OT: Best Cider Mill in SE Michigan?

Submitted by amir_6 on
Was thinking about taking the family to a Cider Mill Saturday morning to take our minds off the big game. Would like to hear the boards thoughts/opinions..

yossarians tree

October 17th, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^

Franklin is near where I live and is smack dab in what is arguably the wealthiest zip code in Michigan (not mine). Which is how they're able to get away with charging $10.50 for a gallon of cider. I literally live two miles from there and will not stop. I usually get my cider at a weekend farm market and pay no more than $6.

reshp1

October 16th, 2017 at 9:45 PM ^

Yates is a literal zoo. The place stinks of manure from the "petting zoo" which is just a bunch of pathetic looking animals jammed in a pen. They also have a terrible wasp infestation. Why anyone would subject themselves to fighting the throngs of people for that is beyond me.

reshp1

October 17th, 2017 at 10:24 AM ^

Except they put the animals right by the main seating area. Cider mills often go hand in hand with wasos, but the sheer numbers Yates gets makes the problem so much worse than anywhere else I've been.

If Yates was the only place in the area, that'd be one thing, but there's nothing that great that separates it from the countless cider mills we're lucky to have in Michigan.

OP, if you're going to go to Yates, the best thing to do is grab your cider and donuts and head down the Clinton River Trail.

Njia

October 16th, 2017 at 9:05 PM ^

Yates might be my favorite; but Parmenters in Northville, the Dexter Cider Mill, Spicers in the Fenton area, the Franklin Cider Mill, and Long’s Orchard in Commerce Township are all excellent. If you’re up for a drive, the cider mills in Parshalville and St John’s are also outstanding.

jabberwock

October 16th, 2017 at 9:45 PM ^

Which I believe is an old grist mill.

I think it's important to make a didtinction between authentic cider mill operations that make cider, Large farms that make cider but aren't quite as traditional, and an old style mill that happens to stock cider for sale.

Blakes is awesome for christmas trees, pumpkins, cider and now beer/alcohol, I'm really impressed how theyve gone all-in on becoming a one-stop seasonal event farm.

The major drawback is that it's such a sprawling place that it seems more like a farm amusement park with a  grocery store vibe.

Franklin & Yates are far more traditional, if you want to see an old school grist mill with a creek/river and woods, then this pictureque setting may be more your style.

I'm not a cider snob, so the cider from just about anywhere tastes good to me with a couple doughnut chasers.

evenyoubrutus

October 16th, 2017 at 9:31 PM ^

Not very well known, but Wasem Fruit Farm is about 15 minutes South of Ypsilanti and has the best donuts I've ever had. I used to live just a few minutes from it. Highly recommend it.

Dexter Cider Mill is good but probably not worth waiting in line for an hour.

If anyone says Wiard's they should be automatically banned.

evenyoubrutus

October 16th, 2017 at 9:56 PM ^

I live ten minutes north of town and I try to go once a year. I should probably clarify though. It's bad on weekends. I would imagine during the week it is a lot easier to get in and out. But every time I've gone has been on a Saturday and it's just painful waiting in line.

True Blue Grit

October 17th, 2017 at 6:33 AM ^

That's why I don't like going there.  The problem is there's a couple who runs it and they don't seem to want to hire extra help and add a few cash register stations on weekends.  So, there's one big long line with one group being checked out at a time.  Add the chit chat that occurs naturally, and you get long waits.  

Blue Ballin'

October 16th, 2017 at 10:38 PM ^

When my sisters come to town in the fall, I always take them to the Dexter Cider Mill...but never on a weekend.  Not a good idea to stand around a long time with the bees like they are, unless you like that sort of thing. There's one in Manchester, I believe, but the name escapes me. Alber's maybe?

evenyoubrutus

October 17th, 2017 at 12:09 PM ^

That place is as gimmicky as it gets. Maybe they have improved recently but the last time I was there (probably over 5 years ago), everything seemed like it had just been shipped in by a vendor. Donuts, pies, everything was pre packaged and looked (and tasted) like it had been made in a factory. The atmosphere might be okay but it just seemed like you could go to Meijer or Busch's and get the same quality stuff.

ppudge

October 16th, 2017 at 9:08 PM ^

Franklin was it for me growing up - still love their donuts, but really nothing to do there except get your food. Erwin's in South Lyon is excellent - donuts are great and you can go apple picking. As others have said, Spicer's near Fenton is also terrific with many things to do, but a little bit of a drive depending on your location.

Couzen Rick's

October 16th, 2017 at 9:09 PM ^

Growing up in Northville, Parmenter's was the go to. Yates and Blake's are probably the most famous. Yates gets super crowded. Blake's is out in Armada but huge and has a nice brewery, I've heard. I've heard Franklin is pretty good too.

Tbh most cider mills are pretty similar. Depending on where you live you could probably get away with going to the closest one.