I'm obsessed with the vibes here! From sipping mead out of horn cups to exploring the faering (a…read moreViking boat) outside, Helderberg Meadworks feels like a magical escape. I especially love the Esperance location for its gorgeous views and the option to sit outside by a bonfire. The stunning views are matched by the fun, Nordic-inspired interiors. The decor, seating, and bar all add to the atmosphere, and even the bartenders fit right in! Service is great--they're so sweet and knowledgeable about the meads as well. As for the mead, it's absolutely delicious. I recommend trying a flight to sample the different flavors before picking your favorite for a full glass. I loved them all, but my top pick has to be Loki's Lure--a rich blend of coffee and cacao. Other favorites are the Heritage and Black Currant. The one thing I do wish the meadery offered is snacks. It would be nice to have something to munch on while enjoying the drinks. Beware of the mead though--it's so tasty and goes down so easily, you might find yourself tipsy before you know it!

Stopped in to try the Mead. We were a party of 4. Only one of us liked the Mead. Just personal…read moretastes. The cider was really good and the majority of us liked it. The 5 stars come from the place and the service. Great location loved the decor and the service was great! We just found out we were not Mead fans. Recommend for those that want to try and those that already know they like Mead.

This spot is so special and we are so grateful to have it in our new home city. What a gem to find…read morea great Meadry with local stock and wide selection in any city, much less unexpectedly after moving cross country to Troy. The staff and patrons really make the whole vibe and atmosphere all the more bad ass. The whole place even the decor in bathroom is a major vibe and I feel like I must bring my drinking horn to use in place of a cup sooner than later. Some special shout outs to the bartenders, India and Emily, who have treated my husband and I with huge welcomes as recent transplants to NY. Yall have a whole magical thing going on up there! 12 out of 10 stars. A must hang spot when in the downtown Troy area. Great mead and cider selections love that you can purchase bottles for home too.

Friendly, small place, but comfortable. As for the mead,…read moreplenty of variety, some ciders as well. I enjoy it.

It was raining when we went so there was no service outside, still had a great time and will…read morecertainly be back to enjoy some music and mead!

This was an outstanding place to hang out. My group had some mead flights, and my wife liked one…read moreso we bought a bottle. Then we played some Frisbee Golf. We really enjoyed the viking theme and even tried on some of the funny costumes. They need something to serve non drinkers/designated drivers. I had a water, but it would have been nice to have some kind of soda or something like that. But for the average visitor who is going to enjoy a real drink. You won't be disappointed.

What a beautiful, CLEAN, friendly, and inviting venue!…read more Aside from incredible cider at more than fair prices (try the classic, the Mule cider, and the Imperial (if you want more bang in your cider)), Nine Pin is absolutely SPOTLESS inside - so impressed with how clean this place is. Also impressive are their Bavarian pretzels with Cider Cheese, the ambient music, the selection of games to play, and their robust calendar of events. The team members working there are super friendly and knowledgeable. One of the highlights of this visit was watching a couple at a nearby table order a cider flight, and it comes as an impressive display of nine tap offerings framed in a nine-pin bowling pin diamond - WOW!!! Though I am not in Albany often, I do have a few friends in the area and rest assured the next time I am in this city, Nine Pin will be where I ask to meet up with all of my friends. I'm excited for another trip here. Well done Nine Pin!

Given my strong opinions on supermarket apples and apple picking, it's no surprise that an…read morealcohol-containing formulation of this fruit gets me talking. Nine Pin serves up excellent cider and impeccable service. Flights are available with four or nine varieties. Signature started things off, signaling that Nine Pin is a purist, or at least traditionalist, rather than a drinkable dessert purveyor. (Availability may vary; Yelpers aren't legally liable for enticing descriptions of beverages that may not be available during your visit). Per the above disclaimer, I feel vaguely guilty about mentioning W.A.R.P., as I may have been there for the final days of this fall offering. which isn't currently listed on the website. This stands for Wild Apples of the Rensselaer Plateau and it lived up to the iconoclastic description. Pear was smooth and subtle. Given Nine Pin's proclivities, Black Cherry may have been the perfect match, sweeter than its peers but not cloying. An encore 4-drink flight meant a tough choice in skipping one of the 9, but the knowledgeable and generous bartender (cidertender? cider king?) gave me a sample of a hops variety (exact name forgotten) that was very appealing. I had feared it would be too close to beer. Belgian, which is Signature fermented with Belgian Abbey Ale Yeast, felt sort of beer-adjacent so it was my least favorite. Ginger Mule was enjoyable, sweet than expected. Imperial was like the movie PCU, great start but lost some appeal by the end. Cranberry was refreshing, one level less sweet than cherry. Since too much positivity is boring, I'll end on this note: why doesn't "the world's greatest city" have a place like this? Wallingford, Salem and Wallkill can enjoy cider flights but NYC? Oh well, at least the brilliant Nine Pin Cider is only a PATH, Amtrak and two buses away.

Such a fun, joyous, and friendly place for any event. Great food, excellent wine, lots of history!read more

This winery is incredibly charming and absolutely beautiful. The barn is pristine, spacious, and…read morefeatures modern amenities, including nice restrooms and a bar in the back with a penny counter which was so cool. The ambience is rustic. There's definitely something to catch your eye, especially at the bar. Reminded me of a Tuscan beach bar shack It's quite adorable with the cozy room off to the side decorated with a teapots. The outdoor yard area is also spacious. Convenient parking that you can see the horses near the stable from. It's just a quick drive and easy to locate from Albany. I would highly recommend without hesitation.

My wife and I stopped by with our three friends about 8pm on Saturday night. I was pleasantly…read moresurprised by the nice ambiance and decor with what looked like a copper top ceiling, a main bar, a few raised tables and 2 cozy leather chairs that made me think of enjoying a nice after dinner bourbon in the study of an late 19th to early 20th century study of a business tycoon or politician from that time period.. The bar tender, Noah, was impressive and friendly in that he knew his liquor stock very well, and could explain the flavor intricacies of the various types of bourbon, vodka, and gins. They also offer some non,-alcoholic beverages for the "designated driver" of the group too. We watched Noah make everything from regular and "dirty martinis" with fresh ingredients, as well as one drink where he used a butane lighter and some tiny cedar chips in a straining tool above the drink to give it a fresh, authentic smoky look and flavor. Noah knows his stuff!!!!! The patrons were friendly, diverse, and easy to socialize with if you chose to do so. The establishment is pet friendly for "socialized pets" with a water bowl outside the establishment and some free Milkbone treats inside. Keep in mind that this establishment is a "tasting room" with the majority of products from the New Scotland Distillery, but there are other options. Just don't expect to get a Bud Light Draft or food here. The only downside is that parking in the Lark Steet and State Street location is difficult to obtain without some effort, but we managed to park our vehicles 2 blocks away. This is not a direct criticism of the establishment because the experience is well worth this minor potential inconvenience. We would definitely go back there again, especially for the specialty drinks or the flights and half flights of their bourbon and vodka products. Thank you once again, Noah, for a pleasant and educational evening!!!

This place is very nice -- welcoming, artsy, comfortable, small but personable. We live across the…read morestreet, and my husband and I wanted to give it a try. Unfortunately, it was not a great experience. The bartender served our drinks with no napkins and no lime. Details are key in a place like this. It was also loud, and it looked like a birthday party was happening. If that was the case, maybe the place should have closed to the public to accommodate that celebration. People were loud and drunk, and the birthday boy was saying vulgar things. We will not be coming back.

This is the perfect spot the relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery with a cocktail or glass of…read morehouse made mead. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be back. The apple mead was the perfect fall drink. My husband had the Bee's Knees cocktail and it was absolutely delicious. You are also able to buy bottles of mead or spirits to take home. Conveniently they accept credit cards as well.