Find the latest Cider Dispatch from Highland County Virginia

Cider Bon Vivant Reporter Al Sax provide a cider dispatch report from Monterey Virginia. This area of Virginia is known as Highland County and it is here that Big Fish Cider is located. One of the cool extras (beside cider) when visiting this region, is that it is a Dark Sky area. This means good star grazing due to the lack of night lights drowning out the night sky.

Al interviews Big Fish Cider Maker and Owner Kirk Billingsley. Kirk was last on Cider Chat in Episode 124. That recording took place in 2018 at CiderCon the annual trade conference for the American Cider Association

Ria with Big Fish pulled chilled from the stream Changes at Big Fish from 2018 -2024

• 400 apple trees planted
• Can order Big Fish online
• Tasting room open Friday -Sunday

Contact for Big Fish Cider Co.

• Website: https://www.bigfishcider.com/about-us/
• eMail: [email protected]
• Telephone: (540) 468-2322
• Address
  • 59 Spruce Street, Monterey, VA  24465

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Cider Chat is looking for 20-25 minute cider dispatches. No prior podcasting experience required. Check out the page “Work with Cider Chat“, fill out the form and get published on the world’s #1 cider podcast as a Cider Reporter @ Cider Chat!

Mentioned in this Cider Chat

• Hear from Cider Chat’s newest patron Josh from Australia
• Who’s been cross promoting cider #xpromotecider
  • Abaliget Garden Projects – Cider, Perry and Fruit wines
  • Megan Faschoway – Junction Orchard and Ciderhouse
  • Rakkerpak Cider – Denmark
  • Thy Cider – Denmark
  • Big Fish Cider posted the Cider Chat info flyer in their tasting room √
• Only one seat left on the French Cider Tour 2024
• Work with Cider Chat – Record audio snap shots from your special spot in Ciderville
• @joshcreates
• Tom Oliver of Oliver’s Cider and Perry Ltd audio clip!

Thy Cider in Denmark Cross Promotes Cider Chat

Technical Tips for When Things Go Wrong with Cider Making

This episode features two cider professionals and a cider industry consultant, which is exactly who you need a direct line to when your cider has problems. Hear from Megan Faschoway who at the time of this recording was Senior Cider Maker at Sea Cider, Kira Bassingthwaighte Head Cider Maker at Western Cider in Montana and Nick Gunn of BenchGraft a cider consultation service based in Salem Oregon.

This talk took place in Portland Oregon at CiderCon, the annual cider conference hosted by the American Cider Association. The title of the talk was “What to do when things go wrong”.

The focus was not on preventive measures, but as the title says – curative steps that one can take to try to mitigate a problem with a particular cider

In this Cider Chat on Cider Problems

• Dealing with rotten egg smell from your cider
  • Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a negative off-aroma compound that can occur in cider and has a rotten egg smell. It’s produced by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae during cider fermentation.
• Filtering cider
  • Using Reverse Osmosis (RO)
• Tasting Panels for feedback
  • Dealing with a saturated cider maker’s palate
• Saving samples from each batch to create a library for potential cider problems down the road

Contact for Speakers on this Panel

• Kira Bassingthwaighte, Western Cider Hear Kira on Episode 295

• Megan Faschoway

• Nick Gunn BenchGraft Hear Nick and Dave White of Whitewood Cider on Episode 004

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• French Cider Tour September 2024
• Oliver’s Cider and Perry Company – UK Cider in Herefordshire, Tom Oliver audio clip
• The Whose Who of #xpromotecider in this episode? Join the fun and download the info flyer on Cider Chat offerings at the Support Page! Post, share and social media and tag Cider Chat! Cider’s XPromoters will be featured on an end of year episode!
  •  
  • De Gerdenner Cider, Netherland
  • Northwest Cider Association reposted Episode 410 with Olympic Bluffs Cider and Lavender Farm
  • Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Company posted last week’s Episode 410 Perry Panel
  • Dragon’ Head Cider
  • Camra Cider and Perry
  • American Cider Association – CiderCon

Cider’s Best Friend is Perry

Enjoy this panel discussion “Pear Necessities: International Perry recorded at CiderCon 2024. The panel was moderated by drinks writer, Adam Wells of the UK. Sitting to his right was Tom Oliver of Olivers Cider and Perry Ltd (UK), Laura Cherry of Dragon’s Head Cider (Washington State), Albert Johnson of Ross and Wye Cider and Perry Company (UK) and cider critic and blogger Natalia Wszelaki (Germany).

(L to R) Tom Oliver (Oliver’s Cider and Perry), Albert Johnson (Ross-on-Wye Cider), Laura Cherry (Dragon’s Head Cider), Natalia Wszelaki (Cider Explorer), Adam Wells (Cider Review) Topics discussed during this Perry Panel

• Introduction of Perry Panel Speakers
• Overview of Perry in both Europe, the UK and America
• Tasting profiles of 4 Perry’s
  • Oliver’s Cider and Perry Ltd. (UK)
    • SHHH
  • Ross on Wye Cider & Perry Company (UK)
    • Thorn 2019 S.V. Perry
  • Kertelreiter (Germany)
    • Heiden 2021
    • Single Tree Perry
  • Dragon’s Head Cider (Washington State, US)
    • Sparkling Perry
• Perry critique of servings via Natalia a.k.a Cider Explorer
  • Shared a bit of history of perry in Austria, Switzerland and Germany
• Pear Cider vs Perry – are they interchangeable

New Perry Book (May 2024)

Perry: A Drinker’s Guide, author Adam Wells of Cider Review

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• French Cider Tour September 2024
• Oliver’s Cider and Perry Company – UK Cider in Herefordshire, Tom Oliver audio clip
• The Whose Who of #xpromotecider in this episode? Join the fun and download the info flyer on Cider Chat offerings at the support page! Post, share and social media and tag Cider Chat! Cider’s XPromoters will be featured on an end of year episode!
  • Spacetime Mead & Cider Works, Dunmore, PA
  • The London Cider House
  • Rakkerpak Cider, Denmark
  • @snoopylovescider – referred to a Cider Chat episode with Stormalong Cider. There are currently two episodes with this Massachusetts based maker Episode 036 (Season 1) and 236 Scrub a Dub Valves and Vessels which is part of the Season 5 Cider Making series.
• American Cider Association – CiderCon

Escape to Olympic Bluffs a Dream Vacation Destination

Olympic Bluffs Cidery & Lavender Farm is located on the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The farm is on a bluff that overlooks the Salish Sea, which spans the international waters between British Columbia and Washington State. The location is dreamy with views of Mount Baker, a 10,000+ foot mountain, to the east and Victoria Canada to the north.

Olympic Bluffs was founded by Ginger and Scott Wierzbanowski, who found farm land years early on a trip to Washington State. Both are Air Force Veterans with Ginger serving as an Intel Officer and Scott as an Air Force F 16 pilot.

Scott and Ginger next to F 16 – note Scott’s name on plane

The two met in Korea, married in Denmark, and lived in Europe where in France they discovered Calvados. Years later their love of cider helped frame Olympic Bluffs Cidery and Lavender Farm which has an onsite Lavender shop, a cider production area, a Bed and Breakfast next door, and a commercial location where a future tasting room will be situated in downtown Port Angeles.

In this Cider Chat

• The Wierzbanowski’s backstory to cider.
• Why a cidery and lavender farm in Port Angeles?
• What does the location look like? When and how can people visit?
• Is there a best time?
• The orchards,
  • Size, terrain, soil type
  • Number of apple varieties and (pear?)
  • Orchard practices
• What products Olympic Bluffs currently sells
• Types of cider to expect?
  • What has informed your cider making styles?
• Future plans

Contact for Olympic Bluffs Cidery & Lavender Farm

• Website: https://www.olympicbluffscidery.com/
• Address: 1025 Finn Hall Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98362
• Telephone: +13606707206

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• French Cider Tour September 2024
• Oliver’s Cider and Perry Company – UK Cider in Herefordshire, Tom Oliver audio clip
• The Whose Who of #xpromotecider in this episode? Join the fun and download the info flyer on Cider Chat offerings at the support page! Post, share and social media and tag Cider Chat! Cider’s XPromoters will be featured on an end of year episode!
  • Spacetime Mead & Cider Works, Dunmore, PA
  • Heartland Ciderworks, OR – watch the “Bottles On My Desk” review of Avalon
  • Rakkerpak Cider, Denmark
  • Know Your Roots, orchard consulting | NY

Mike Biltonen and his wife Debbie founded Know Your Roots in 2008 and began offering a wide array of service for backyard and commercial orchardists in 2014.

Mike

This conversation tool place at the Berkshire Roundtable that was founded my Micheal Phillips 34 years ago. This annual meet up of orchardist and cider makers takes place in Massachusetts each spring. It is an informal discussion amoungst peers all on growing apples and assorted pomme fruits. Micheal Phillips was a renown orchardist and author of many books like The Holistic Orchard. Find all his books at Cider Chat’s book page. Listen to episode 312 dedicated to Micheal.

In this Cider Chat

• The backstory of Know Your Roots
• Services offered by Know Your Roots
• What to consider before planting an orchard
• Mike’s background in Biodynamic (BD) orcharding
• Defining Holistic Orcharding
• Making a BD preparation
• Climate change – dealing with late season frost
• The future at Know Your Roots and…cider?

Mike and Ria recording this episode Contact for Know Your Roots

• Website: https://knowyouroots.com/index.html

Mentions on this Cider Chat

• Rudolf Steiner
• Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics (JPI)
• #xpromotecider in this episode
  • Listen to Dan of Space Time Mead & Ciderworks
  • Bones and Bottles Review – on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boneandbottlereviews/?hl=en
  • Listen to Episode 407 with Dan Gallagher of Frosty Twig Cider
• Follow Ben Kuenš on Chocalate Pears – listen to his episode #304 all on Sorbus Domestica

Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts.

A Cider Log Documents Ferments from Start to Finish

Find a free downloadable Cider Log for your next ferment below! Dan Gallagher of Frosty Twig Cider, a new startup based in Canton New York, has created a form for your next batch of cider. Dan who began making cider in 2017 found online cider making forums and cider influencer tips both informative, but also conflicting. The Cider Log was created to track what actually does or doesn’t work when fermenting.

In This Cider Chat with Dan Gallagher

• Dan’s backstory
• The value of a Cider Log
• His goal for Frosty Twig Cider to begin commerical sales
• A step by step review of each stage of a cider ferment
  • From sourcing fruit to bottling
• Working with Canton Apples

Follow along as we review this filled in Cider Log below with Dan.

Contact for Frosty Twig Cider

• Instagram @frostytwigcider

Download this Cider Log for your next ferment. By going to https://ciderchat.com/podcast/407-cider-log/

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• French Cider Tour 2024
• A mentioned by Dan in this episode The Building a Cidery Series Part 1-7
  • 255: Trademark Law | Building a Cidery Part 1
  • 256 Securing a Trademark | Building a Cidery Part 2
  • 257: Courthouse Creek Garagistes | Building a Cidery Part 3
  • 258: Ragged Hill Design | Building a Cidery Part 4
  • 259: Artifact Cityscape | Building a Cidery Part 5
  • 260: Eris Brewery and Cider House | Building a Cidery Part 6
  • 261: Yonder & The Source | Building a Cidery Part 7
  • 262: Virtual Cidery | Building a Cidery Part 8
• #XPromoteCider – Cross Promote Cider and get mentioned on Cider Chat. Download the info flyer, post in your tasting room or favorite bulletin board and load up to Social Media. Make sure to tag Cider Chat (@ciderchat or @ciderchatciderville)

Japan is not only Cherry Blossom, but also Apple Country!

Lee Reeve of InCiderJapan kicks off this episode stating “Japan is Apple Country.” And he is right… because Lee has been on the podcast 3x’s and has taught listeners all about this apple country and the regions were orchards are abundant that the growing cider community.

He is the Publisher and Editor of inCiderJapan, the country’s first and only bilingual magazine dedicated to all things cider. He was first on the podcast in Episode 114 and again in Episode 173. Each time we were able to catch up on the happenings in Japan. By the way, there are two main apple growing regions: Aomori to Nagano.

In this Cider Chat

• Cider in Japan post the pandemic and updates for Lee as his role evolves
• The state of cider today
• Japanese culture and cider education
• Rules around making cider in Japan
• The Japan Cider Cup
• OK Adam Cider a Japanese cider brand

Contact InCiderJapan

• Website: https://www.inciderjapan.com/
• Japan Cider Cup – https://www.japancidercup.com/

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• New York International Cider Competition 2024
• French Cider Tour 2024 – September 22th – 28th Paris, Normandy, Brittany
• Greenbank Cider, Washington State
• #xpromotecider – Share the Cider Chat Podcast Info Flyer and help your patrons and friends find over 400 episodes on makers, orchards and cider travel. This week’s mentions:
  • Follow our friend Marcel who is making cider in the Netherlands on Instragram @degerdenner
  • Wooden Gate Cider – Pilot Mound, Manitoba
  • Heartland Ciderworks Find these ciders on tap at La Familla Cider and definitely try the tacos at Azuls Taco House

Tariq Ahmed on the Founding and Fermentation Styles at Revel

Revel Cider was founded in 2014 and is located in Ontario a little over one hour west of Niagara Falls. Hear Tariq tell how he both got into fermentation, how Revel embraces foraging local resources for ferments, surviving the pandemic and how to get his cider!

Tariq Ahmed In this Cider Chat with Revel

• Visiting the newly opened Tasting Room
• Co-Ferments
• Native Yeasts
• Carbonic Maceration

Contact for Revel Cider

• Website: https://revelcider.com/
• Address for Tasting Room: 62 Dawson Rd, Guelph, ON N1H 1A8, Canada

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• New York International Cider Competition 2024
• French Cider Tour 2024 – September 22th – 28th Paris, Normandy, Brittany
• #xpromotecider – Share the Cider Chat Podcast Info Flyer and help your patrons and friends find over 400 episodes on makers, orchards and cider travel.
• Follow our friend Marcel who is making cider in the Netherlands on Instragram @degerdenner
• Episode 306 with Elegast Cider, Netherlands
• Episode 398 with GreenBench Mead and Cider | Saint Petersburg, Florida
• Episode 404 with Albert Johnson of Ross Cider and Perry Co. | UK

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Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts.

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Featuring Albert Johnson of Ross Cider and Perry Company

Ross Cider and Perry is a family owned business located in the West Country of the United Kingdom in the region of Heredfordshire. The Johnson family have been farming this land now with 45 acres of bush orchards and another 10 acres of standard trees and perry pears. The apple trees were planted between 1978 and 2001. And the Perry Pears about 35 years ago by Albert’s father Mike.

Pictured above: Cider Chat Host Ria, Mike and Albert Johnson - at Ross Cider Fest 2019

Today you can visit the newly remodeled Yew Tree Inn which is situated next to the orchards and all under the Ross Cider ownership. At the pub find 18 taps. They make a wide range of single varietal ciders (upwards to 90) and blends. One will always be guaranteed to be amazed by the offerings when visiting.

In this Cider Chat with Albert

• Catching up since the first interview in 2019 with Mike and Albert – listen to Episode 194
• Cider Making Practices
• The orchards
• Events
  • Ciderganza A spring cider festival at The Yew Tree Inn
  • Blossom Walk A charity fundraising blossom walk around the Broome Farm orchards
  • Summertime Soirée A weekend drinks festival at The Yew Tree Inn
  • Cider Challenge A charity cider competition and festival at The Yew Tree Inn
  • Ross Cider Festival A summer cider festival at Broome Farm
  • Ross-tober-fest An Octoberfest event held at The Yew Tree Inn

Yew Tree Inn, Ross on Wye Contact Info for Ross Cider & Perry Company

• Website: https://rosscider.com/
• For general and cider enquiries: [email protected]
• For Yew Tree Inn related enquiries: [email protected]
• For Yew Tree adult only caravan & motorhome enquiries: [email protected]
• For Broome Farm family friendly & group camping enquiries:[email protected]
• Telephone: 01989 562 815
• Address: The Yew Tree Inn,
  • Peterstow, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 6JZ

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Kordick Family Farm – Listen to Episode 369 featuring the Kordick Family
• New York International Cider Competition 2024
• French Cider Tour 2024

Meet one half of the family team at Botanist and Barrel

Botanist and Barrel is a family owned and operated cidery. Kether Smith and brother Lyndon and their respective spouses Derick McGuffey and Amie Fields make the magic happen at this eclectic cidery. They began selling cider commercially in 2017 and they all enjoy making cider.

Lyndon Smith and Amie Fields

There are two tasting rooms. Production happens at the Cedar Grove Location and in Asheville you can visit the Botanist and Barrel Tasting Room.

In this Cider Chat

Lyndon and Amie were interviewed while attending CiderCon 2024 in Portland Oregon. They provide tips on how to approach their products when visiting the tasting room.

• Try a flight. There are four flight options.
  • Sour and Spice Flight
  • Barrel aged
  • Any thing goes
  • Hybrids and co-ferments
• The ciders and co-ferments of Botanist and Barrel
• Tips for working with family members
• Visiting the tasting rooms

Contact and Visit Botanist and Barrel

• Ashville Tasting Room
  • Website: https://www.botanistandbarrelasheville.com/
  • Address: 32 Broadway Street, Ste 110, Ashville North Carolina
  • Telephone: (828) 338-9516
• Cedar Grove Tasting Room
  • Website: https://www.botanistandbarrelasheville.com/
  •  
  • Address: 105 Persimmon Hill Lane, Cedar Grove, NC 27231

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• New York International Cider Competition 2024
• French Cider Tour 2024
• Episode 288 Space Time Mead and Cider Works | Pennsylvania 
• @degerdenner in the Netherlands
• Cider Summit

go to CiderChat.com to find over 400 episode with from makers around the world