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

New Orleans is better known for cocktails and beer than for cider, which is exactly what makes this 45-minute tasting worth a look. At Broad Street Cider & Mead, Diana and Jon explain why they make dry, handmade cider in the city, then pour four 3-ounce samples in their small urban cidery.

I like the intimate group size, limited to 10 people, and the chance to ask direct questions instead of listening to a long speech. I also like the central location, which lets you pair the tasting with other city plans. The main drawback is that these are dry, effervescent drinks, so anyone expecting sweet supermarket cider may need to reset their expectations.

Key points to know before you book

• Four 3-ounce pours give you a useful introduction without turning the 45-minute visit into a long drinking session.
• Diana and Jon host the tasting, with plenty of room for questions about ingredients, batches, cider, and mead.
• The drinks are dry and bubbly, with options such as Duchess of Devonshire, English Rose, Red Fairy, and Peach mead appearing among the tasting choices.
• Groups are capped at 10 people, making this a better fit for conversation than for a noisy bar crawl.
• The tasting room is strictly 21 and up, and children cannot enter.
• Cheese pairings may be available, but Broad Street Cider & Mead does not serve hot food.

Why a New Orleans cidery is worth your time

The first useful question here is not which cider you will like. It is why there is a cidery in New Orleans at all.

That question is part of the experience. Diana and Jon use the tasting to explain their small urban operation and the place cider can have in New Orleans drinking culture. You are not simply handed four glasses and left to guess what you are tasting. The setting gives the drinks a clear sense of place, even though cider is not the first beverage most people connect with the city.

I like this approach because it gives the tasting a purpose. You learn about a local business, the choices behind the drinks, and the difference between dry cider and the sweeter versions many people know. If you arrive unsure about cider, the session is designed to help you work out what you actually enjoy.

The room is small, and that matters. With no more than 10 people, you can ask Diana and Jon about ingredients, production, flavor, and the reason certain ciders taste the way they do. This is not the right pick if you want a large social party with music and a long list of cocktails. It is better for a relaxed conversation centered on the drinks.

Meeting Diana and Jon at Broad Street Cider & Mead

The tasting begins at 3:30 pm on the rear patio of Broad Street Cider & Mead, at 2723 S Broad St. The activity ends at the same place, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup point or work out how to return to your starting location.

The rear patio is the meeting place, while the tasting takes place in the small tasting room. Since the business operates on a limited schedule, check the current opening information before you go. It is generally open Wednesday through Saturday, with updates posted on its social channels, and guided tastings are available at other times by arrangement.

You can also request a special tasting time. If Diana and Jon are in town, they are usually happy to try to accommodate it. That flexibility is useful if your New Orleans plans do not fit neatly around a 3:30 pm start, though you should request a different time before relying on it.

The address is near public transportation, and the central location makes it easy to plan something before or after the tasting. The information provided does not specify a particular route or travel time, so allow enough time to reach the rear patio without rushing.

Four small pours, not one oversized drink

The listed tasting includes four 3-ounce ciders. That adds up to 12 ounces in total, divided among several styles rather than served as one full drink. For a 45-minute session, that is a sensible format: enough liquid to compare the pours, but not so much that the tasting becomes the main event of your day.

The exact lineup can vary, but the drinks are described as dry and effervescent. That means you should expect crisp, lively pours rather than syrupy sweetness. If you usually avoid cider because you associate it with sugary fruit drinks, this is the point to keep an open mind.

The range can include both cider and mead. Specific pours connected with the tasting include Duchess of Devonshire, English Rose, Red Fairy, and Peach mead. The Peach mead is made with honey rather than apples, so it offers a useful contrast to the cider-based samples.

I would not book this expecting a fixed, restaurant-style menu with every pour guaranteed. The most helpful way to think about it is as a guided introduction to the house selection. Diana and Jon can explain what is being poured and help you notice how the drinks differ.

What dry and effervescent really means

Dry does not mean flavorless. It means the drink has little remaining sweetness, so fruit, acidity, aroma, and carbonation have more room to show themselves. Effervescent means lightly or actively bubbly, giving the cider a livelier feel in the glass.

This style can be a pleasant surprise if your only cider experience has been with sweet commercial brands. It can also be a drawback if you want dessert-like drinks. Broad Street Cider & Mead is clear about its style, so you can make that call before booking.

The tasting is especially useful for people who are undecided about cider. You can compare four pours in one sitting and ask questions as you go. Instead of buying a full bottle of something unfamiliar, you get a small sample of several choices.

Mead adds another angle. It is often associated with heavy sweetness, but the selection here includes dry options, too. The Peach mead has been singled out as a favorite, but your own preference may depend on how you respond to fruit, honey, acidity, and bubbles.

A closer look at the 45-minute format

The short duration is one of the experience’s strengths. New Orleans offers plenty to fill an afternoon, and a 45-minute tasting gives you a focused stop without taking over your schedule.

The session begins with the cider itself, then moves through four small pours while you talk with Diana and Jon. You can expect the conversation to cover why a cidery operates in New Orleans, how the drinks are made, and what separates one style from another. The available information does not provide a minute-by-minute schedule, so the pace may depend on the group’s questions.

That flexibility suits a small room. If everyone wants to ask about ingredients or production, the discussion can take its time. If you already know a bit about cider, you can use the opportunity to ask more specific questions rather than sit through a basic lecture.

The tradeoff is that 45 minutes leaves limited room for a full tour of production areas or an extended food pairing. The focus is tasting and conversation. If you want a large brewery-style facility tour, this is not that kind of activity.

The value of $19 per person

At $19 per person, the price is reasonable for a guided tasting of four pours, especially with the owners involved and a maximum of 10 people. You are paying for more than 12 ounces of cider. The value also comes from trying several handmade drinks, learning what dry cider means, and getting direct answers from the people who make and serve them.

The price works best if you are curious rather than already committed to one favorite cider. You can sample a range without buying several full-size drinks. It is also a good value for couples or friends who want a social stop that has more structure than simply ordering at a bar.

The calculation is less attractive if you want a full meal or a long afternoon of drinking. Hot food is not served, although cheese pairings are available most days. Plan to eat before or after if you need a proper meal.

Group discounts are offered, though the available information does not give the discount amount or the minimum group size. If you are organizing a larger party, ask about the terms before booking. The group limit remains important, since this is designed as a small tasting rather than a large private event.

The food question: cheese, but no hot meal

Broad Street Cider & Mead does not serve hot food. Cheese pairings are offered on most days, which can be a useful addition to a dry cider tasting, but you should not count on a full food menu.

That limitation is easy to manage. Have lunch first, arrange dinner afterward, or treat the tasting as a short stop between other plans. The 3:30 pm start is well placed for a mid-afternoon drink, though it may fall between meals for some schedules.

Cheese is a natural match for dry, bubbly cider because the acidity can cut through richness. Still, the available information does not list specific cheeses or guarantee them every day. If the pairing matters to you, ask when you book or arrive.

The lack of hot food may actually help keep the session focused. You are there to compare the drinks, not wait for a kitchen order. Just make sure your plans account for it.

Who will enjoy this tasting most

I would point this experience toward adults who want a small, local drink experience with conversation built in. It suits people who are already interested in craft cider, as well as anyone who has never tried cider beyond a sweet bottled version.

It is also a good choice for:

• Couples looking for a short afternoon activity
• Friends who enjoy tasting rooms and small producers
• Visitors curious about New Orleans drinking culture beyond cocktails
• People who want to ask detailed questions about ingredients and production
• Anyone looking for a central stop before or after other city plans

The strict age rule is important. Everyone must be 21 or older, and children are not allowed in the tasting room. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate, but the experience is centered on standing or sitting in a small bar setting rather than on a family attraction.

You should also like conversation. The small group is a major benefit, but it means the session is not a private tasting unless arranged separately. A group of up to 10 can feel friendly and personal, though the exact atmosphere will depend on who books that day.

What the strongest praise tells you

The most consistent positive points are the hosts, the intimate setting, and the quality and range of the drinks. Diana and Jon are described as welcoming and deeply engaged with their craft. That matters because a small tasting can feel flat if the host only names each pour and moves on.

The drinks themselves receive special attention. Duchess of Devonshire, English Rose, and Red Fairy are among the cider names worth watching for, while Peach mead offers a different profile. The selection is broad enough that you are likely to find at least one style that fits your taste, even if the first pour does not.

The tasting also has a practical strength: it can change your mind about cider. If you think you dislike cider, the dry style may be very different from what you have tried before. If you already like cider, the mead and small-batch focus add something new to a standard bar stop.

No experience is perfect for everyone. The drinks are dry, the visit is short, food is limited, and the space is small. Those are not problems if you want a focused tasting, but they are worth knowing before you book.

Booking, cancellation, and timing tips

Confirmation is provided when you book, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 3:30 pm start time. Canceling less than 24 hours before the experience means you will not receive a refund, and changes made inside that window are not accepted.

The experience is often booked well ahead, with an average booking point of 23 days before the date. You do not necessarily need to plan that far out, but it is a useful signal for popular dates and small groups. If your New Orleans schedule is fixed, booking early makes sense.

Since the tasting takes place at the rear patio, read the meeting instructions carefully and arrive at the correct part of the property. Mobile tickets are accepted. The tasting is offered in English.

Should you book Broad Street Cider & Mead?

Yes, if you want a short, personal introduction to dry cider and mead, and you like the idea of learning directly from Diana and Jon. The $19 price is fair for four small pours, a 45-minute conversation, and access to a local producer in a group capped at 10.

I would skip it if you want sweet cider, a full meal, a large party atmosphere, or a long facility tour. For everyone else, this is a smart addition to a New Orleans afternoon, especially if you are curious about drinks that sit outside the city’s usual cocktail script.

FAQ

How long does the Craft Cider & Mead Tasting last?

The tasting lasts approximately 45 minutes.

What time does the tasting start?

The listed start time is 3:30 pm.

Where does the tasting begin?

It begins at the rear patio of Broad Street Cider & Mead, at 2723 S Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How many drinks are included?

The sample menu lists four 3-ounce ciders.

Are the ciders sweet?

The ciders are described as dry and effervescent.

Can children attend?

No. Broad Street Cider & Mead is strictly 21 and up, and children are not allowed in the tasting room.

Is food available?

Hot food is not served, but cheese pairings are available most days.

How many people can join the tasting?

The group has a maximum of 10 people.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time.