Left Bank Ciders: Catskill’s Must-Try Apple Cider Flight

Left Bank Ciders made a business out of bad apples. After working at a neighborhood compost program and seeing bins of imperfect apples from a big orchard getting thrown into the compost heap, Left Bank’s founders were inspired to start brewing hard apple cider

A flight of hard cider at Left Bank Cider in Catskill, NY

Nowadays, they’re making all kinds of small-batch cider from local apples. Some of the apples are foraged. Some are shared by neighbors who’ve inherited orchards of uncommon 100-year-old heritage apple trees. The results are more complex and less straightforwardly sweet than your typical American on-tap cider—and they also serve local non-alcoholic cider, for any non-drinkers in tow.

Kids sip non-alcoholic sparkling cider while grown-ups taste the small-batch hard cider at Left Bank Cider

Note that the Left Bank Cider tasting room is definitely a bar. We got there right when it opened and sat down when it was empty—it felt less kid-friendly (yet more fun for adults!) as it started filling up. We ordered a non-alcoholic sparkling cider for the kids and a flight for us. Ramona, who is now in 3rd grade, read us the tasting notes with lots of emotion and excitement as we sipped.

The Left Bank Cider menu is often changing, but here’s a sample from the summer of 2022.

I loved that each cider had its own character, and the flight really allows you to experience the differences between each type of apple, the tart impact of cherries, and the sweetness of the honeyed mead. I think my favorite cider was the low-alcohol Dabkin, which is made from a second-pressing of the pomace—the pulp that remains after the fruit has been crushed and juiced. (Note: Since Left Bank specializes in small-batch ciders, the menu is subject to change!)

Left Bank Cider’s outdoor seating faces Water Street.

The outdoor seating at Left Bank Cider is more kid-friendly than the indoor bar area. There are canopies for shade and string lights to add an evening glow.

From the outdoor seating at Left Bank Cider, there are views of Catskill Creek.

The outdoor seating faces Water Street and has views of Catskill Creek, but since the patio is set among multiply parking lots, it’s not the most idyllic spot in town. However, if you park out on Catskill’s Main Street, you can get to Left Bank Cider by following a sign through an alleyway, which is a more magical way to arrive.

An alley from Catskill’s Main Street feels like a magical entrance to Left Bank Ciders.

Besides serving cider, Left Bank hosts food pop-ups, cider-making workshops, a weekly farmer’s market, and the monthly mid-week Northern Spy Reading Series, which I wish I could go to every month, if I were not stuck in the city. For updated info on all their events, follow the Left Bank Ciders Instagram.

Mismatched antique chairs, leafy potted plants, soft lights, and friendly servers bring warmth to the otherwise industrial Left Bank Ciders tasting room.

Left Bank Ciders is located at 150 Water Street in Catskill, NY. Current hours are Wednesday through Friday 4pm-10pm; Saturaday 1pm-10pm; Sunday 1pm-8pm; but check the Left Bank Ciders Instagram for updates.