Yes, I've heard that apples are cheaper at Whole Foods, may I suggest Yelp to find a chain store of your choice? But if you want a scenic agricultural experience you may enjoy Beardsley. The $25 cash-only apple bag is small; I believe capacity was 17 apples. But unlike many orchards there's no admission fee. Beardsley is on the smaller side so they won't have a zillion varieties, but all the trees are small so you won't encounter that rake rental situation. This weekend there were abundant winesaps and jonahgolds, but for mutsus and macs you'll have to wait until 2027. I think the bag restrictions and less than desirable bathroom situation fueling negative reviews are common in the industry. The hot cider was delightfully tangy and I liked the cider donut. The long lines for these and for parkknf are also industry standards. read more

I visited Beardsley specifically to try their highly regarded Cider Donut, but I also bought cider and a couple of apples. As of the time I tried the donut, it was maybe the best Cider Donut I had ever tried. It was still warm. Golden brown. Delicate. It had a flavor I couldn't quite place. Vanilla maybe? It also had a cool chewy texture. I was a big fan. They obviously have a pick your own apple business, but I was in a hurry. They didn't have as many total apples in the market as some places, but they had some interesting apple choices. Including apples I've never heard of. The apple I tried so far was very good. The cider was freshly made. It was still a lighter color in the container. I understand it gets darker as it ages a bit. It was good. I prefer a slightly less sweet cider. But it had good apple flavor. 4.5 Stars read more

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Great place, to the owner... Can you please consider punchcards where you can pay Let's say $20 and then you get 10 different punch's to come in. Each time you punch the card we get one doughnut and one cup of cider. It would be nice to be able to pay upfront rather than not meet the minimum card multiple times and have to dig for cash to pay for such a small purchase, many times of which I don't have cash so I don't come in. Also to your benefit a lot of people wouldn't redeem the full amount so you would profit. read more

Great for apple picking! We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon - wasn't too picked over. They only pick certain apples at certain times, but have a large variety. We had a great time. A bag was $25 - I have no idea how this compares to other spots but it felt like a decent price. Great to be able to grab an apple cider donut afterwards too! read more

I had such an amazing time at the Beardsley Cider Mill for apple picking. This was my first time and I couldn't have asked for a much better experience. It was a beautiful fall day with clear skies and lots of apples to choose from. Definitely plan to come early as parking can be limited. It cost $20 for one bag of apples. The bag is pretty small and you're not able to bring in your own personal bags. This wasn't a big issue since one bag was enough for both my husband and I. Also, they have a small shop that sells the best apple cider donuts! This is a must try!! read more

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Classic New England cider Mill with a pleasant retail store. Jams, applebutter, applesauce, pies, cider donuts, etc. And fresh apple cider made on the premises. Half dozen variety of apples sold per apple or per bag. read more

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We love Beardsley's mostly for their scones but the pies are delicious as well. One sad note is they do not bake any cherry pies. The outside is nicely landscaped and easy to see off the road. Inside is cute with friendly folk running it who are happy to tell you about it or answer any questions. Go with confidence. read more

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I love coming to Beardsley's for peaches in August and then in September and October for apple picking. While you may not pick your own peaches in August, the family who runs this farm and orchard allow you to have your pick of white- and yellow-fleshed peaches from the bushels in their shop, sold by weight. These are the sweetest and juiciest peaches in town! Very friendly in the shop. Their apple cider donuts are fresh and delicious! Apple picking in early autumn is a delight. There is an impressive variety of apples and a plethora from which to pick. Hint: plan your apple picking adventures ahead of time by eyeballing their website for each variety's prime time so you'll be able to pick tons of your favorites! I could wander in the orchard for hours. It's $20.00 to fill a bag and the bags aren't super huge. But if you want to pick the apples, you've got to pay the $20.00 for a plastic bag that's smaller than what you used to get at the supermarket before Connecticut went green. (I get creative with how I pack the apples into that bag. It's kind of like playing Jenga.) Be warned no large handbags, diaper bags, or backpacks are allowed in the orchard, so you'll want to make sure you lock them in your car before purchasing a bag to fill. The peaches I bought today are lovely and I can't wait to return for apple picking and stocking up on cider donuts! read more

Not family friendly and not really customer friendly. Was a hot day today for apple picking - 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This really puts a big spotlight on their overbearing rules. They offer two separate places to sit. An area for those drinking at the distillery and an area for those who are not. The "non-distillery" section has absolutely NO shade whatsoever, and no umbrellas in cases where the sun is hot. I saw parents cradling small babies who were crying screaming trying to cover up their kid with a hat to shield them from the sun. Another parent and his little boy - the little kid was obviously overheated and his father wanted to let him through to the other side so he can sit in some shade (as, I said, the non-distillery area did not have any umbrellas), and do you know this big hulking security guy came over to tell that parent off, who was only looking to let his little guy cool off and skip walking the long walk around? If its such an issue, put some umbrellas out over there so people could relax in the shade! Oh and the security guard! There was barely anyone sitting at the distillery as it was early and this hulking mass of man was marching up and down the porch eyeballing anyone sitting with a drink LOOKING for someone to kick out. Even paying distillery goers are not safe from the overbearing rules of this place. Imagine chilling with your friends, having an overpriced cocktail, and you have this huge guy just eyeballing you. Simply anxiety inducing. They do not let kids use the inside bathroom. They have to go in the outhouse like animals, in a place with no ventilation (you could just ask parents to accompany your kids). They also do not let outside drinks and water bottles in the distillery, yet have a food cart in front offering bottles of water for their customers. How does that make sense? Bottom line: accommodate your customers. ALL your customers. Theres about a dozen other places you can go that is not this place. I advice to go to literally anywhere else than here. Its ridiculous. read more

I wanted to share some feedback about our recent visit to your orchard. We drove about two hours yesterday with our children -- two families in total -- looking forward to a fun day of apple picking. Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing and not as family-friendly as we had hoped. When we arrived, I was asked to return my purse to the car because "many people steal apples." I explained that it contained diapers, sunscreen, and a water bottle for my toddlers, but the staff still insisted. I complied, although it felt unnecessary. Later, after buying lunch from your food truck, we tried to sit at the tables, but a security guard told us our children's water bottles were not allowed there. Our kids are only two and five years old, so I had to go all the way back to the car again to leave them there before we could eat. The overall experience left us feeling very disappointed after such a long drive. We truly hope you can review these policies and staff interactions so future families can enjoy a more welcoming and understanding visit. read more

Just stopped in the shop to look around. I bought one apple cider donut. It wasn't anything great. My search for the best CT apple cider donut continues. read more

Disappointing to say the least. We were recommended this place to bring our kids and to try their cider donuts. Cider donuts were okay, not anything to rave about. Kind of expensive too...I am all for supporting local and supporting farmers, but these weren't worth the money in my eyes. When we went to pick apples I also was asked to leave my purse in the car due to people "stealing apples" in the past. My purse was big enough for my wallet, a pull up for my little one, and a small travel size of wipes. This isn't family friendly. Finally we decided to try the distillery there and they really should have had a sign there saying for adults only. At first they seemed accommodating for our kids, but then after a bit the rules started flying. I could understand some of them due to their ties to permits and such, but some were a little too much. Putting a sign that nicely says adults only would fix this. We would have been fine just going to the "family section" that's right next to the distillery and eating our donuts there instead. Sad, but I'll stick with other local farms from now on. read more

People at the counter were lovely ...but whatever happened today with the apple cider donuts is a mystery. dry as a bone, taste worse than mediocre. If I had eaten one while I was there I would have going back to the counter to ask for some from the next batch. So very disappointed. read more

My fiancé and I absolutely LOVE Beardsley Cider Mill and Orchard! There is plenty of parking and the staff are so friendly and kind. Check their website to see which apples are available for picking on your desired weekend and show up when they open! Beardsley gets a ton of business and the later you show up, the more crowded it is. A bag to go apple picking costs $20 (they no longer price by weight). It seems a bit steep to charge $20 for one bag so we stuffed the bag as much as we could. My fiancé ended up ripping the bag and the staff were kind enough to replace it (with a joke about being greedy, of course ha). Don't forget to grab a dozen (or more) of their apple cider donuts (also priced at $20/dozen) before leaving. These are the best apple cider donuts in the state! I would love to try their spiked cider someday but they open at 3pm and we go first thing in the morning. In short, Beardsley is the best place to go to for apple picking and apple cider donuts! read more

Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard - One with the apples. - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

Stopped in this afternoon and picked up a pumpkin pie. Still hot, just came out of the oven. Also purchased an Apple Cider Donut to snack on during the ride home -- it was excellent, probably the best Apple Cider Donut we've ever had, very flavorful. Had the pie later that night, it was very good, tasty. Looking forward to sampling more pies from Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard in the future. A strong 4 Star rating. read more

Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard - Pumpkin Pie, at Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard in Shelton, CT. - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

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I get a pie from them everytime I pass them, but it is pricey, it's like $18 a pie. I do really enjoy the apple crumb here, but still, it's once in a blue moon. And if you do go, go early, I find afternoons while they keep bringing stuff out, there's never much later in the day. read more

Pretty spot to wander around and get a bag to stuff the apples into ... got about 11 pounds for $20

Fantastic people!!!! Awesome cider pressing guys!!!! Delicious Cider!!! Great bourbon down @ the Distillery!!

Owners and staff are VERY rude. Treated us so poorly that we left within 20 mins of arriving before even picking apples. Take a look at their responses on google reviews where they fight back with their own patrons. I will not be back and will never recommend this place to others. Definitely not family friendly. read more

First, let me start by saying that the apple crumb pie is the absolute best I've ever tasted! We purchase multiple throughout every season. We have been visiting the orchard several years for apple picking. We have always had a positive experience. This year, I went with my three kids (youngest is an infant). Similar to other reviews (which I admittedly didn't read beforehand), we were forced to return the diaper bag to the car or we wouldn't be able to enter. I wouldn't consider this the most family friendly policy so at least for now, we will be taking a break from this farm as having a diaper bag is a necessity for us. read more

This was a fun and great day for apple picking, although it was a crowded day we were able to grab some nice apples for 20$ a bag . They also have a lil area in the back of the building that offers wine tasting, which was a surprise. No kids allowed in the building seating available outside the business. read more

Love this place! The apple cider donuts are very good and they even have gluten free ones which is great. Looking forward to going apple picking here and going to the distillery which I've heard great things about read more

Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard - Apple cider donut - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

Went to Beardsley today for pick your own apples. Went with a group, all with young kids, and our 15 month old son. Saw people with strollers, wagons, etc. was told at the entry that I couldn't bring my diaper bag, but "small purses" were acceptable. The gate attendant offered no sympathy or explanation, and made me leave the bag at the gate. Wipes and my son's water cup would have been helpful running through the orchard in 75 degree weather. Donuts are great though. read more

Sadly came 9 days before apple season (starts sept 10 and not sept 1), so we could not try the cider that we were craving. But the super fresh apple cider donuts and raspberry scone made the visit worth it. Mmmmm. Def dont think twice, go!!! They also offer mini gluten-free apple cider donuts, but those aren't made on premises so cant speak to them...but it's nice to even offer the inclusive option read more

The owner is rude, and does not care about the comfort or needs of his guests. Families come here with small children. He has a policy of no bags in the orchards, including diaper bags. I guess he'd rather have a toddler have an accident on his trees than allow families to carry the supplies they need. I also witnessed him demand a woman open her cooler bag to show her epilepsy medication, in violation of ADA policy, to.allow her to take the bag in. Spend your time and money elsewhere. read more

Still gots it!!! OMG yummy...it's honestly like drinking a fresh apple!! Giddy to return and get some cider doughnuts too. Funny story told me by the sales clerk: Mr Beardsley had his in on the property when a few decades ago, a hit and run bus driver (with kids in it) ran into a cow farm, setting it on fire and numbering its days. Fluffy, light, and not terribly sweet. The outer layer could hold a nice ever gentle crunch, but hey--- Soooo thankful it's here. Wanna try its competitor just east of it one day. Few months ago, there were U pick opportunities! Go get your quick breads, apple butter, cider, and doughnuts. Place rules! read more

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Usually, I go to Clydes for apple cider/cider donuts. The reason I came here is because they sell hard cider kits to create your own hard cider. Awesome right? I literally knew nothing about how the kits worked or how to even get started. One worker, Rob, stopped what he was doing (he honestly looked busy), came over and explained everything to me. He made everything easy to understand and gave me tips to make my cider and answered all of my questions. It sounds so simple but Rob really took the time to make sure I was informed and didn't seem bothered or rushy with it. Like he wanted me to be successful. He's such a peach. He really made my day to be honest. From the attendant outside to the cashier, everyone was really pleasant and looked like they enjoyed being there and helping customers. Also the cider donuts and the apple cider are reallllllllly fucking good. Like honestly, the cider donuts are better than Clydes. They don't get stale and they taste so appley and real. I will forever make the hour drive to support this business. read more

I'm farmed out from visiting too many of them the past 2 years but this one is a keeper. Best apples I have had perhaps ever. Delicious baked goods and cider donuts. Super friendly service. Small. And soo much better than those big farms! read more

Spent the morning at one of the farms in the area. On the way back we passed Beardsley I pulled a uturn and went in. Got some cider donuts were along with a raspberry white chocolate scone which were both awesome. Not to mention their hot cider is out of this world. Staff was very friendly looking forward to going again. read more

This place is family owned and the pride they take in every detail shows. The apple crumb pie is my favorite and by far the best there is. We have taken their pies home frozen to have on hand and they DO bake up just as delicious! The selling point that keeps me coming back is the friendly, professional customer service - a dying art these days! read more

Nasty owner, will never go there ever again. Took my family (2 small kids) for apple picking. Website stated cash or checks accepted. Waited on line to enter orchard and handed owner our check to purchase a bag for apple picking. He said because of the town we are from he could not accept a check from us and denied our entry. Even with my youngest daughter crying, and us offering to show ID for our home address to contact us he refused our entry with no care at all. Thankfully a nice bystander offered to pay our entrance fee with cash. I should note the town we live in is right next to the farm. Nasty owners! Will never ever go here, overpriced and honestly way better donuts and apple cider at surrounding farms. read more

Great cider, pies, cider donuts and great family apple picking experience. Top notch distillery on same property.

Last year, after picking pumpkins at Jones Tree Farm, we stopped at Beardsley Cider Mill and Orchard. It was late in the season, but we went and picked apples. You can also pick plums there are we meant to go back and pick some plums this year when they were in season, but didn't make it. Yet we did go back this year to pick up some cider after our pumpkin picking adventure. The store was packed. If you go on a busy pumpkin picking day, expect a long line. They had a kit there for making your own hard cider. We actually had what we needed, so we went home, cleaned and organized our equipment and came back and bought five gallons. They told us that next time we should just bring our carboy and they would fill it up directly from the cider press. That is what we did for our second batch of home made hard cider. It is great to be able to get cider fresh off the press, and we really enjoy the store. read more

Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard - Fruits & Veggies Near Me - Shelton, Connecticut

i took my kids here last year. it was $20 for a bag I believe and you pick whatever fits in it. cash only. I also agree that the staff is very rude. this old lady that was at the front to pay had the worst attitude and told me there was no way I was getting in with my purse. it was a small cross body bag that barely fit my wallet and keys. I looked at her and said she had to be joking. I stomped over to the owner and relayed what she had said and assured him that not a single thing more could fit in my bag. The apples are amazing, but the people there are horrid. I try and focus on the product only. I also warned other people with children as I was leaving- people with diaper bags about the witch at front. good luck! read more

Definitely a very good place to go to during the fall season. They have lots of varieties of apples. There aren't any big hills to climb up and the flow of the trees are reasonable (entrance and exit are different areas). They charge by the pound (as opposed to bushel/bag size) and offer plastic bags for use for $1. Not 100% sure, but I believe you can bring your own bag to use. I personally was not a big fan of their apple cider donuts. Maybe I've been too spoiled by Faddy's or Stew's! read more

This place is amazing. I got some fresh apples and a gallon of cider to go. The store staff were giving samples of the pumpkin cheese cake - i will be back for a full cake- it will be my dessert for Christmas. Finally I got a cup of hot mulled cider and a cider donut and on a cold day it was heavenly. read more

Very disappointing. The website says they are open till the fruit runs out. Well the fruit ran out. We had an empty bag. no fruit on the trees. staff rude. the only apples for the picking were on the floor mixed with rotting apples. waste of $20.00! read more

I have a 7 month old and 1.5 year old. We tried to take them apple picking here and owner would not let us carry in a diaper bag with bottles, food, diapers, wipes, extra clothes etc. We aren't going to steal your apples in a diaper bag stuffed to the brim and I'm not going to run a mile back to our car every time one of the kids needs a diaper change or is hungry. I even offered to have them search the bag before and after entry and they still refused. Unbelievable. Needless to say, we went to a different orchard and will never come back here. Not family friendly. read more

Came the last weekend in September, Mackintosh, Macoun and Empire were available. We had a blast. Would recommend for folks looking for an orchard primarily for Apple picking, rather than an amusement park for kids and families My boyfriend and I were looking for a proper orchards to pick apples for juicing and eating. We weren't looking for the extras and also we wanted somewhere without traffic cops or excessive children. We decided on Beardsley The apples have been great. We got an entire large reusable shopping bags worth (cashier said it was the single largest haul of that day). The apples are easy to pick. The orchard isn't big but it's more than enough for what we were looking for We did buy Apple cider donuts and enjoyed them. We refrained from the pies because we read they weren't made there. We did buy some jams but word of note they aren't made here either! We would probably come back again another year as long as it stays as uncrowded and as non-commercial as it was this year. The website updates to let you know what varieties are ready. Usually they update on Tuesday for the upcoming weekend read more

The Very Best Apple Pies Around. The Pie Crust only is mouth watering.... Not to mention the rest of the pie. Don't take my word for it. Go try it yourself and you too will become an "Appliever " (Believer) read more