass" approach to their award-winning products (including whiskeys, vodkas, gins, and maple liqueur) is rave-worthy in every right. We'd suggest splitting a flight and comparing notes on your favorites.
The White Mountains also has several other breweries, cideries, wineries, and distilleries to tour during your time here. But if you’d rather switch it up, we’d urge you to check out our trip ideas, plan a visit to an attraction, or see if an itinerary might just be the perfect pairing to your tasting tour.
