I love hard cider and I first came back in 2021. New changes since then is they have their own kitchen and new menu. They have their distillery outside of the barn so you can get one of their signature cocktails. I came on a Friday so it was quiet and I was able to sit at the bar. I got immediately greeted and was given a menu. The barn is huge and great for large parties. There are rocking chairs outside facing the lawn. There is tons of parking. I know they have live music and it's a great place weddings. read more

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This is a great local spot located in middleburg! At this location they make their own cider and have their own distillery as well! I highly recommend going to the distillery part of the cider barn on the weekend, as Kesha will make you a fantastic cocktail! Service is awesome here and is a cute barn with indoor and outdoor seating! read more

Weekday afternoon and lots of friendly staff. The place is huge. They do tastings both inside and outside. It's dog friendly indoors. Our dog was welcomed. We imbibed on a couple of flights. It was a good way to taste their lineup. read more

It was such a nice day out we wanted to get out the city and be around nature and grass, which amounted to us trying out this cidery. I clearly didn't pay attention to the name because I didn't realize until we got there that it was also a distillery. It was about 1.5 from DC, we did bit a bit of traffic but the drive for the most part wasn't bad. There is plenty of parking when you get there. They have two patios, one in the front and back, and there is an indoor barn that has ample seating downstairs and upstairs. We noticed people were bringing their dogs inside, which was great because we left our little guy not realizing he would be welcomed. They have flights of the cider and also flights for the liquor. The flights for the cider is already pre-selected, but for the liquor you can pick what you want. They also have light bites, like sandwiches and cheese boards, and we opted to get some sandwiches with our flights. It's a very inviting and relaxing atmosphere for a day outside the city. Highly recommend, and we will be back! read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn - Cider flight (pre-selected for you) - Cideries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

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I just didn't get the appeal of this distillery and cidery. For some reason you can taste the ciders inside but have to go back on the back porch to sample from the distillery. I think we had a new person at the cidery side because she knew practically nothing about what she was serving. And, although she was not there alone (two other people there) she was given no guidance or help for our group of 8, all doing a full tasting. None of us tasted from the distillery because when we went back there we were greeted with such a cold shoulder that there was no way we would pay them anything. Given what we experienced, tt is no surprise to us that in the late afternoon on a weekday we were the only people there. We liked some of the cider fine, but none enough to make any purchases. read more

Me and my mom celebrated Mother's day in Middleburg and had a quick pit stop here before dinner. The grounds are gorgeous with lots of seating inside and a few tables/rocking chairs outside. They had about 6 different ciders on the menu (a few of the flavors change every couple of weeks), and some other cocktail options. I opted for the julep cider, I was told it was the sweetest of them all and I liked that it had notes of mint. It was delicious!! I wish I could have had a few more but we were on our way to dinner, I'll have to come back to try more. We sat outside to take in the gorgeous views, came back inside to pay our bill and were given some very nice recommendations of things to do by the guy working behind the bar! He was very nice and friendly. Can't wait to be back! read more

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Love this place! The ambiance is always equal parts cozy and classy. The tables are small which makes it feel like a big open space to walk around. They have plain cider (hot and iced) for kids. Their farmhouse is a great staple, and I recently tried their maple cider which was excellent too (not too sweet.) sometimes they have food trucks, and they always carry chips, cheese, crackers, pickles, and popcorn. Most of their ciders are in bottles to take home. The outdoor sights are just beautiful. Highly recommend coming here in the fall or winter for a cozy vibe. read more

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Had a wonderful afternoon of live music and great drinks. The cider is really really good, we got samples to taste and then picked the shandy and strawberry flavors. Wish they had more of them by the bottle to take home! The distillery side was great as well, loved trying the different cocktails with their own spirits. Overall a great atmosphere, plenty of seating although I'm sure it fills up, family and dog friendly. read more

I'm so glad we found Mt. Defiance Cider Barn while in Middleburg because this place was absolutely wonderful for some ciders in a welcoming space. Fortunately, we spotted it on the side of the main drag when entering in the town, so made a mental note to check it out on our way out. Mt. Defiance Cider Barn is in a barn up on a hill. The space is very large, with high ceilings and plenty of places to sit and enjoy, including the outdoor area where you can hang out on the lawn. This place is also dog-friendly, which is a must in my book! We visited on a Monday afternoon and the place wasn't too busy with patrons. There was only one employee working who was very friendly and allowed us to taste before committing to a glass of cider. However, if you can't make up your mind, they do offer a flight of the four ciders they have on tap, in addition to the ciders in the fridge and some liqueurs and a sangria. I ordered a glass of the farmhouse cider, which was fantastic. I hate sweet ciders, and this one was the complete opposite. It was dry and not sweet at all, so I could really just taste the apple, which is how cider should be. If you like dry ciders then Mt. Defiance is worth checking out as they use local, Virginia apples and do not sweeten or pasteurize their ciders. Cheers to that. I would be happy to visit again when I'm back in the area. read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn - Farmhouse Cider - Cideries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

We had the cider flight and the liquor flight. They have some unique ciders and a good mix of sweet and dryer options depending on your palate. Also had the whiskey flight and they were nice and smooth. read more

Enjoyed sitting on the patio with my cider sangria and food from Nomad Provisions. Was planning on a cider flight, but can't resist sangria. It was a beautiful day and the sangria and food were fantastic. Next time a cider flight. read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn - Cider sangria - Cideries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

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Super cute looking barn that turned out to be a cidery! We did two of the tasting flights and 2 of the ciders we liked, while two of the others weren't as great. The weather was nice, which led us to sit on their very spacious and nice outdoor patio. Our one negative comment about the outdoor seating would be that the tables weren't sealed properly, which made the top very rough with wood sticking out, which felt like it would be very easy to get splinters. read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn - Cideries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

Family and dog friendly and great low key feel. Love coming up to this location during trivia night. During the winter time they might have the fire place going if you are lucky and on the warm evenings during the summer you might get to enjoy the covered patio when it rains. read more

We were in the area for something else. I've had Mt. Defiance at a restaurant before so I was excited that they were near where we were. It seems like there are two locations. We chose this one. This was during covid while it was still really cold, but online they mentioned having space heaters outside. However, when we got there, there were no heaters outside and it was fairly populated indoors. We were still in the position of not feeling comfortable dining indoors, so we only drank one glass each. My husband couldn't feel his fingers and was freezing after the one, so we didn't stay for a second unfortunately. The one glass we had was their apple pie. It tasted good, but I didn't get the apple pie taste. It didn't taste a lot different from their flagship drink. I think the outdoor area when it's NOT freezing is probably super awesome, but we went thinking there would be outdoor heaters and the fact that there wasn't cut our visit short and made it a little disappointing. read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn is a cute place to meet friends, but don't expect anything amazing to eat or drink. We all ordered Cider flights to try the different options available that day. Every time we took a sip, the group looked at each other and said "meh". The ciders we had were all so light, they lacked flavor and didn't have much body to them. My favorite was the "Julip" which had a minty flavor to it. But, I wouldn't choose it over other cider I usually drink. Luckily, we brought snacks because there's not much to munch on here. There was a pizza food truck outside that was mediocre at best (and expensive). Disappointing! read more

It's a decent hike from DC out to this, but completely and totally worth the drive! The views alone if you take the back roads are beautiful and meandering. We decided to split the day by starting at the Mt. Defiance Distillery down the street to try the bourbon and rum, then head over the the Barn. (You can get cider at the Distillery, too, but we wanted to try stuff at separate locations.) Once at the Barn, grab a flight of ciders - and this is clutch - a bag of cheese puffs then go grab a rocking chair outside on the street side of the property. The ciders are crisp, fresh, and refreshing. I'm a sweet cider person, and even the dryer ones were good to me. Their version of a shandy (cider + lemonade) was aces. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable, to boot. Highly recommend! read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn - Distillery flight: bourbon, rum, and bourbon. - Cideries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

Location was nice but the cider flight with four different ciders was disappointing. No kitchen, so no real food.

Great atmosphere with a nice mix of dry ciders and cordials, you gotta try the Pompeau! After going to the Mt. Defiance Distillery up the road, I was excited to try the Cider Barn (easy to miss, I almost drove past it). The beautiful barn is quite spacious and feels like a winery. The Barn is fairly new and opened up a year ago. I love how this place isn't packed yet as word is slowly getting out (darn this Yelp review!). Although my husband and I aren't a fan of dry ciders (we enjoy Bold Rock), it was fun to try the flight and highly recommend it! The ciders are refreshing and I appreciate how they aren't sweetened with sugar. You'll find true authentic cider here. The 4 ciders on tap have slightly different finish depending on the yeast and barrel. Can't remember exactly the names, but one of them tastes like a beer while other one tastes like champagne. The Pompeau is a show-stopper and sooo good that I bought a bottle and finished it a couple of days later! It packs a punch with rich flavor from sweet cider and apply brandy blended together, aged for a year in an oak barrel. It reminds of Port - strong, sweet and high alcoholic content! The Sweet Vermouth is also quite good and potent with a bolder, complex flavor profile: white wine and apple brandy sweetened with honey and blended with botanicals. If the Manhattan is your go to drink like my husband, you'll enjoy the Sweet Vermouth. The service was great, we spoke to Suzal who was friendly and explained to us the process of how the dry cider is made (only takes 10 days!) and let us have our own cider/cordial concoctions (we mixed General Farmhouse & Sweet Vermouth, delicious sweetness!). Highly recommend stopping in and trying a flight of ciders and cordials. I would have stayed longer if they had cheese and snacks, but they allow you to bring your own. If you are a fan of dry ciders, this place is for you otherwise you'll enjoy the cordials. Looking forward to coming back and trying the fall ciders and some more Pompeau! read more

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A group of four of us recently visited the Mount Defiance Cider Barn. It's a new facility - on the opposite end of town from the original Mount Defiance site. And much larger! As you enter, the first thing one notices is how spacious it is inside the Cider Barn. Gorgeous hardwoods are predominant throughout the barn - and the architectural elements, particularly the beams, create an enjoyable ambiance. Our server was a friendly, knowledgable young lady who gave us background on each cider we tasted. We each ordered a flight of four hard ciders, plus we tasted their Pommeau (a blend of hard cider and Apple Brandy) and their take on a sweet white Vermouth. Everything was enjoyable. There were a couple of ciders that we tasted that I would not order a pint - but overall I still enjoyed the entire tasting experience. I am sure we will return! #MtDefianceCiderBarn read more

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The barn is very beautiful and the seating and views are great. Most ciders we tried were not particularly sweet which was a pleasant surprise however, most of the ciders we tasted seemed extremely similar to one another and a lot tasted like cheap sparkling wine. The patio area was nice and spacious and the tables were spread out enough where you didn't feel on top of other patrons. Overall, glad we tried it, don't feel a need to return. Side note: we did go during the fall and I was stung by yellow jackets on the patio. Obviously NOT their fault their was a nest but it definitely did not add to the experience read more

This is the new location for mount defiance CIDER Barn. The location is newly built and smells like a log cabin! They had a roaring fire going and lights strung through the large exposed beams that towered through the center of the structure. They have a mezzanine level upstairs for parties. We came during Vday weekend and they had a cheese and cider pairing event going on for $15. We only wanted to try the ciders (cheese pairing was a bit odd for our minds to wrap around). The tasting is for a flight of 4 samples at $10. One is a dry cider which tastes like a bold rock with less sweetness. The other three, I got lost in the order as my boyfriend put them in other places, lol. There was a pepper one that they made with 3 or 5 peppers (had some kick to it). Another tasted like yeast and the last one was biter. Overall I did not enjoy the tasting... But cider isn't for everyone so you may like it! I think the venue is worth a visit. There is a lot of unused space there. I feel like the awe factor of the massive beams and lights faded after the first 5-10 minutes of being there. The Barn could improve with adding some music for ambiance and maybe having some historical things to read about the town or even the history of the cider/distillery down the way. It was an A-Ok experience from building, to staff to product. read more

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This place was just what I was looking for! Tons of unique ciders to try and get one just right! Loved the outdoors!

Definitely check this little hidden gem out totally worth it. The area makes it even better. The friendly knowledgeable staff is very helpful just tell them it's your first time and you will be gladly helped with any questions you have. Cool spot! read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn - Great time at this awesome place! Kesha knows her stuff and is a great help. Thanks for the smooth drinks and fun time Mount D! - Cideries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

3/5 multiple visits. This is a good stop if you're heading out to Middleburg or beyond. They have a really nice and large tasting room that allows for indoor seating whether it's too hot or too cold or just plain rainy. The cider is good particularly if you prefer dry cider. They allow outside food and also usually have a food truck there on weekends if you didn't bring your own. They have a nice outdoor area as well but the large tasting room gives you a great weather proof option which is something many other venues can't match. My only criticism is that they tend to have a fair stable menu so there isn't as much reason to check back frequently. Overall I would recommend Mt Defiance. read more

Went to the location in town. The single worse occurrence of absolute arrogance from an establishment's staff. Chiefly from the the man and especially the woman behind the counter, who was too busy texting to give anything but one word answers. When asked if the tastings were free (as how we perceived their sign), she answered in an even greater arrogant way. Obviously how the got the name Defiance. Obviously we will walk through life repeating this experience as how not to do customer service. read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn - Cideries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

Being a native New Yorker, I am quite used to a variety of ciders from our area and have tried many of them, so trying a Virginia Cidery got me all sort of excited. I have very mixed feelings about Mt.Defiance Cider Barn. I've only been once, but find it hard to believe I'll make the time to head back here. On one hand, the setting and grounds are hard to beat. The drive to Mt.Defiance is beautiful and takes you through some nice small towns in Northern Virginia - many with rich histories that make you want to pull the car over and learn more. When you pull up the hill to the Cider Barn, you will immediately be impressed with the wooden construction and patio area on top of the hill. It get better inside as the rustic, yet modern wooden interior draws you in with some great smells and sights. The bar and chairs are beautiful and beckon you to sit down and have a tasting. This, however, is where there is room for improvement. I tried a cider flight with all of their basic ciders. My wife got a glass of wine as she wasn't in the mood for any cider. We headed out to get a table outside and took in the sights. Beautiful. Once I started trying the ciders though, I was disappointed. Just about all of them had no real distinguishing flavors and felt "flat" for lack of a better word. The ciders all tasted fairly similar and didn't do much to stand out. This was a bummer as it really was a big part of why we stopped. I tried to find one of the 4 ciders that I would order a pint of, but couldn't do it. Bummer. Based on other reviews I've read of the Cider Barn, I don't think I'm alone with this sentiment. Hopefully Mt.Defiance can take some feedback and get people as excited about their ciders as they are to experience the grounds. If they do, I'm sure they will start knocking out many 4 and 5 star Yelp reviews! Cider fans - this is worth a look, but maybe not worth a drink. read more

A big beautiful barn shaped building with some yummy cider. I ordered a bottle of the ginger cider and I loved it. It has a strong ginger flavor but it's not overpoweringly tart. The tables were well spaced *and* they allow dogs indoors! The have wood fired pizza onsite and this I cannot recommend. I ordered the margarita and while it looked like a margartia with the fresh cheese and basil, either the sauce or the dough had a garlicly fire roasted flavor that completely overpowered my taste buds. It tasted like garlic bread sticks. The downtown location also has cocktails, I ordered the south side (i think it was called that) and it was very refreshing. The worker at the downtown spot was SUPER friendly, managing the door for people to reduce human contact and giving my pup treats. Lots of yay read more

We like Mt. Defiance Cider Barn. Overall, we really like the cider and trying the different flavors. I do wish they had more flavors on tap though. We usually stop by for a drink or flight but bring growlers to take cider home. Service is okay. One visit we came in for the Pommeau. The woman working the bar said she thought they were out and when my husband walked over to the fridge there indeed was Pommeau there. We asked about it and she did sell it to us but had he not checked we would have left without what we came for. The kir is also delicious but you can only drink that there. If you check out the Cider Barn take the time to go and check out the Mt. Defiance Distillery. read more

We really enjoyed visiting this "barn" to try their ciders! Stopped in on a Sunday, near closing time and they were very happy to explain everything to us, let us try drinks and we selected some to sit & sip & enjoy there. They have a beautiful timberframed building and we can't wait to return in the winter and enjoy a drink by the fireplace! read more

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This is new spacious and modern facility. As the name suggests, it resembles a barn from the outside. I didn't realize at the time, the barn is separate from the distillery of the same name that apparently is located in town. We had a flight of their ciders. The staff was friendly and explained their offerings. They have a large indoor seating area and a nice outside area. We enjoyed their ciders and talking to the staff. We are not cider fans but recommend others visit. read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn - Cideries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

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Beautiful space / location but the cider was just not very good. Most of it was quite sweet.

This place is a great afternoon all around! The architecture is unique and elevating. The atmosphere is family friendly but we were fine being all adult at our own table - which was more of a sculpture - - it's clear that EVERYTHING was designed. The Saturday that we were there the Barbecue from Goode Co. was the best we ever had! (And I used to live in Houston TX where a whole other "Goode Co." is stiff competition!) Sometimes cider gives me a headache - but the brewing & distilling here is absolutely top notch and everything was smooth and refreshing. We also checked out the herb garden out back and if you keep going, there's a graveyard with lots of history and beautiful spots. read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn - Cideries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

We really like this cider barn and typically always try to make a stop when going to Middleburg. They have a good selection of dry ciders. We have made it our destination a few times when we were attempting to get 5-pepper cider, which is unfortunately only available sporadically. read more

I visited Mt. Defiance Cider Barn for the first time last weekend. It was a group of four of us and when we arrived there was plenty of outdoor and indoor space depending on where you want to sit and masks are required when you're not seated at your table. All drinks have to be ordered at the bar, however, when we arrived there weren't any flights available. I wasn't sure if this was a new policy, but the staff was happy to let us have a small tasting of the cider before we purchased a glass. I really enjoyed the ciders here and they even had a hot cider that they spiked with absinthe (perfect for a cold day). Everything was crisp and delicious! If I'm in Middleburg again, I'd love to come back! read more

I'm pretty surprised to see some of the negative reviews here. I've visited about ten times and the service has been fantastic. While they don't have a wide variety of ciders I do believe that there's something for everyone. They have the traditional less-sweet Old Volstead (which is my personal favorite) as well as three to four other options. The barn itself is extremely charming and I love the ambiance of the place with all of the wood and industrial finishes. I usually sit out back in a rocking chair. A part of me wondered why I'm writing this because it may mean less room for me out on the back patio . Highly recommend. read more

I went to Mt. Defiance Cider Barn on 6/24/18. After speaking with our servers we learned that the location (not Mt. Defiance's cider) was completed in 2017. The first impression I had of the Mt. Defiance Cider Barn is that it was designed to hold groups and large events. The space is massive and has a very rustic feel. I enjoyed our tasting. I didn't think anything was outstanding. I am not a fan of brandy. However with the Mt. Defiance's cider mixed into it I found it fairly enjoyable. I almost thought of getting a bottle that I could enjoy and serve to friends that enjoy brandy. I tend to be the one that organizes events for my group of friends so I asked the servers a very specific question. The Cider Barn allows outside food and drinks. Since the cider barn is fairly new, the crowds are hard to predict. On the Sunday I was there it was almost empty. However a server told me last week almost every table was full. In a nutshell Mt. Defiance Cider Barn is a nice addition to growing drinking (tasting) scene in the Middleburg, VA area. read more

Not really a fan of cider but people I know that like it say their cider is terrific. This is a nice location - beautiful barn and front porch. Dont expect to eat here - theres no food. The Sweet Vermouth was terrific. Prices are high but you are getting locally distilled spirits so its worth it. read more

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Beautiful setting and barn, and very good cider. Worth the trip as the drive is also through nice countryside.

A great place to relax for an afternoon either sitting on the back porch or in the beautiful inside setting. Ciders are awesome-dry and not too sweet. The bartenders are friendly and easy to talk with. Bring your dog too-very dog friendly place! read more

Nice people behind the counter, but they didn't seem as knowledgeable about the product as you would expect in a tasting room. Their two mainstay ciders on draft were outstanding; one made with champagne yeast, and the other made with beer yeast. Both were bone dry, and highly refreshing. We ended up taking a growler home. The other two featured flavors were not my jam. One had coriander and orange (too much coriander), and the other (which I was really looking forward to) was cask finished in bourbon barrels. It turned out to be a complete butter bomb, just like one of those really bad Chardonnays. Bleh. They also had some cider based aperitif wines, which I didn't care for it on their own, but I believe would make outstanding cocktail mixers. I would really like to try their vermouth in a Rosita or a Negroni. Mount Defiance makes for an excellent pitstop on an excursion through the Piedmont. I will definitely return on future day trip read more

Mt. Defiance Cider Barn - View from the back stoop. - Cideries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia