Duluth Cider, Duluth, MN

4 Paws Marketing
May 7
3 min read

Updated: Jun 12

If you're passing through Duluth on a self-made brewery tour, you have to pop into Duluth Cider. While it might not be a traditional brewery, it holds its own with a lineup of ciders that are creative, refreshing, and unique. Located in a century-old brick building just a block away from our first stop, this wasn’t initially on my radar—but man, I’m glad we wandered in.

Drinks:

Photo of Pineapple Sour & Chipotle Pineapple Cider — Pineapple Sour & Chipotle Pineapple Cider

I’m not usually a cider person anymore. My go-to used to be standard apple-forward ciders, but my taste buds have matured (or at least shifted), and too much sweetness can send me packing. That said, Duluth Cider flipped the script.

First off, major props to the bartender, who offered up samples without hesitation. It was like a mini flight, and I got to try several options without the commitment of a full pour. That’s the kind of service that makes an impression for me.

Photo of the taps in the brewery — Love the unique flavors!

Let’s talk sours first—because this blog is dedicated mostly to them. Their Pineapple Sour was decent here. Tangy and tropical it still goes down easy, it wasn’t the most complex, but it was a nice find. I’d rank it about a 2.5/5, mostly because it was a little too simple for my taste. Still, not bad.

But where Duluth Cider really shined was in its more unique offerings. Here are a few of the MVPs from our visit:

Las Lajas (6.2% ABV) – A coffee cider made with Costa Rican coffee beans. Yes, coffee. In cider. Odd? Yes. Weirdly good? Definitely, yes.
Chipotle Pineapple (6.3% ABV) – Smoky, spicy, and tropical all at the same time. It’s a ciders that makes you stop mid-sip just to say, “Okay...interesting.”
Cranberry Cinnamon (6.0% ABV) – Basically the holidays in a glass. A bit of spice, tart cranberry, and the right amount of sweetness.
Watermelon Cider (name might’ve been more playful, TBD) – Light, and pound-worthy. Perfect for a summer day.

So even though only one sour was in rotation during our visit, the full cider lineup made this place worth the stop. I left with a 3-pack of crowlers, which was a win. All in all, for drinks? 4.5/5.

They also had THC beverages and seltzers on the menu—nice options for folks not into cider, though no traditional beer in sight.

Infographic of 3 full pint glasses and 2 empty glasses representing a rating of 3 out of 5 — 4.5 out of 5

Food:

No in-house kitchen here, but like a lot of spots in the brewery scene, Duluth Cider leans on local food trucks. We weren’t hungry at the time—stop #2 and all—but it’s something to check on before your visit if food’s part of your plan. Keep an eye on their website or socials for food truck schedules.

Have to go with a 1/5 here, not much to pick from.

Infographic 1 colored plate and 4 blank, representing a 1 out of 5 food rating. — *1 out of 5*

Dog Friendliness:

Bring the pups! Duluth Cider proudly welcomes dogs on their patio, and from everything I’ve seen, they go out of their way to create a fun environment for four-legged guests. There’s even a “Pet Photo Hall of Fame” on their Instagram stories. While we didn’t have our dogs along for the ride, I’d definitely return here on a sunny day with them.

Rating: 2/5 – not fully dog-friendly inside, but patio pups are welcome.

Infographic with 2 black bones and 3 white, representing a score of 2 out of 5 — 2 out of 5

Atmosphere:

Set inside another restored 100-year-old building (similar to the others we visited in Duluth), Duluth Cider leans hard into the industrial charm. Exposed brick walls, old wood floors, and a welcoming vibe that makes you want to stay for more than just one drink.

While it’s not the largest cider house, the space is warm and laid-back, it has a good mix of high tops and lounge seating. The outdoor patio was calling our name—but in the brisk Minnesota spring weather, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Fire pits, picnic tables, string lights—it’s got all the pieces of a perfect summer hangout. Bonus points for their event schedule too: Monday night trivia, regular live music, and more. Definitely a spot with a fun personality.

Atmosphere score: 4/5.

Infographic of 4 yellow light bulbs and 1 white, representing an atmosphere score of 4 out of 5 — 4 out of 5

Merch & More:

Cider fanatics can represent here—Duluth Cider has a decent merch section with branded apparel and glassware.

I personally held off since I’m trying to keep things sour-ale-forward for Tapped In, but cider lovers will find plenty to pick from.

Rating: 2/5 for merch– smaller selection.

Infographic of 2 yellow shirts, 3 white, representing a score of 2/5 — 2 out of 5

Overall:

Whether you’re team cider or just cider-curious, Duluth Cider is a gem worth checking out. It’s creative, laid-back, and located perfectly for an easy pit stop during a brewery crawl.

Plus, the variety of offerings means there’s something for almost everyone—even your dog.

Nice space. Nice staff. Nice drinks. What more do you need?

Overall Vibes: 4/5