Blue Bee Cider
Scott’s Addition, Henrico
Bar in Henrico, United States
Book with PearlWhy go
Blue Bee Cider works when the group wants a casual cider-focused round in Henrico rather than another brewery or a full dinner reservation. Treat it as a relaxed drinks stop, especially for cider-curious visitors comparing Richmond-area producers, pair it with a separate restaurant plan if food is central.
About Blue Bee Cider
Blue Bee Cider is a Henrico venue with a casual dress code and a limited posted weekly schedule. It is closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday through Friday from 4–8 PM, open Saturday from 12–8 PM, open Sunday from 12–6 PM. Beyond those basics, check directly with the venue before assuming specific food service, seating, pricing, reservations, or special programming.
Plan around the hours, not a full food plan
The safest way to plan around Blue Bee Cider is to use the hours and casual dress code as your anchors. If food needs to be central to the outing, check current details before building the plan around this stop.
Compared with Mekong Restaurant, Blue Bee Cider is the simpler choice when what you need are hours and casual dress. Other comparison options include The Veil Brewing Co. Scott's Addition, Ardent Craft Ales, Black Lodge, 3200 Rockbridge St, but each should be checked separately for current hours, format, offerings.
Casual, with the clearest windows on weekends
Blue Bee Cider is in Henrico, its hours make weekend planning the broadest option: Saturday runs 12–8 PM and Sunday runs 12–6 PM. Wednesday through Friday are shorter evening windows from 4–8 PM. For broader planning, use the Henrico bars guide alongside the Henrico restaurants guide if food needs to be part of the same outing.
The bottom line: plan from the schedule and casual dress code, check any details beyond those basics before you go.
Planning details
- Location
- 4811 Bethlehem Rd STE A, Richmond, VA 23230
- Website
- bluebeecider.com
- Phone
- +1 804 231 0280
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Blue Bee Cider presents an unvarnished, production-first vibe that foregrounds the craft over the décor. The taproom occupies a utilitarian, production-facing building in Scott’s Addition, and the no-ceremony exterior primes visitors for a focus on fermentation and technique rather than ambience. The program leans into Virginia’s deep apple tradition, favoring dry, tannin-driven expressions and varietal specificity. Visiting feels purposeful and hands-on — less a polished night out and more a direct encounter with how apples and fermentation choices shape finished cider.
Best For
This is a destination for curious drinkers who want to learn while they sip. Blue Bee suits groups who want an educational stop in Scott’s Addition and anyone interested in serious cider-making rather than novelty fruit pours. Because the operation functions as a production facility and taproom, it works well for casual meet-ups, small groups exploring Richmond’s craft-beverage scene, and visitors who prioritize tasting depth and varietal nuance over a formal bar experience.
Ordering Tips
Approach the menu with a tasting mindset: the program emphasizes drier, bone-dry expressions and cider made from heritage and cider-specific apple varieties. Ask staff about varietal sourcing, fermentation approach, and how acid and tannin structure inform each pour — the operation frames visits as a short-form tasting education. Prioritize the drier core of the lineup to understand the cidery’s priorities, and inquire about any limited releases or fruit-influenced bottles if you want contrast to the drier styles.
Venue details
Ambiance
Relaxed atmosphere in a semi-industrial neighborhood with indoor and outdoor seating options.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Beer Bar
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Mekong Restaurant, Notable alternative
- The Veil Brewing Co. Scott's Addition, Notable alternative
- Black Lodge, Notable alternative
- 3200 Rockbridge St, Notable alternative
- Ardent Craft Ales, Notable alternative
Bar context
How it compares for a Henrico drinks plan
Blue Bee Cider is the better call when cider is the point of the outing. Mekong Restaurant is stronger when the group needs food with the drinks, while Blue Bee Cider makes more sense for a lighter, producer-focused round. If value means solving dinner and drinks in one stop, Mekong has the advantage; if value means trying something outside the usual beer route, choose cider.
Against The Veil Brewing Co. Scott's Addition, Ardent Craft Ales, Black Lodge, 3200 Rockbridge St, the main difference is category. Those are better for beer-led groups; Blue Bee Cider is better for cider drinkers or mixed groups who want a change from brewery pacing.
For booking friction, Blue Bee Cider reads as the lower-pressure option: better for a casual drop-in-style plan than a high-stakes reservation. Cross-shop Mekong Restaurant if food matters more, or The Veil Brewing Co. Scott's Addition and Ardent Craft Ales if the group is clearly beer-first.
Explore Henrico
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Blue Bee Cider guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Blue Bee Cider
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Bee Cider | Henrico | No published awards |
| Mekong Restaurant | Henrico | No published awards |
| The Veil Brewing Co. Scott’s Addition | Richmond | No published awards |
| Black Lodge | Richmond | No published awards |
| 3200 Rockbridge St | Richmond | No published awards |
| Ardent Craft Ales | Richmond | No published awards |
How Blue Bee Cider Henrico compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Blue Bee Cider have outdoor seating?
Confirm outdoor seating directly with the venue before planning around it. The useful anchors are that Blue Bee Cider is in Henrico and its posted hours are Wed-Fri 4–8 PM, Sat 12–8 PM, Sun 12–6 PM.
Is Blue Bee Cider good for groups?
For group plans, start with the casual dress code and hours of Wed-Fri 4–8 PM, Sat 12–8 PM, Sun 12–6 PM, with Monday and Tuesday closed.
Is Blue Bee Cider good for a date?
It may work for a simple casual outing if the posted hours fit your plan. Wednesday through Friday run 4–8 PM, while the weekend windows are Saturday 12–8 PM and Sunday 12–6 PM.
What's the crowd like at Blue Bee Cider?
The style detail is casual dress, so plan for an informal visit and check current venue information if atmosphere is important.
What's the best time to go to Blue Bee Cider?
Saturday offers the longest window, 12–8 PM. Sunday runs 12–6 PM, Wednesday through Friday are open 4–8 PM. Blue Bee Cider is closed Monday and Tuesday.
