No motorcycle season is complete without a donut run to Cold
Hollow Cider Mill on VT-100 in Waterbury Center. Their unique cider
donuts are the perfect balance of crispy outside, tender inside --
not too sweet -- and always warm and fresh: perfect for
restoring my core on a cold fall ride.
While the donuts draw me to Cold Hollow, they are only part of
the reason to go. The mill is the largest producer of apple cider
in New England and they have an onsite bakery.
The apple cider is pressed using the rack and cloth method from
fresh, hand-picked apples from Vermont and New York. No drops or
damaged apples are used. You can watch them press your cider and
then draw a sample directly from the tank. The time from apple to
glass is only an hour. You can't get any fresher!
Nice flowers near the picnic
tables
To see them press cider, it is best to visit in the fall during
the apple harvest when the presses run daily. The typical harvest
begins in August and ends in late September or early-October. The
cider is available hot, cold or - during the summer - in Slushie
form.
If a tour bus stops at the mill while you are there, blend into
the tour group and listen. Owner Paul Brown is equal parts
entrepreneur, educator and entertainer. Paul's impromptu tours are
entertaining and informative. He obviously loves his job and is
rightfully proud of the products they produce.
Fresh baked pie
The onsite bakery makes treats for those who prefer pie, breads
or turnovers. The apple crumb pie, country apple cakes, banana
bread and ginger snaps are just some of goodies they make in small
batches. The bakery also makes a selection of gluten free
items.
The gift shop has free tasting stations where you can try cider
barbeque sauce, maple mustard, pumpkin butter and cider jelly. In
addition to food items, the gift shop has books and hand-made craft
items. If you buy something you would rather not carry, Cold Hollow
will gladly ship it home for you.
The Mill is only two and half miles north of Ben & Jerry's
and is a perfect stop for breakfast, lunch or mid-ride snack. You
can get a hot dog and a hot apple turnover, finished with a fresh
cold apple cider for $5. There is seating indoors at their café, or
in Adirondack chairs on their covered porch (a perfect place to get
out of the sun or rain).
My favorite times to stop at the Mill are early morning before
heading to the Northeast Kingdom or late afternoon after a central
Vermont ride. Or, make Cold Hollow your destination - it's the
perfect stop for those who "live to ride and ride to
eat."
Free samples
Cold Hollow will gladly ship anything that does
not fit into your saddle bags