Downeast Cider House — Restaurant in Boston

EDIT 10.10.22:

From 2 to 4 stars (and not yet 5 but totally potential). The Downeast team reached out to me personally through the review I posted and their customer service skills were outstanding. The CFO and the team there are well aware of the unfortunate "perfect storm" that has happened as demand grows, space is limited and other hurtles keeping them back as popularity grows faster than they physically can. I received a well worded professionally friendly email response transparently explaining this current situation and some of the smaller steps they can take now as they plan out a longer solution to the issues they are facing. For now all: Hold tight! Thank you Downeast. Original Post: Really sad to see what has happened to their visiting portion of the business. We went back Halloween of 2021 for our first time. It was great! We got to go inside to the flight area and try new flavors, then head outside to the harborside for pints of our favorites, played giant jenga, and hang out with the skyline as a backdrop. They said tours were on hold but to check back soon.

Unfortunately when we visited again in late spring 2022, the outdoor area was still closed for the season to our surprise since it had been so warm out already (it was said that they do not own the space technically so it was not yet prepared, not sure). This created a huge line and wait outside due to such limited seating indoors. After waiting and getting inside, we were told it was a limit of 1 flight per person per day. We asked if we could then get a pint of our favorite flavor, and were told no pints were being sold at this time either. We also are convinced the flights are now smaller than the ones served in Oct. 2021 but still are the same price, looking back at the photos from our first visit. In the end, we essentially waited longer than we were able to stay due to the one-flight limit and nothing else being sold "for here" to drink.

I don't know what happened between our two visits, but it was a big downgrade for sure. I went from telling people to go, to never recommending it anymore. Just checked again to see if my S.O. and I could do a tour, and they still are not running them. I had heard such good things about the tour and tastings and hope they return to try it.

Can they do something in the space outside? A tent with heaters in the off season to extend the exterior space for more people to enjoy their drinks on site? I don't know the costs of that but to me, it is just not worth going until things are back up and running fully. Hope they can get their act together on the on-site side of things, I would really like...

Not my first time to Down East but don't go often as its over 1.5 hours from us. Went over the weekend to meet up with friends who also drove over an hour to get there and was greatly disappointed that when we arrived they said we're limited to ONE flight per person. We've never encountered this in our prior trips so was a shock, especially as there is no mention of this on their website (which I did check prior to selecting Down East as the brewery to meet at). When asked they said it was "due to liquor license restrictions" which is false however the table cards said something along the lines of 'once you are done with your flight, please move along so we can accommodate more guests'. That makes more sense than a "liquor license restriction" which is made up as there are no limits of the number of drinks that can be served under a MA ABCC license. You go to any other brewery or bar in MA, they don't tell you to get out after 1 drink..... Its understandable to ask guests not to take up space if you are busy since the taproom is small but there were 7 empty tables. Lying to customers is not a good look for the staff, which are a direct reflection of the brewery. Just be honest and say you're a small taproom and want to ensure there is space for guests but you should also accommodate your current guests when its slow and there is no line.

Besides the blatant lie from the bar staff, the cider is really good. Overboard Tropical was easily my favorite. I don't think any of us will be going back to the warehouse taproom and if we do return, it will strictly be for the outdoor summer pop up taproom, which has NEVER limited the number of drinks we could get or even limit it to flights only. I'm sure they'd cut you off, like any brewery/bar, if you got hammered but I don't mean it in that way.

.....Hindsight we should have just gone to Trillium across the bay or Far From The Tree this past weekend....

A Charming, No-Frills Pit Stop for Cider Lovers

My partner, affectionately known as "The Queen," and I recently made a stop at the Downeast Cider House on a recent weekend. For any cider enthusiast looking for an authentic, behind-the-scenes experience, this place is a must-visit.

The vibe is immediately industrial and unpretentious. You're not walking into a sleek bar; you're stepping directly into the heart of where the magic happens—the actual facility where they craft their famous cider. The space is compact and functional, with just 6-8 high-top tables nestled among the fermentation tanks and production equipment. It’s a unique and cool atmosphere that truly connects you to the product.

The process is simple and efficient: taking the wooden token from the greeter's station, find a spot, and then take your token to the counter to order. The Queen opted for the flight, which is always the best way to sample a variety of their offerings. She thoroughly enjoyed her tasting, confirming that Downeast continues to deliver on their signature blend of crisp, unfiltered, and flavorful ciders.

This isn't a place for a long, leisurely sit-down meal (the focus is squarely on the cider). It’s the perfect spot for a quick, satisfying, and genuinely interesting pit stop. In fact, it was an ideal pre-game before we headed over to the ICA Modern Museum, just a short distance away.

In a nutshell:

· Pros: Authentic production facility atmosphere, high-quality and delicious cider, efficient token system, unique experience. · Cons: Limited seating (could be busy on weekends), no food menu. · Perfect For: A quick drink, cider fans, a unique date stop, pre-museum fuel.

We'll definitely be back the next time we're in the area and craving a truly authentic...