A conversation with Czech Cider Fan Dan Samek

This episode brings us to the heart of Europe by way of Vermont. Ria sat down with Dan Samek, a cider enthusiast and home distiller from Prague, to talk about the evolving cider scene in the Czech Republic. They met at Kilowatt Park which is on the west side of the Connecticut River in White River Junction, Vermont.

Dan Samek

This was the first stop on the Cider Tour to Vermont and New York in May 2025.

In this Cider Chat featuring Czech Cider

1. A Fruitful History

• The Czech Republic is rich with apples, pears, plums, and cherries and exports a lot of fruit.
• For centuries, fruit trees lined roads to feed traveling soldiers. This is a legacy left from the  Barak times, in the 18th century

2. Cider by Way of Calvados

• Dan journey to cider started while he was working at a French winery
• He has an affection for Calvados and thus made cider to distill.
• His process blends natural fermentation and dry yeast (He favors the yeast known as 72B).
• The apples come from old trees in his one-acre garden-orchard near Prague.

3. Small Scene, Big Potential

• Early cider makers in the Cech Republic began around 2007.
• Prague had a cider shop (InCider) and a cider bar, but today you can find cider at most bars.
• Cidrerie Kliment and Utopia are two standout producers—Utopia leans all natural.

4. Enthusiasts Leading the Way

• Many Czech homes still have fruit trees.
• Backyard fermenters use presses ranging from barrel-style to hydraulic.
• Gardening clubs and university programs help spread knowledge.

5. Beyond Apples

• Dan grows quince and medlars and has a Sorbus domestica tree in his orchard.
• Morovia which is to the north of Prague has a Sorubus Domestic museum.
• There’s a growing appreciation for traditional and lesser-known fruits in fermentation.

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Czech Cider Data Base https://databazecideru.online/dejv/
• Natalia who write the Cider Explorers blog post on Czech Cider and Prague Cider Fest  https://ciderexplorer.wordpress.com/2017/07/17/where-to-drinkbuy-cider-in-prague/
• Prague Cider Festival – Slavnost Cideru to be held June 12–14, 2026
• Art + Science Concerts and Campouts start July 5th | Oregon
• De Groote Wei Cider Fest – August 16, 2025 | Netherlands
• The Flower Expo
• Paper Crane Cannabis – Boey Bertold  organic and regenerative family-owned farm
• Totally Cider Tour UK_Edition 20225

Related

 

Eric Depradine of Zydeco Meadery crafts mead with Heart, Honey, and Heritage

As securing permission, Eric was able to start his fermentation journey in high school with a science project using cane juice. That spark stayed with him through his time in Louisiana and Kansas, eventually shaping what is now Zydeco Meadery in North Attleborough, Massachusetts.

Eric Depradine What makes these meads so special?

Zydeco Meadery weaves Eric’s Caribbean heritage into every bottle. Drawing from Trinidadian traditions like “Sorrel”, a spiced hibiscus drink served during holidays, Eric reimagines this ancestral recipes by using honey instead of cane sugar. Each mead showcases distinctive honey varietals, from Louisiana wildflower to Massachusetts knotweed, adding layers of terroir that reflect the regions that shaped him. The result is a line of meads that are bold, balanced, and culturally rich—fermented expressions of family, migration, and memory.

Meads and Cysers Featured in this Chat

• Carnival Rose
  • Carbonated hibiscus mead rooted in Caribbean sorrel tradition
  • 12% ABV, spiced, bold, festive
  • Named in honor of Calypso Rose, the first female calypsonian
• Yankee Heritage Cyser
  • Apple, raisin, and knotweed honey
  • Inspired by colonial cider traditions and Bear Swamp Orchard & Cidery which is in Ashfield, Massachusetts but is no longer open.
• Bayou Soleil
  • Traminette grape and citrus blend
  • A nod to Louisiana groves and Eric’s wife’s love of German varietals
• Atlantic Creole
  • 100% Massachusetts knotweed honey
  • Molasses-like, earthy, and distinct

Contact Info for Zydeco Meadery

• Website: https://zydecomeadery.com

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Totally Cider Tour Uk_Edition 2025
• Flower Expo
• Apple Guy Flowers

Lucas of Apple Guy Flowers

A Digital Media Empire Embraces Cider at The Newt

The Newt in Somerset is a world-class estate blending cider-making, luxury hospitality, and horticultural excellence. The estate is owned by South African owners Karen Roos and her husband Koos Bekker, who is a South African tech entrepreneur known for his innovative ventures, including transforming media group Naspers. Bekker’s vision extends beyond digital media into luxury hospitality and agriculture, mirroring his approach at Babylonstoren in South Africa, The Newt’s sister property.

Ciders tasted at The Newt in Somerset A Cathedral to Cider at this Luxe Estate

The Newt’s cider operation began in 2018, a year before the estate’s gardens and hotel opened. Designed with a focus on creativity and the visitor experience, the cidery features state-of-the-art equipment, including Voran presses, hypoxic apple storage, and multiple fermentation tanks. The cider is predominantly crafted for guests visiting the estate, which receives up to 200,000 visitors a year.

Charlie Inns: The Cider Maker’s Story

Charlie Inns, the cider maker, brings a deep passion for microbiology and biochemistry to the operation. His journey began with home brewing in his youth, later gaining professional experience at Lilly’s Cider. At The Newt, Charlie focuses on crafting ciders using estate-grown apples from 65 varieties, many of them heirloom. The orchards, covering approximately 70 acres, are planted with traditional, full-size trees spaced widely to minimize disease spread and reduce the need for chemical treatments.

Charlie Inns Cider maker at The Newt in Somerset State of the Art Cider Production

The cider-making process includes a variety of yeasts, including wine strains, and a mix of stainless steel and oak barrel fermentations. Techniques such as gravity-fed racking, malolactic fermentation, and freeze concentration for ice cider production are part of the cellar’s repertoire. Some ciders are back-sweetened with apple juice or ice cider concentrate, and a cider club offers members access to exclusive batches and virtual tastings.

Watch a behind the scenes from The Newt

Operations and Sales Support

Luke Benson, who joined The Newt more recently, supports Charlie with operations and sales, ensuring the cidery runs efficiently and allows the cider maker to focus on quality and creativity. Luke’s background includes home cider-making and beer brewing.

Ria, Luke Benson, Arthur Cole touring The Newt Ciders Tasted at The Newt

• Fine Cider: A Braeburn single varietal fermented with Pinot Grigio yeast, crafted to appeal to wine enthusiasts.
• Kingston Black: A single-varietal expression using this traditional bittersweet apple, known for its crisp acidity. The cider featured champagne yeast and was back-sweetened with ice cider and fresh juice for a balanced finish.
• Red Love and Vilberie Blend: A complex cider combining the tart Red Love apple from Kent with the tannic Vilberie, resulting in a deeply colored, aromatic cider.
• The Winston: A méthode champenoise-style cider made from Katy apples, aged for several years, named after Winston Churchill and bottled in pint-sized bottles.

The Winston

• Hopped Braeburn: A single-varietal Braeburn cider infused with Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand, offering a delicate, aromatic profile with a hint of residual sweetness from the apple.
• Signature Blend: A flagship cider blending over 30 apple varieties from the estate, fermented in both stainless steel and oak, with a focus on capturing the essence of The Newt’s orchard.

Contact Info for The Newt

• Website: www.thenewtinsomerset.com

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Totally Cider Tours_UK Edition 2025
• Ethic Ciders | California Summer Solstice BBQ Saturday, June 21 · 12 – 5pm PDT. tickets
• @nordappelcider is sending an open letter to the German EU delegates, advocating for transparent labelling. This new comes in via 1785 Cider who was featured on
• Moscow’s Rebel Apple wins International Cider Maker of the Year at GLINTCAP Listen to Episode 216: Alex Ionov | Rebel Apple, Moscow
  • Watch this video sung by Alexander Ionov. In this song the young man is addressing a girl with St Valentines letter explaining how much he dreams about her
    • The main phrase of the song is «I need you more than a ton of cider» (or to be precise in translation «You are more important for me than a ton of cider»).

Levi Danielson is the founder and cider maker at RAW Cider, based in Dayton, Oregon. With roots in the Driftless Region of Minnesota and a cidery nestled among cider apples and pears in the Willamette Valley, Levi’s story is one of wild ferments, place-based cider, and planting for the future – both in Oregon and back home.

Levi Danielson Building RAW Cider

Levi’s path began in microbiology and health policy before a leap to France introduced him to wild fermentation and orchard life. After interning and later leading production at Dragon’s Head Cider in Washington, Levi launched RAW Cider in 2020 with méthode champenoise ciders that quietly matured during the pandemic.

Since then, RAW Cider has:

• Opened a year-round tasting room on an orchard in Dayton, Oregon
• Earned gold and silver medals for its first releases
• Focused on native yeast fermentation, minimal intervention, and orchard-first practices
• Planted and top-grafted cider and perry fruit in both Oregon and Minnesota

Pear Ambitions and a Regional Vision

Levi’s passion for perry is central to RAW Cider. With 60-year-old pear trees, now top worked with perry pear varieties and wild seedlings grafted in the Mississippi River Valley, plus collaborations in Hood River, he’s betting on American perry’s future.

He believes Hood River could become the “Domfrontais of the U.S.”—a new home for pear-driven sparkling ciders that mirrors the pear region in Normandy, France.

Listen to episode 313: Wild Yeast Fermentations | CiderCon 2022 featuring a panel discussion with Levi Danielson

Contact info for RAW

• Website: https://www.rawcider.com

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• European Union 100% juice movement – Sign the petition today! https://www.petitions.net/protect-european-artisanal-cider-and-perry
• Totally Cider Tours
• Inn on Lake Champlain

Keep #ciderGoingUP by becoming a patron at the Cider Chat Patreon!

 

An intimate sit down with James Forbes of Little Pomona to talk about grief of losing his wife and business partner Susanna Forbes, the growth of the cidery, and the evolving identity of one this select cidery.

Remembering Susanna Forbes

Susanna Forbes, co-founder of Little Pomona, passed away in 2024. Her warmth, encouragement, and belief in others shaped the cidery from day one. As James puts it,

“She was always trying to build up and support others – including me.”

James, Ria and Susanna 2019 What’s New at Little Pomona

• Champagne Method Quince Wine – Possibly the second of its kind globally, due this summer.
• Champagne Method Egremont Russet – One of his favorite apples, now sparkling.
• Keeved Ciders – A new path, with mixed results but promising bottles.
• Distilled Projects – Collaborations with Capreolus and Pleasant Land to craft pommeau aged in chestnut barrels.
• Annual Disco Nouveau – Returning with the 2022 and 2023 vintages.
• Natural Yeast Ferments – Used throughout, except the second ferment in méthode champenoise.

Where to Find Little Pomona

• Hereford Beer House | Hereford
• Museum of Cider | Hereford
• Specialist shops in London, Manchester, and Glasgow
• Press Then Press –
• Select U.S. locations via Anxo (Washington D.C.)

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Totally Cider Tours – UK Edition
• Vermont and New York Cider Tour/Road Trip
  • 1000 Stone Farm
  • Saint Lawerence Nursery
  • Frosty Twig and Canton Apples
  • Pierrpont Cider
  • Inn at Lake Champlain

Support #ciderGoingUP at Patreon

Fourth-Generation Farmer, First-Generation Cidermaker

Sophie Horstink of De Groote Wei, which means The Great Meadow in Dutch, is crafting Dutch cider as a value added project at her family’s farm. Located in the eastern Netherlands near Arnhem, the farm spans 16 hectares and has long produced dessert apples and pears.

Sophie Horstink

The Horstink family market is well-known and is a go-to place for locals to shop and would be considered a grocery store.

She released her first cider in 2022. The early response was enthusiastic, selling out quickly and prompting her to scale production. She now ferments around 5,000 liters annually in what is called the ‘cider cave” on the family farm.

De Groote Wei’s Ciders cider garden

• Appel Vink (Apple Finch)
  • ABV: 6.5%
  • Notes: Lightly sparkling with fresh acidity and a hint of sourness. Made entirely from eating apples including Elstar, Jonagold, and Belle de Boskoop.
• Groente Vink (Green Finch)
  • ABV: 6.5%
  • Notes: A blend of apples as used in the Appel Finch and 30% Conference pears. Also bottle-conditioned, this cider has a rounder mouthfeel and delicate fruit aromatics.

Contact info for De Groote Wei

• Website: https://www.degrootewei.nl

Family Farm shop Mentions in this Cider Chat

• VT & NY Cider Road Trip
• Totally Cider Tours
• SpaceTime Mead and Cider Works set to close June 22, 2025 – listen to the Space Time episode 288 with Dan Schreffler

Support this podcast by becoming a patron!

Donatas Genys didn’t set out to launch Lithuania’s first keeved cider. But after trips to England and Normandy, years of experimentation, and the planting of over 6,000 cider apple trees, that’s exactly what he’s doing. At Sodo Sidriné, located just a few kilometers from the city of Kaunus, Donatas is into a whole new era for cider Lithuania’s cider revival

Donatas Genys Cider Culture and Baltic Roots

Lithuania has deep agricultural roots, but apple trees which at many of the homes are desired more for eating or making apple wine while vodka and beer under Soviet rule flourished.

Note: Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union on March 11, 1990, becoming the first Soviet republic to do so, an act made possible in part by the loosening of Soviet control under Gorbachev’s Perestroika reforms.

Donatas is using both local varieties like Auksis and imported cider apples such as Yarlington Mill, Harry Masters Jersey, and Marie Ménard. His orchard-first philosophy ensures every cider is estate grown and rooted in place.

Keeving in Lithuania

The hallmark of Sodo Sidrine’s offerings is a naturally keeved cider. Donatas showcased his keeved cider at CiderCon 2025 and received a lot of praise from attendees, including this Cider Chat Producer Ria Windcaller. Genys admits it’s the most labor-intensive process, but also the most rewarding. This method yields a semi-dry cider with natural sweetness and long-lasting complexity, a rarity in a country where most consumers only know industrial cider.

A New Era for Lithuanian Cider

With a production facility nearly complete, Genys is preparing to scale up. His vision includes:

Sodo Cider

• Stainless steel fermentation
• A small tasting room with potential for expansion
• Fruit wines and hopped ciders to appeal to a wider audience
• Apple brandy aged in sherry casks for future release

Inside Sodo Sidrine

Despite legal gray areas (there’s no craft cider license in Lithuania), Donatas is pushing forward — blending tradition, research, and experimentation with quiet determination. He expects his licensing process to be completed by the summer of 2025. Stay tuned!

Contact info for Sodo Sidriné

• Website: https://sodosidrine.lt/

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Totally Cider Tour_UK Edition
• Bent Ladder | Doylestown Ohio – Events
• Locust Grove Brewing – Mother’s Day Brunch – Live Music, Food Truck 11-2pm

At the base of Colorado’s Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top mountain, five generations of fruit growers have worked the land. Today, Snow Capped Cider carries on that legacy, crafting estate-grown ciders from fruit nurtured at elevations between 6,130 and 7,000 feet. The high desert sun, volcanic soil, and pure snowmelt water combine to create vibrant apples and distinctive ciders.

From Hobby to Heritage

What began as a small experiment soon blossomed into a full-fledged cidery. Sparked by a disappointing store-bought cider, Kari Williams and her family leaned into their winemaking background and deep orchard knowledge to create cider reflective of their exceptional terroir.

Kari Williams Cider Making at High Elevation

At Snow Capped Cider:

• Only estate-grown fruit is used.
• Over 100 acres are dedicated to cider-specific apple varieties.
• The extreme UV exposure at high elevation leads to apples with higher sugars, acids, and tannins, setting the stage for rich, complex ciders.

Managing a shorter growing season, spring frost risks, and labor-intensive frost protection methods has shaped their unique approach to farming and fermenting.

A Range of Styles

Snow Capped produces:

• 16 canned ciders distributed across four states.
• 54 distinct bottled ciders, from single varietals like Kingston Black and Harrison to blends featured in the Elevation Series.
• Botanical infusions and experimental ferments, all handled with precision and passion.

Their Gold Rush cider, a blend of French and English apples, showcases the vibrant flavors that their terroir imparts — a naturally complex, award-winning cider approachable for all levels of cider drinkers.

Where to Find Snow Capped Cider

Ciders are available via:

• Retail in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and California
• Online at VinoShipper
• Their exclusive cider club offering small-batch, estate ciders.

Contact Info for Snow Capped Cider

Website: https://snowcappedcider.com

Mentions in this Cider Chat Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Totally Cider Tours

Keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting this podcast via Cider Chat Patreon

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Cider Maker profile, Colorado Ciders   Tags:

 

Cedar Ridge ciders, Colorado Ciders, Grand Mesa, high elevation orchards, UV exposure and fruit quality

This episode of Cider Chat, was recorded in person with Abram Goldman-Armstrong at CiderCon2025 in Chicago. Hear his journey to cider. From growing up in Oregon’s Yamhill County to his current work in Norway’s Hardanger region at Alde Sider.

Abram began fermenting cider as a student in Minnesota and went on to found the cidery known as Cider Riot in Portland, Oregon. His experience reflects both the evolution of the cider industry and the challenges of building a business grounded in values and community.

The Cider Riot Years

Cider Riot grew from a home cider making project into a well-regarded cider brand and pub. Abram describes building the business, navigating challenges like rising rent and market shifts, and the significance of Cider Riot as a political and cultural hub. The pub hosted community meetings, union organizers, and events that reflected Portland’s activist spirit.

Standing Against Far-Right Violence

On May 1, 2019, Cider Riot became the site of a violent confrontation when members of the far-right group Patriot Prayer, led by Joey Gibson, clashed with patrons during a May Day celebration. The altercation resulted in injuries, including a woman being knocked unconscious. Abram filed a $1 million lawsuit against Gibson and others involved, alleging that they had instigated the attack. The incident drew national attention and highlighted the challenges faced by businesses taking a stand against hate groups.

Relocating to Norway

After Cider Riot closed in late 2019, Abram accepted an offer to collaborate with cider makers in Norway. He began working with a small brewery before moving west to Hardanger, where he now produces cider at Alde Sider. The region has a long history of apple growing and is the first in Norway to receive a protected designation for cider.

In this Cider Chat

• Early influences in Oregon: Working with Alan Foster of White Oak Cider, planting bittersweet varieties like Kingston Black.
• DIY beginnings: Making cider in college using apples from the dining hall and a cheese grater.
• Founding Cider Riot: From garage startup to a full-scale cidery and pub in Portland, Oregon.
• Pub culture & Portland community: Supporting labor organizing, queer and trans spaces, and anti-fascist events.
• Financial challenges: Draft-focused sales model, missed retail opportunities, and the impact of hard seltzers.
• Closure of Cider Riot: Reflections on its cultural significance and decision to shut down in 2019.
• Move to Norway: Invited to launch a cider program with a brewery in Sandefjord, leading to Tall Ship Cider.
• Transition to Alde Sider: Current role as lead cider maker in Hardanger, Norway’s key cider region.
• Hardanger cider traditions: Protected cider designation and historic use of apples like Gravenstein and Discovery.
• Production methods at Alde:
  • Use of Nottingham ale yeast
  • Chaptalization with Danish beet sugar
  • High-acid juice (~pH 3.1–3.2)
  • Residual sweetness target of 1.003 SG
  • Crossflow filtration to halt fermentation
• Barrel aging program: Experiments with French agricole rum and Norwegian whiskey barrels.
• Community cider scene: Five producers in the village of Nå, collaboration across the fjord, and cider tourism via fjord boat.
• Cultural observations: Comparing pub cultures, lifestyle differences between Norway and Portland.
• Low-ABV cider innovation: Creating a 4.7% cider for draft sales in collaboration with 7 Fjell Brewery.
• Use of wild yeast: Petnat-style experiment using orchard yeast and natural inoculation.
• Future plans: Continuing to explore cider styles in Norway, working with bittersweets, and developing new blends.

Contact Info Abram

• Website: https://www.aldesider.no

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• 317: How a “Cyder” Teapot fueled the American Revolution
• Stone Ridge Orchard Wassail May 3rd & 4th – tickets https://www.clover.com/online-ordering/Event-Tickets
• Episode: 450th Roger Wilkins – The Cider King

John Edwards, longtime cider maker and integral team member at Ross on Wye Cider & Perry Co., and the creative force behind his personal label Fly be Night Cider was last on the podcast in 2019.

John Edwards In this Cider Chat with John Edwards

ohn is part of the tight-knit crew at Ross Cider who keep things running from orchard to bottle. The team has embraced a belt press system, which John finds surprisingly nimble—even for small batches. While Ross is rooted in tradition, they’re also evolving their process to match the scale and diversity of their orchard.

• Transitioning to stainless steel fermentation tanks
• Working with old and rediscovered apple varieties
• Committed to wild yeast and natural fermentation
• Managing fire blight
• Diversifying the orchard’s apple stock with varieties like Kingston Black, Golden Ball, and Cider Lady’s Finger.

Fly Be Night: A Creative Outlet

Fly by Night remains John’s personal cider expression—just a few barrels a year, shared with friends. Each release gets a new label (last year’s was “Space Goat”), and while the iconic “0% Sh*t” label is retired, the spirit of fun and integrity lives on.

A Cellar Surprise for Ross Fest 2025?

John has one cider still in the cellar: a 2014 Foxwhelp that might just see bottles soon. Whether blending at Ross or bottling at home, John’s work reminds us that cider thrives on community, curiosity, and a bit of mystery.

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Episode 195: Fly Be Night Cider | 0% Sh**, UK
• Totally Cider Tour UK Edition