I love this place for so many reasons, it's hard to know where to start. First of all it's vibe, the setting, the ambiance. I recently relocated from Manhattan and have been to Miami many times. This harkens to cool elements of both. Love the murals and the socially distanced set up is delightful, both inside and outside. The service is so friendly and helpful. None of this even gets into the product. I'm not really a cider drinker but tried some wonderful nine pins this summer and alas, there are several here that are even better. Will I convert from wine, never but this is a wonderful edition to alcohol consumption. And the food.... what we tried (pretzels with beer cheese) was so, so good. I can't come here frequently unless I want to gain a ton of weight. Oh but it's so cute, and relaxing and GOOD. The most important part of nine pin is that they employ people with I/DD. I work in this field and to see accommodations made to allow someone (Gary) to work in such a cool place, doing something he is good at and does well, with supports, brought tears to my eyes. People with I/DD have the lowest employment rates in the country. You guys are amazing and for this, I will always support. read more

Nine Pin Cider - Lovely outdoor seating area. One of a few. - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

If you enjoy cider you have to check out Nine Pin. I'm a Cider snob for sure. Nine Pin's cider tends to be on the dry side, think champagne! I really enjoy their pear cider, cider rose and original. They get pretty creative and often have new flavors to try which is kind of fun, a sampler is the best way to try them if you have never been. The location is cute, it's really nice in the warmer weather to sit outside and enjoy the sun. I like how they bring in different food trucks for various events, save me a stop for dinner when I make my way there. I also want to give a shout out for Nine Pin's generosity. I helped a friend solicit donations for a silent auction and Nine Pin very quickly agreed to donate and dropped the donation in the mail to us quickly, I really appreciated not having to chase for the donation. I know the winner (who sadly wasn't me but I did bid!!) was excited to win it! read more

Wow what a great place! We came on a Saturday night and it was not too crowded or too loud. There was plenty of space to sit and allowed for pleasant conversation. The service was wonderful. We ordered a flight of 9 ciders which I highly recommend, the flavors are all so unique so it was nice to try all of them. The Lime cider was my favorite! The best part of the visit? The Cider Belly donuts. They're $2 by the cash register and they are absolutely amazing. Worth every penny and every calorie. read more

Nine Pin Cider - Cider flight with the corresponding location to flavor. So helpful! - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

Terrible service. The girl was so busy making sure her bucket hat was ok vs the customer standing in front, very rude making faces and rolling eyes. All 5 pizza's we ordered they would break your teeth in every bite you had and The Sangria tasted like red vinegar! read more

This is a great local business with a great product. It's a small place, but it's super cool and fun. I went for a tasting when they did a partnership with a tea company and my friend and I got to learn all about tea and cider brewing. We obviously got to try all ciders as well. It was a great night and I can't wait to go back! read more

Great place to hang out for awhile. You can try their wide range of ciders by ordering a 9- or 4-flights while snacking on the delicious sourdough garlic pizza and listening to great music. The people are friendly and atmosphere is great. We never get that side of Albany but will be back to Nine Pin! read more

Nine Pin Cider - Sourdough garlic pizza. Perfect sir for the 3 of us. - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

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We did the 4th annual gathering of the cities and left with a truck load of tasty cider. read more

Nine Pin Cider - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

Dog friendly with delicious drinks. Cheers! Grab the raspberry cider and a few gifts from their merch area. Worth the visit. Easy parking nearby. read more

Whenever I am in Albany I have to stop at Nine Pin Cider Works. They don't only have a great selection of hard ciders they also have a great selection of small plates and snacks. I have now been here twice. The first time I liked it a lot. I had a flight of 7 ( you can choose from a flight of 4 or 7). The second time I came here I fell in love with it. I had a couple of pints. The tasting room is the perfect size, near the always vigilant giant dog and their Local Cheese Plate is amazing. It basically sealed the deal for me. So far my favorite brew is the N.Y. Dry Hopped, but I also enjoy the Golden Russet and the Signature. All of their brews are 6%+, so maybe take it slow, bike here or have a DD. Anyway, if you are in town, come check it out! read more

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We had a can of apple pie secco in Cooperstown Distillery Saratoga Springs, another 5 star spot. We liked the Mine Pin Cider so much we drove to Nine Pin's retail outlet in Albany and bought a case to bring home. Nine Pin Albany is everything you could want for a day drinking visit to Albany. read more

Nine Pin is one of those not-so-hidden gems I love bringing people from out of town to. Or even in-town people that aren't aware of some of the amazing spots we have in Albany. Schedule a tour, show up for a tasting, go to one of their special events - it's all fun. It's also a great date idea - stop by here for a tasting before a meal downtown and you will The best part about this cider is that there full menu is never the same twice. Nine Pin is constantly experimenting with new blends that a very creative group of people come up with. If you can add it into any step of the cider fermentation process - they're going to. And come up with some delicious results. Head to their Facebook page or website to find out about their most recent events. And if you're still planning on waiting to go here and find out how awesome this place is, I'm fine with that. More room for me at the bar. read more

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Staff was incredibly unfriendly for no good reason. Was a blessing in disguise as we went to other bars on the block that were much more lively and welcoming to our group. Look elsewhere for a good time. read more

I have high cider standards, so always walk into a new cider spot with a little trepidation. The staff here is fantastic and super friendly. They offer 4 and 9-cider flights, and have 11 of their offerings currently on tap. We opted to share a 9-flight and set out on figuring out which of the 2 to not try, with staff help. We ultimately settled on our 9, only to be surprised to have a mini-taster of the other two when we got our batch. Super nice! The ciders themselves were great. The base was flavorful and fresh - one of the better base ciders I've had around. We got into their flavored ones next, and while all were pretty good, there were definitely some stand-outs. The ginger was packed with ginger flavor and some heat, really fantastic. The cranberry was nice and sharp and very flavorful, and the spiced cranberry was even better - balanced with some chai and mulling spices. The peach was solidly good too. Nice assortment of bottles, cans, and other merch. Definitely seemed a popular spot, and I can see why. Check it out! read more

We had high hopes but unfortunately the rude staff ruined it for us along with subpar outdoor seating.

I love Nine Pin Cider. I have been drinking it since the early days of brewing when Alejandro gave us his blueberry cider samples, and have been hooked ever since. I love love love the Ginger One and prefer the cider out of a bottle vs. a can. It's not too sweet or dry & the company is based on great values; addressing the surplus of apples in Upstate NY and distributing a gluten-free, dry, delicious drink for us who prefer not to have beer/wheat and don't want to get shit faced off hard liquor out at night. Love it! -Tamara Wyzanski read more

We had a great time at Nine Pin Cider. They are dog friendly so we were super happy to bring our pup and not leave him in the car. The ciders were delicious. The staff was also nice. Great spot! We will definitely be back! read more

I love Nine Pin Cider. I not only like their ciders - almost all of them - but I appreciate all that they have done for ciders in New York State. They continue to explore the craft of making cider with delicious results. These folks are the best, and I hope they thrive and grow for a few generations at least. That said, I feel compelled to offer some constructive criticism about their Gathering of the Farm Cideries 2016. I attended on February 27, however it was what I would call less than optimal for several reasons. 1. The warehouse where it was held was dark and noisy and there was a band. So if there was going to be very much talking going on it had to be almost at the scream level. Screaming at the people who are wanting you to taste their cider is ok for about 20 seconds and then it's just a strain. 2. There were so many people that everyone had to stand in line for varying amounts of time for each taste. Out of an hour, one would be standing in line for at least 50 minutes waiting to taste the cider. 3. The tasting cups were virtually thimbles. This is just stingy. Waiting in line for 10 minutes to taste a thimble full of cider was annoying more than enjoyable. 4. "Food will be available" apparently meant a table of pulled pork or tacos for around $5.00 a shot. If I may make a few suggestions to make this a great experience for all customers: 1. Lose the band. It's overkill. Put it outside or in the front room where no one is trying to talk with the cidery people. 2. Limit the tickets and charge more so that everyone gets a nice 2-3 oz. taste and a buzz, and they can talk with the cidery reps without making everyone behind them in line irritated. 3. Charge enough to cover food and have two or three food vendors who have small portions of foods that go well with cider set up and ready to go. Cider tastings are really really important so that we can all begin to understand this wonderful drink. If a little more thought is put into making a tasting event as pleasant as possible and one that will provide as much education as possible about the ciders and their makers, I think it would be win-win for customers and cideries. read more

Nine Pin Cider - Very loud - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

Nine Pin has awesome ciders and a great staff. Totally chill vibe. Can sit alone and read a book or hang with friends and it's always a comfortable place. Dogs are welcome and frequent often. Can't go wrong with Nine Pin and it's great when they have a food pop up...one stop for small dinner and drinks. Staff is awesome! read more

5 stars for the quality of apple cider, particularly the blueberry-apple cider. All of them are worth trying, all made from a blend of fresh NY apples. This 'shop' is temporarily around the corner in a garage, with only a port-o-potty as a restroom, but the store should reopen imminently. Some of the best cider I have ever enjoyed. read more

Nine Pin is the first NYS farm cidery with dome of best cider in NYS! My Earl Gray Cider was greatly enhanced by the sustainably sourced seafood provided by the Fin-your fishmonger pop up tonight!! Lobster roll, chowder, and salmon burgers all make my heart sing! Local, ethically sourced, and delicious food and drink. Now that's something to get excited about. read more

Nine Pin is a cider lover's paradise. The cider here is very good, and with seven different kinds on tap there's a flavor for everyone. The problem, however, is that although the cider is delicious there's not a whole lot else going on. The tasting room is much smaller than I expected. There are a handful of high-top tables to sit at, a cooler full of bottles and four packs available for purchase, and a bar at which to order your drinks. The tables are pretty small; we sat three people at a table comfortably but a group larger than that would have to split up. Bottles aren't any cheaper here than at the grocery store, but we didn't come for bottles, we came to sample cider! Tasting options include flights of four or seven. Having had the signature and Belgian ciders in the past, I went with a flight of four consisting of the fruit of the forest, ginger, yarrose, and peach ciders. Fruit of the forest (a citrusy cider fermented with sour cherries) was easily my favorite, but I wouldn't turn down a pint of any of them. I really wish there were some substantial food options to go with the drinks, but the snack list is limited to a cheese plate and some crackers. There were a couple tables and a game of corn-hole set up outdoors, so this is definitely a fun spot to grab a drink and hang out before going to the next place. But, until they develop a food menu or provide some sort of entertainment it's not really a place you can make a night out of. read more

Nine Pin Cider - Flight of four ciders - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

Still the best cider around, and not sickly sweet like Angry Orchard or Woodchuck cider. They put on great events that I always look forward to, including the recent Gathering of the Cideries event. I also love their 26er campaign - it will keep me coming back for sure. Gotta catch em all!! read more

Nine Pin Cider - try a flight! offerings change daily/weekly - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

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Great cider and comfortable atmosphere. They have nice big tables- perfect for large parties. Ciders are reasonably priced ($13 for 2 ciders)!! They allow dogs which is always a bonus. Great place and we can't wait to come back! read more

Went here around 6:30 on a Saturday night. There was a good crowd, and it kept getting busier as the night went on. It's in true tasting room style - an open room with some seating along the edges. At night, the storefront is easy to miss but it's cozy and inviting once you're inside. The staff is knowledgeable and the ciders were unique. Try the ginger! read more

We went to Nine Pin cider with a Groupon for 2 which included a tasting of 4 ciders each and a growler. My boyfriend and I love their cider and purchase it all the time, but their tasting room was seriously lacking. We went on a Friday night, fully expecting it to be busy but were not prepared for the experience we had. The place is TINY, and I'd be okay with that if the space was utilized well but it definitely was not. The line was out the door, with zero direction from the staff on how to "line up" or order or anything! When we finally reached the area where we got to order the ciders we were only able to pick from the first 9 ciders when there were so many more to choose from! I get that we had a Groupon, but you're giving out the same amount of cider (a shot glass serving), wouldn't you want to give us a larger sample size to ensure we buy or continue to buy your product? After getting our trays with the glasses trying to find someplace to sit was the next fiasco. A good size chunk of the space was taken up by tables selling slices of cake. This probably would be better used for seating for your customers. We hung by the counter trying to keep an eye out for a seat, so be aware you'll have to keep an eye out and make a mad dash to the table if you wanna sit down to enjoy your cider. There was only one guy who was running around cleaning tables and bringing out food. Felt bad that he didn't really have help! It's loud in there, which doesn't bother me but does bother some people so just be aware. Their cider is seriously amazing! Honestly the best cider I've probably ever had. It was also nice to try some that we haven't been able to find in stores. It's also exciting that we both have growlers filled with their original cider now! And they have a rewards card that on your 10th growler fill up it's free! Overall their products are great! I think their tasting room would maybe be better on a weeknight when it's less crowded. read more

Nine Pin Cider - Flight of 4 ciders. - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

I love apples, I love alcohol, so it only makes sense that Nine Pin Cider would be a pitstop on my way through Albany. Nine Pin is pretty unassuming from the outside, and it's not terribly impressive on the inside, but I guess that's where the cider shines. I got the flight of 7 along with the cheese plate and got cozy in the extra seating area in the attached garage/warehouse. The ciders were all interesting and unique. I wish I had taken a picture of the list of ciders so I could remember my favorites, but the Ginger and the Bourbon ciders definitely stand out. The cheese plate was really delicious! I could hear the employee assembling my plate while he sang along to whatever was pumping out of the speakers, and you could tell he knew what he was doing. The cheeses he chose accompanied the fruits, nuts and sauces so well that I had to take a break from my drinks just to appreciate the full flavors. If I'm ever back in the area, I think I'd like to try out the tour and drag along a couple buddies to enjoy with me! read more

Nine Pin Cider - Flight of ciders and a regulsr cider - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

Ordered the flight of cider which gives you 4 or 9 small glasses of the wonderful cider they have on tap. My favorites were the maple cider and peach tree cider. Great atmosphere inside and just generally a nice place to hang out. read more

Nine Pin Cider - Nine tasty samples of cider - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

I actually have loved every cider I have had from Nine Pin. It is a great little place to go on the weekends located in the "warehouse" district of Albany. The tasting room is quite small but it also adds character to it and makes it a great quick spot to enjoy a cider...or 2...or more! They are active on social media so I am constantly checking their Facebook page because they do offer some great events. I love that they are growing as a cidery because of the MANY ciders I have had in my time, Nine Pin's original is in my top 3 favorite of all time. If you are in the Albany area, I highly encourage you stop in and Nine Pin for a drink and tour...it won't disappoint...or drain your wallet! read more

Nine Pin Cider - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

This is a beautifully decorated, simple yet classy little establishment. The only downside is that the bar is located in a way that the minute four people are sitting there, you have a hard time getting the bartender. There is seating all along the wall as well. There was no food and I didn't ask if you could bring any in. You get 4 samples for 7 dollars...which is kinda pricey but oh so very delicious. All of the sames I got were great, my favorite was the blueberry, and I even liked the ginger which I didn't expect too. It's a great addition to the area. The bartender was very polite, helpful and informative. This is a must visit when doing an Albany tour of our local drink establishments. Also bring your growler to fill! read more

I feel slightly guilty about awarding only 3 stars here - but not guilty enough to not do it. "OK" is pretty spot-on. Which is a shame: the products are unique and there's potential, but the sitting area is very bare-bones, not especially comfortable, and the staff - which have to be the core of an operation like this - were pretty uninterested and withdrawn, more interested in chatting among themselves and playing phone games. That probably sounds slightly harsher than the reality, but there's certainly no chance that we'd return. The ciders themselves are just fine, including a nonalcoholic version; mushroom cider really - and unexpectedly - impressed me, and I am a fan of the ginger; only the Dry came close to being rejected. So I suppose that they do what it says on the label: offer decent ciders. But that's nothing I could not do for myself at home, in truth. I'd give them 4-5 stars as a cider-maker; but as a bar, 3 at most. read more

This place is so cool. The setup was chill and no crowds. The Signature cider was great. Absolutely loved it. read more

Nine Pin Cider - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

I love Nine Pin. I live on Long Island and when I come up I always try to go. The cider is amazing and the appetizers are awesome. Everything is reasonably priced. It's so good. And there's more seating in the back. The staff is friendly, they take cards and it's a good atmosphere all around. read more

Nine Pin Cider - Sour Flower, it was delicious! - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

This is a very simple spot. On a higher for the town price end. Home-like yet modern apple design all over. The ciders and beer are light but interesting. I recommend a 9 sampler. I'd recommend to go in a group of 3-4 for an after-work drink. It is alright. Pour house is better. This place has a time limit feel. And I am just not a fan of the interior design. read more

Nine Pin Cider - 9 sampler-so good! - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

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Very cute spot, cider is great. Would recommend for a casual afternoon activity, has board games and card games. You don't come here for the food but they do serve snacks. read more

Great ciders and well priced flights. Highly recommend trying the ginger and rosé ciders. The snacks are also very good- I'd buy the homemade hummus to go if I could. Also omg the pickled peppers (heh). I don't know how the cocktails are but they sounded interesting. read more

By far my favorite place in Albany. Since moving here in 2016, I have watched this business grow and thrive, connecting with residents all over the Capital Region. Nine Pin offers some of - if not the best - hard cider ever. It's also the first farm cidery in New York and offers plenty of things for adults, children and dogs alike. read more

Nine Pin Cider - One of their great cider-infused coctails - Breweries Near Me - Albany, New York

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After trying the original cider in a local pub, I was very excited to make the trek over to the brewery and give the rest a try. It's a small place, with maybe 15 seats inside and cute apple-themed art and decor throughout. Though the weather was beautiful, we sat inside so we could review the descriptions of the ciders we were trying (maybe they could make little laminated cards with that information on it?). The tasting platter came with small pours of all seven ciders, and was reasonably priced. All of the ciders were good, though obviously everyone has their own favorite. We were very impressed with the blueberry cider, which lacked the expected cloyingly-sweet flavor in exchange for a fresh, clean taste. The Belgian was the overall favorite, the only cider they make that uses a different kind of yeast than the rest. They have bottles available for sale, and will fill growlers for a reasonable price, plus you can get some Nine Pin gear (t-shirts, sweaters, etc.) while you're at it. read more

This place has Great cider and atmosphere. Board games too add a special touch of fun. Ended up buying a shirt here as well and it's super comfortable read more

Went down for #7 of the 26er. This was the black current cider and it was delicious. We walked in and had a couple minute wait in line. The tasting room was full and we were lucky to get a table. My daughters ordered a panini which came about 10 minutes after we sat down. I tried the sandwich and it was tasty although the prosciutto was sliced a bit thicker than we like. We do enjoy our experience when we are there it is a place to sit and relax while enjoying a delicious cider. I recommend this place to everyone! read more

Great selection of ciders. Crisp and locally made. Cheese and sausage platters were excellent with some ingredients made locally at ninepin! Hand cured sausage-- must try. read more