As avid alcoholic cider fans, my boyfriend and I have started visiting cideries near us to try and find the best cider. Besides Ash & Elm Cider Company, we've been to Diskin Cider (read review) and Pivot Brewing (review coming soon). Here's how we found the overall drinking experience at Ash & Elm.
Overall Atmosphere
When you enter the building, the first thing you'll notice is the bar and drinking section. They also have a non-drinking section where they serve food and it functions as a sit-down restaurant. We sat in the bar area and did not order food, but were surprised by this divide.
The outdoor area was very nice, but this was a prime area for families with noisy kids to sit, so we chose not to sit outside even though it was a lovely day. The inside of the restaurant was very calm and quiet.
Drinks, Cost, and Favorites
We bought a flight of four ciders that included one dry cider, an obscura blackberry, a semi-sweet, and a fleeting youth cider. We found the ciders all fit their descriptions quite well and were enjoyable. My boyfriend enjoyed the obscura blackberry and I liked the fleeting youth best. We did finish all of our drinks and sat for a while before leaving.
The bar itself wasn't very busy on the alcohol side, but the restaurant food section was really popping. By the time we left, there was a five-person line for the bar, so they do get busy. We did go a little early in the afternoon.
If you liked a specific cider they have on tap, you could grab a few cans on your way out. Alternatively, if you want to try a new flavor they create every month, you can sign up for their cider of the month club.
They have plenty of non-alcohol souvenirs if you want to grab a cute mug, t-shirt, or flight glass. We ended up purchasing a 12-ounce glass to add to our brewery glass collection.
Final thoughts
We had a great time at Ash & Elm. The cider was delicious and affordable, we had plenty of space to ourselves, and we really liked the restaurant's vibe. It was a little strange to see half the building as a no-alcohol zone, but it's nice that we could be served food in the alcohol section if we wanted.
Our total experience cost came to $17.28 (4-cider flight & souvenir glass), and it was worth every penny. This place is very relaxed and they have plenty of cider options (and food) to choose from if you want a nice evening out. We recommend them! They aren't too busy, but they definitely are a hidden gem in the Indianapolis suburbs.
#HiddenGems