By Katie Sanchez, Editor-in-Chief

Being someone who hates beer in a beer city is a real struggle. Cincinnati has a plethora of lovely breweries, but it is not super exciting to visit one and have few, if any, non-beer options for those who are over 21. This is where Northwood Cider Company changes the game by finally giving beer haters like me the brewery experience without a beer-exclusive menu.

Located on Montgomery Road just a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk from campus, Northwood Cider is a locally-owned, two-year-old cidery. It occupies an unassuming former mechanic shop just across the street from the Norwood Kroger. It may not look like much on the outside, but inside, the cidery is cozy and inviting. 

The space is intimate and simple, with plenty of space to move around or sit with a group at long wooden benches. The room is perfect for groups of all sizes; Northwood is one of my go-to spots for bringing a group of friends to play cards or for a casual date night.

Of course, the best part of Northwood is its signature hard cider, which is brewed in-house. They have about a dozen kinds of cider on the menu at any given time. The flavors range from traditional, straight-forward apple cider to peach habanero to a hot mulled cider. 

If you are used to going to breweries with friends and not wanting anything off the menu of a dozen beers, Northwood’s menu is a breath of fresh air. Now, I am the friend who wants to get a flight to try all the varieties instead of being forced to choose the one non-beer menu option or nothing.

My favorite is the BomBerry cider, which is a sweet, mixed berry cider with a delightful, refreshing taste. Honestly, though, I like just about everything on the menu. There is definitely something for everyone, with dry and sweet ciders and everything in between. The staff is more than willing to help you find the perfect one for you. You can also get an order of four mini ciders if, like me, you find it hard to choose just one.

Ciders are $7, so Northwood is also a relatively affordable choice for 21+ college students. Their food menu is limited, but it does contain one gem that I often indulge in — a $1 hot dog. It is rare to find anything in this world that costs one dollar these days, so this treat is nearly impossible to pass up.

Northwood is a great place to hang out and bring your own fun to, but my friends and I really love going there for their events. It feels like every day, the cidery is hosting a trivia night, watch party or comedy show. We absolutely dominated at Taylor Swift trivia one night and made a strong showing at a jigsaw puzzle competition. They also host afternoon reading groups, yoga classes and showcases for local vendors. 

Northwood really feels like a place that is trying to build community. I appreciate that it exists in an unassuming part of Norwood instead of in a bougie part of Hyde Park, where it could probably have more success. The crowds at Northwood are as not huge as at some local breweries, but it provides a much-needed community gathering space and an overall good time. 

It is important to support local businesses in general, and even more important to support businesses in our own neighborhood, which does not often reap benefits from having a university located in it. If you’re over 21, show Norwood’s Northwood a little love and grab a local cider.