Island Orchard Cider: A Must-Visit Cidery in Door County

If you’re exploring Door County and love trying local food and drink, Island Orchard Cider in Ellison Bay is a stop you won’t want to miss. Tucked away on a quiet side street, this cozy cider house specializes in handcrafted French-style ciders—dry, crisp, and refreshing with a champagne-like finish.

First impressions: A hidden gem in Ellison Bay

We weren’t exactly cider drinkers. In fact, after a week of sugary cocktails in Milwaukee (yes, mostly Old Fashioneds), we weren’t too eager to add more sweetness to our bloodstream. But in Door County, where apples and cherries are a big part of the culture, trying a local cidery seemed essential.

To our surprise, Island Orchard Cider didn’t serve up syrupy-sweet pours. Instead, their ciders were dry, clean, and beautifully balanced—a welcome departure from Wisconsin’s famous sweet tooth.

A modern tasting room with Door County charm

Step inside, and you’ll find a sleek, minimalist taproom that contrasts sharply with the rustic, floral wallpaper-filled spaces we’d seen elsewhere in Door County. No frilly curtains here—just a bright, modern space filled with the smell of fresh apples and fermented magic.

The staff were friendly and, more importantly, extremely knowledgeable. While they won’t bombard you with info unless you ask, once we admitted our cider ignorance, our bartender perked up and enthusiastically walked us through the menu. Her enthusiasm rubbed off on us and got us excited about sampling the cider.

Why Island Orchard ciders are so dry

We were thrilled to discover that Island Orchard’s ciders are intentionally dry, thanks to their apple varieties. They grow apples similar to those used in Normandy, France, where drier, more complex ciders are the norm.

The high acidity and subtle bitterness from these apples create crisp, refreshing ciders with less sugar—perfect for those who enjoy a more balanced, wine-like drink. Their apples thrive on Washington Island, just off Door County’s tip, where the climate mirrors that of northern France.

Our tasting flight: cherry, lavender, and hopped surprises

Flights come in sets of four, six, or eight 4-oz pours, and the menu has something for everyone—from floral and fruity to hoppy and brut-style blends. Here are the standouts from our tasting:

• Cherry-Apple Cider – Made with local Montmorency cherries, this tart and slightly sweet blend was our favorite. It’s a perfect balance of acidity and fruit—nothing like the sugary cherry sodas you might expect.

• Lavender-Apple Cider – Bright, unmistakable floral notes, and incredibly refreshing. It’s very unique tasting and easy to love.

• Hopped Brut Apple Reserve (6.9% ABV) – This one’s for the IPA fans. Dry and effervescent, it’s made with Cascade hops and has a beer-like bitterness that finishes clean.

• Brut Apple Reserve – Fermented with late-harvest apples and a secondary fermentation, this was like champagne in cider form—bubbly, dry, and elegant.

Yes, we got a little buzzed sharing just four pours. The servings are generous, and the alcohol content is nothing to underestimate.

The story behind the cider

Island Orchard Cider was founded by Bob and Yannique Purman in 2005 when they planted 200 dwarf apple trees on Washington Island. Since then, their orchard has expanded to include more acreage and apple varieties.

Each fall, apples are harvested by hand from late September through mid-November and ferried across to Ellison Bay, where the cider is pressed at Seaquist Orchard, then sent to Island Orchard Cider where the fermentation and bottling happens. That local touch is evident in every sip.

Final verdict: cider converts in Door County

We loved Island Orchard so much, we returned the next day for full pours of our favorite ciders. If our suitcases hadn’t been full of Milwaukee goodies, we would’ve brought home a few bottles.

This cidery turned us into cider fans, and it’s a big reason why we want to return to Door County. Whether you’re a seasoned cider enthusiast or a skeptical beer lover like us, Island Orchard Cider offers something refreshingly different.

Where is Island Orchard Cider?

Island Orchard Cider is located in Ellison Bay, a charming village at the northern tip of the Door County peninsula in Wisconsin. The cider house sits just off Highway 42, tucked along a quiet side street near the waterfront. If you’re exploring northern Door County, it makes a perfect stop—just minutes from scenic spots like Newport State Park and Washington Island Ferry Dock.