Craft Cider & Mead Tasting in New Orleans (45 Minutes)

New Orleans has its share of bars, but a tiny urban cidery offers a different way to spend an afternoon. At Broad Street Cider & Mead, Diana and Jon pour four 3-ounce samples of dry, handmade cider and talk through what you’re tasting.

I like two things about this visit: the small group, capped at 10, leaves room to ask questions, and the dry, effervescent style gives you a chance to rethink what cider can taste like. The owners also make mead, with Peach mead among the flavors that have impressed tasters.

One thing to keep in mind: this is a short, 45-minute tasting, not a meal or a full cidery tour. It’s strictly for adults 21 and older, and the ciders are dry, so it may not suit you if you want sweet drinks or a child-friendly outing.

At a glance

• Four 3-ounce cider pours: The advertised tasting adds up to 12 ounces, served as a guided flight.
• Diana and Jon host: The owners lead the tasting and share what goes into their small-batch drinks.
• Dry, effervescent style: Expect crisp, lively ciders rather than sweet, juice-like ones.
• Small group, up to 10 people: You have room to ask questions and talk with the hosts.
• At 3:30 pm on Broad Street: The tasting begins at the cidery’s rear patio and ends at the same meeting point.
• Adults only: Everyone in the tasting room must be 21 or older.

A small cidery, not a standard bar stop

Broad Street Cider & Mead is at 2723 S Broad St, and the tasting meets on the rear patio. The setting is described as a tiny urban cidery, which is part of the appeal: you’re not heading to a large visitor center or a production plant built for tour groups. The focus is on the drinks and the people making them.

That intimate scale suits a tasting better than a scripted tour. With no more than 10 people, you can ask Diana and Jon about ingredients, process, and how the different pours compare. If you’re new to cider, you can say so without feeling lost in a crowd. If you already know your way around a flight, you can ask more pointed questions.

The location is presented as a convenient place to explore the city before or after the tasting. Still, don’t assume the cidery is in the middle of the French Quarter or that you can walk from every major sight. Check your route before you set out, and use public transportation if it makes sense for your plans. The venue is near public transportation, though no particular route or stop is specified.

Four pours that make cider easier to understand

The advertised tasting includes four 3-ounce ciders. That’s enough to compare a few styles without committing to a full glass of each, and the small pours leave room to notice differences as Diana and Jon explain what you’re drinking.

The house style is dry and effervescent. In plain terms, don’t expect a sweet, flat drink that tastes like apple juice. A dry cider can be a useful surprise if your idea of cider comes from sugary supermarket versions. The crisp bubbles also make the samples feel closer to a sparkling drink than a still fruit beverage.

The hosts can help you sort out what you like. You might notice differences in fruit, aroma, or how dry each pour feels, but the exact four ciders can vary. The information provided does not name a fixed flight, so don’t book expecting a specific lineup.

Cider is the main event, but Broad Street also makes mead. That gives the conversation a second thread: mead is made with honey rather than apples, and the tasting title includes it. A Peach mead has been singled out as a favorite, while ciders named The Duchess of Devonshire, English Rose, and Red Fairy have also earned praise. Those are useful names to know if you see them available, but they are not guaranteed parts of your flight.

If you have a strong preference, tell Diana and Jon what you usually enjoy. If you don’t know yet, that’s fine too. The point of a guided flight is to taste first and decide after, not to arrive with a cider vocabulary already memorized.

What the 45 minutes feel like

The visit is centered on sampling and conversation, rather than a long walk through a production area. You arrive at the rear patio, meet Diana and Jon, and settle in for four pours. As you taste, the hosts can explain ingredients and process, giving you a practical introduction to what makes handmade cider different from a mass-market bottle.

The best part of this format is the chance to ask questions as they come up. You can talk about why a cider is dry, how the drinks are made, or what separates one sample from another. The format also encourages casual conversation with others who have come to try cider, without making socializing feel like a scheduled activity.

Forty-five minutes is a tidy commitment. It works well as a short afternoon stop, especially if you have other plans for the day. It is not enough time for an in-depth production tour, and the supplied details do not promise a look at equipment or a walk through the making process. Think of it as a hosted tasting with useful context, not a behind-the-scenes factory visit.

The scheduled start is 3:30 pm. Broad Street Cider & Mead is open Wednesday through Saturday, with updates posted on its social channels. At other times, the business is open for guided tastings only. You can request a special tasting time; Diana and Jon may be able to accommodate it when they are in town, but you’ll need to ask.

The dry style is the key to deciding

The most important practical detail is the house style: the ciders are dry and effervescent. If you like crisp, less-sweet drinks, this is likely to suit your palate. If you prefer sweet cider, you may find these pours sharper than expected. Keeping an open mind is worthwhile, but there is no need to pretend dry cider is for everyone.

The small-batch approach is another reason to go. Diana and Jon make the drinks themselves, and the tasting gives them space to discuss their work directly. That personal connection makes the visit more than a sequence of samples, especially if you’re curious about ingredients and production.

Mead adds potential variety, but keep your expectations measured. Some people find a honey-based drink more approachable than dry cider, and the Peach mead has been a favorite. Still, the listed menu promises four ciders, not a guaranteed mead pour. Ask before booking if tasting mead is the main reason you want to go.

A snack is possible, but don’t arrive expecting dinner

Broad Street Cider & Mead does not serve hot food. Cheese pairings are available most days, but not necessarily every day, so check ahead if food matters to your plans. The tasting itself is four small pours, not a meal replacement.

This matters when you’re arranging an afternoon. If you’re hungry, eat beforehand or plan a meal afterward rather than counting on the cidery for a full food menu. The cheese pairing can be a nice addition when available, but it’s best treated as a bonus.

Is $19 a fair price?

At $19 per person, you’re paying for four 3-ounce pours and a guided introduction from the owners. The value is less about the volume of cider and more about comparing several handmade drinks while learning how they differ. You also get the chance to ask questions in a group small enough for conversation.

That price makes sense if you’re curious about cider, enjoy tasting flights, or want a low-key activity with a local connection. It may feel less worthwhile if you simply want a full glass of something sweet, a meal, or a long tour of the production space. For a short, focused tasting, the cost is reasonable, especially if the guided explanation is part of what you want.

The activity is recommended by all of its listed participants, with a five-star average from 23 ratings. The strongest praise centers on the welcoming, intimate feel, the owners’ enthusiasm, and the chance to learn about ingredients and process. Those are precisely the qualities this small-group format is built around.

Who should book this tasting

I’d put this on your shortlist if you’re 21 or older, curious about craft drinks, or looking for a quieter change of pace from New Orleans’s usual bar scene. It’s also a good fit if you’re not sure you like cider. Four small samples let you try a range without ordering a full drink of something you may not enjoy.

Cider fans will appreciate having the owners nearby to answer questions, and mead fans may find a new favorite if a mead is available during their visit. The small group is a plus for anyone who prefers conversation over a large, impersonal tasting room.

I’d skip it if you need a child-friendly activity, want a guaranteed mead flight, or expect hot food and a substantial meal. Also consider your taste: these are dry, lively ciders, not sweet ones. Book this for the drinks and the conversation, and treat any cheese pairing or particular flavor as a possible extra rather than a promise.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted for a refund.

FAQ

How long does the tasting last?

It lasts about 45 minutes.

What does the tasting include?

The advertised tasting includes four 3-ounce ciders.

Where does the tasting begin and end?

It begins at the rear patio of Broad Street Cider & Mead, 2723 S Broad St, New Orleans, and ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does it start?

The scheduled start time is 3:30 pm.

Can children attend?

No. The tasting room is strictly for people 21 and older.

Is food available?

The cidery does not serve hot food. Cheese pairings are available most days.