Move over, beer and other booze: New Jersey is home to one of the top hard cideries in the country, according to Yelp.
Ironbound Hard Cider, which opened in 2015 in the town of Asbury, is one of six cideries in the northeast to make the list, and the only one in New Jersey.
For its methodology, Yelp identified cideries and ranked them based on a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews.
“I love this place A LOT. The sustainable farming practices are so interesting,” wrote one reviewer in November. “Every single person who works there is friendly and helpful, and they seem genuine. The place and whole are area so pretty, it can almost break your heart. I will come back again and again. Thanks for moving to Hunterdon County.”
Ironbound Hard Cider is also home to New Ark Farm, a sustainable farm on the property that grows fresh vegetables. Alongside a rich agricultural history, New Jersey has a rich history in hard cider production, according to the website.
“In Newark, a thriving cider trade was built around the Harrison apple — an exceptional cider apple that originated in the orchard of one of the city’s founding families. Beloved by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, Newark Cider was a source of civic pride throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and was even known as the Champagne of Ciders,” the website reads. “By returning the legendary Harrison apple to commercial-scale production and reviving the lost art of making Newark Cider, Ironbound Hard Cider is reclaiming New Jersey’s rightful place as the home of America’s finest ciders.”
A representative for Ironbound was not available for comment.
