Cider Chat

Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist

Interviewing cidermakers, importers, orchardists, foodies, farmers and cider enthusiasts around the world. Let's delve into the semantics of cider…or is it hard cider, cidre, sidra or fermented apple juice? The truth is out there in Ciderville and we are going to find it. We toast in celebration of cider; As a libation, a gift from the gods, a taste of terroir, and a hard pressed good time. Ready to quench your thirst? Grab a glass and join this chat! See you in Ciderville!

  1. 506: Richard Yi on Craft, Family, and the Future of Brooklyn Cider House

    15小時前

    506: Richard Yi on Craft, Family, and the Future of Brooklyn Cider House

    Richard Yi of Brooklyn Cider House isn't interested in making cider that appeals to everyone. He's interested in making cider with personality and if you've ever enjoyed hearing a cider maker tell the story behind the glass, you're going to enjoy this conversation. In this epiosde, you'll hear how a young man who once imagined a future in engineering found his way into the family cider business. Richard shares the influence of his father, Peter Yi, the evolution of Brooklyn Cider House, and why embracing the unpredictability of fermentation has become central to his philosophy. Along the way, we discuss: • Growing into a family cider legacy • The transition from engineering to fermentation • Why cider doesn't need to taste the same every year • Orchard expression and vintage variation • The role of trust in fermentation • Brooklyn Cider House's approach to craft and authenticity • Building a cider culture that values difference over uniformity Whether you're a cider maker, orchardist, or simply someone who enjoys discovering what makes a cider unique, Richard offers thoughtful insights into the balance between tradition, experimentation, and family. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Cider With Personality: Richard Yi's Approach to Craft Cider 01:34 Ciderville Standards Update 03:19 French Cider Tour 2026 Preview 04:50 Meet Richard Yi of Brooklyn Cider House 05:44 Family Roots, Wine, and the Path to Cider 07:23 Richard's Food Pairing Philosophy 09:31 Working Inside Brooklyn Cider House 10:43 Succession Planning and Learning the Craft 14:23 Building the New Paltz Farm and Orchard 17:28 Creating a Destination Tasting Room 18:27 Pizza, Barbecue, and Growing Crowds 21:10 Events and Community Building 23:15 Celebrating Korean Culture Through Cider 25:21 Craft Cider Versus Commodity Production 26:05 Native Yeast Fermentation and Cider Making 30:03 Wild Fermentation Versus Cultured Yeast 30:44 Small-Batch Ciders and Limited Releases 31:25 The Story Behind Nomad Cider 33:19 Nomad Cider Tasting Notes 35:24 Apples, Oak, and Barrel Aging 37:37 Sherry Cask-Aged Cider Explained 39:28 Lopez de Heredia and Winemaking Influence 42:15 Dance: A Basque-Inspired Fruit Co-Ferment 43:58 Dance Cider Tasting Notes and Technique 48:31 Innovation, Growth, and Consumer Trends 49:56 The Legacy of Peter Yi 51:17 Tandem Ciders Joins the CiderGoingUP Campaign 53:21 Cider Chat Summer Schedule and What's Next Mentions in this Cider Chat Tandem Cider in Michigan joing the #ciderGoingUp campaign 2026 French Cider Tour Ganzenhof Cider – Belgium eCiderNews Find the full show notes for Episode 506 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/506-richard-yi/ Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture. 💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP - by supporting Cider Chat. Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one. #cidergoingup

    55 分鐘
  2. 505: Cider Senseis: Discipline, Craft, and the Cost

    5月27日

    505: Cider Senseis: Discipline, Craft, and the Cost

    There is a question that keeps coming up in cider, small business, and independent media: Is this sustainable? In this episode, Ria sits down with Adrian Luna, known as the Hard Cider Guy, for a conversation that goes well beyond cider. What starts as a discussion about content creation quickly turns into something deeper. Two practitioners, each with their own discipline, circling around the same hard truth: if you do not value your work, no one else will. This is not about rejecting collaboration or generosity. It is about understanding the long-term cost of working for free, and what it takes to build something that lasts. From orchard life to media strategy, from martial arts philosophy to the realities of burnout, this episode asks what it really means to take your role seriously, whether you are making cider or telling its story. Timestamps 00:00 Is Cider Work Sustainable 01:28 Episode Theme and What's at Stake 02:12 Orchard Life and Spring Work 03:47 Planting, Grafting, and Growing Trees 07:02 French Cider Tour and Limited Spots 10:22 Meet Adrian Luna The Hard Cider Guy 11:20 The Cider Sensei Mindset 13:42 Finding Cider and Career Shift 15:51 Building the Hard Cider Guy Brand 17:21 From Scholarship to Cider Career 19:13 Too Many Hats Small Business Reality 20:53 Burnout in Cider and Media 24:20 Mission Statement Versus Making Money 26:03 Does Cider Need Independent Media 27:54 Should Creators Be Paid 29:32 Why You Should Not Work for Free 29:59 Martial Arts Discipline and Cider Ethics 30:50 Why Cider Media Needs Support 32:24 Finding Your Lane in Cider 33:16 Education and Audience Building 35:29 Hooks Versus Authentic Content 37:19 Discipline Through Adversity 42:33 Community Responsibility in Cider 48:15 Key Takeaways from the Conversation 49:12 Support Cider Chat and Keep It Going 50:12 Strange Apples Outro Find the full show notes for Episode 505 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/505-cider-senseis-media-value/ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and do not forget to subscribe so you never miss what is coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture. Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting Cider Chat. Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

    44 分鐘
  3. 504: Why Breweries Are Making Cider (and What It Means)

    5月20日

    504: Why Breweries Are Making Cider (and What It Means)

    What happens when breweries start making cider… not because they have to, but because they want to keep drinking beer? That question kicks off episode 504 featuring Dan Kramer and Ben Anhalt of Element Brewing Company. "Most breweries probably see cider as a way to let them continue making beer." That line says a lot. And it opens the door to a bigger conversation. Breweries adding cider isn't just about diversification. It's not just about gluten-free taps. And it's definitely not just about adding another SKU. Something is shifting. In this episode, we dig into: • Why breweries are turning to cider right now • What changing consumer habits have to do with it • How cider fits into a beer-first business model • What this trend means for independent cider makers At Element, cider isn't an afterthought. It's part of a strategy to stay relevant in a changing market and a window into where craft beverages may be heading next. Time Stamps 00:00 Why Breweries Are Making Cider 02:01 Season Travels Recap and Road Notes 04:44 Tours, Travel Updates, and France Signup 06:44 Meet Element Brewing Company 07:07 From Brewing to Distilling: The Origin Story 10:43 Barrels, Aging, and Apple Brandy 15:37 Sourcing Cider and Apples for Production 19:23 Why Breweries Are Adding Cider Now 23:53 Branding and the Element Two Concept 25:44 South Deerfield Expansion Plans 29:13 Cider Making Mindset 29:40 Tasting a Dry Botanical Cider 30:36 Yeast Choices and Sweetness Strategy 32:15 Balance First: Building Flavor 33:38 ABV, Structure, and Serving Glassware 34:59 Learning Curve and Cider Books 35:50 Apple Varieties, Terroir, and Flavor 38:33 Experimentation and Small Batch Cider 41:12 Personal Palates and Fridge Favorites 42:40 The Bigger Shift: Breweries Moving to Cider 46:00 Advice: Make Your Cider Stand Out 48:53 Apple Brandy Toast 49:40 Why Independent Cider Media Matters 51:54 Tom Oliver and 500 Episodes 53:00 #CiderGoingUp Campaign 53:45 Final Sign-Off Find the full show notes for Episode 504 at CiderChat.com Direct link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/504-breweries-making-cider-element/ Mentions in this episode: Totally Cider Tour to France Listen wherever you get your podcasts Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube 💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP

    54 分鐘
  4. 503: Audio Snapshots from the UK Blossom Time Tour | What Is Proper Cider?

    5月13日

    503: Audio Snapshots from the UK Blossom Time Tour | What Is Proper Cider?

    Episode 503 takes you through England and Wales with audio snapshots from the UK Blossom Time Totally Cider Tour while exploring one big question: What is a proper cider? Travel orchard roads through Somerset, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wales as tour guests share reflections on traditional cider, perry pears, wild fermentations, farmhouse hospitality, blossom-covered orchards, and the people keeping cider culture alive. From Ross on Wye and Oliver's Cider and Perry to Gwatkin Cider Mill and beyond, this episode captures the feeling of living inside cider country for a little while. Time Stamps 00:00 Proper Cider Defined 01:42 Tour Craft and Group Flow 04:07 Season Updates and UK Teasers 07:22 Pouring Quince and Rolling Clips 08:50 Trevor's Tour Takeaways 13:25 George and Marla's Cidery Story 20:18 France vs UK Cider Culture 24:35 Tom's Cider Journey via Spirits 32:28 Richard and Elizabeth's Mountain Cidery 39:36 Tour Gratitude Recap 40:52 UK Apple Diversity Takeaway 41:39 Cider Kindergartner Graduates 44:19 Cheese Box and Stinking Bishop 45:55 Perry Pear Center Passion 46:43 Usk Castle Cider Picnic 47:27 Blossom Tour with Syracuse Duo 49:11 Far Orchard Mystique and Bees 50:22 Cask Cider Hospitality 53:03 Gwatkins Bag in Box Secrets 55:21 Why Guided Tours Work 59:16 Last Minute Traveler Gene 01:01:08 Farmhouse Cider and Beer Overlap 01:06:33 Proper Cider at Wilkins 01:10:24 Signing Off and Theme Song Find the full show notes for Episode 503 at CiderChat.com Direct Link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/503-uk-blossom-time-proper-cider/ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture. Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting Cider Chat. Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

    1 小時 13 分鐘
  5. 502: Hungary Uncorked ? Cider Going UP

    5月6日

    502: Hungary Uncorked ? Cider Going UP

    Travel with Cider Chat to Hungary for audio snapshots from the country's first Cider Salon, featuring makers from across Central and Eastern Europe, orchard visits, and a look at why Hungarian cider is a region to watch. 00:00 Budapest Travel Update 02:24 Cider Salon Plans 04:13 Litke Champagne Caves 06:34 Hungary Surprises and Lessons 09:44 Meet Andrew at St Matthias 11:35 Election Energy at Castle 16:13 Turul Bird and Innovation 18:53 Hungarian Cider Roots 22:23 Salon Maker Zuhatag 26:57 Asturian Sidra Reunion 30:06 Cidery Near Ukraine 31:27 Tom Oliver in Pécs 31:44 Why Hungary Matters 34:15 Cider Salon Worldwide 35:20 Natural Wines at Balaton 36:02 First Palinka Tasting 37:19 Teachers Cider Table 38:13 Czech Cidérka Spotlight 40:24 Dark Cider Origins 43:24 Bosnia Bohorina Ciders 45:43 Serbian Cider Shop 47:52 Cider Has No Borders 48:51 Orchard Visit and Paprika 50:36 Quince and Wild Ferments 52:47 Next Hungary Salon and UK Tour 54:12 Strange Apples Outro Song Find the full show notes for Episode 502 at CiderChat.com Direct Link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/502-hungary-uncorked/ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture. 💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting Cider Chat. Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

    57 分鐘
  6. How Cider Is Made | Lessons from 500 Episodes of Cider Chat

    4月22日

    How Cider Is Made | Lessons from 500 Episodes of Cider Chat

    In this milestone Episode 500, we return to a simple question that has come up again and again over the past ten seasons of Cider Chat: How is cider made? After hundreds of conversations with cider makers, orchardists, historians, and fermentation experts around the world, this episode brings together the core lessons shared across 500 episodes - from orchard to bottle. This episode walks through the cider making process step by step, including: Apples and cider apple varieties Milling and pressing Fermentation and yeast Malolactic fermentation Barrel aging and lees aging Blending Bottling and conditioning The science behind cider making Throughout the episode, listeners are directed to past Cider Chat episodes where these topics are explored in depth with cider makers and experts from around the world. Episode 500 also reflects on the growth of Cider Chat, the global cider community, and the people who make up Ciderville. Thank you for listening, supporting, and being part of the journey to 500 episodes. 00:00 Welcome Episode 500 00:36 Season Voices Montage 01:51 Why Cider Chat 06:12 Cider Back To Basics 08:07 Orchard And Apples 11:10 Apple Stories And Resources 13:11 Milling And Pressing 16:57 Fermentation Essentials 18:27 Barrels And Oak Choices 19:30 Blending Art And Science 24:58 Time Bottling And Patience 25:43 Episode 500 Reflections 28:15 Thanks And Season Eleven 29:14 Outro And Bonus Banter Find the full show notes for Episode 500 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/500-how-cider-is-made/ Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture. 💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP - by supporting Cider Chat. Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

    31 分鐘

關於

Interviewing cidermakers, importers, orchardists, foodies, farmers and cider enthusiasts around the world. Let's delve into the semantics of cider…or is it hard cider, cidre, sidra or fermented apple juice? The truth is out there in Ciderville and we are going to find it. We toast in celebration of cider; As a libation, a gift from the gods, a taste of terroir, and a hard pressed good time. Ready to quench your thirst? Grab a glass and join this chat! See you in Ciderville!

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