sutliff cider

My husband and I visited Sutliff Cider for the first time last year. The cider was great, bartender friendly, and facility was very neat. Can't wait to go back!

I live in CA but went to college in IA and visit friends there every so often. The last few years I have enjoyed visiting Sutliff Cider and had such a nice experience this last time, as they have made many amazing enhancements to the facilities.This was a farmstead until the current owners bought it and they renovated the barn probably just before it was too late. I love old barns which is what led me to check this place out. You can find their website to read the whole story (www.sutliffcider.com) but basically there was an orchard on the land and they decided to make cider, eventually turning the barn into a tasting room.Now, they have also remodeled the upstairs of the barn and the area behind the barn with a beautiful gazebo structure that accomodates weddings. If you want a country wedding setting, this is a nice spot with plenty of parking and the owner says that weddings reserve the outdoor area and the upstairs barn area for the reception as well as for the wedding in case of rain.But my favorite part of Sutliff Cider is the tasting room which has a full kitchen with really tasty food, and a bar with fresh cider on tap as well as beer. The cider is "hard" with alcohol, tastes like apple champagne, very yummy. I think they may have non-alcohol cider as well. Very nice restrooms, really fun decor and a pretty outdoor patio area out front. It seemed very accessible as far as no stairs although there is some rough terrain such as gravel driveway. Quite easy to get around.While I was there, many bicylcists pulled up for a drink. I don't know the route they take but Sutliff Cider is on a long highway that goes between Lisbon Iowa (on "old Highway 30") and Sutliff IA, which isn't really a town but features a general store/tavern and the old Sutliff Bridge which is really cool.Sutliff Cider has bands that perform on Sunday afternoons and while I have not been there for those it sounds like this is the busiest time there. Check their website for hours, they are not open all the time but you can reach them for booking reservations for special events etc. While I was there the owner was booking a high school reunion event for next year.Love the place, love the people, love the cider. You can buy Sutliff Cider at some places in the midwest, give it a try.