Neutral Cider Hotel

Join Gabe Cook, Martyn Goodwin-Sharman, Grant Hutchison and Producer Scott, for this special episode of the Neutral Cider Hotel, a tribute to Susanna Forbes of Little Pomona.

A dear friend of the pod, Susanna Forbes, recently passed away. Susanna was one half of the legendary Little Pomona Orchard & Cidery, alongside her wonderful husband, James. Our hearts, like all who knew her, are broken, and we send our love to James during this difficult time.

In our grief, we wanted to pay tribute to Susanna and hear her charm wit and laughter once more. So, we compiled all three appearances that Susanna and James made on the podcast and put them together in this special episode.

We’ll start the show by sharing our thoughts on Susanna and what a legend she is. Then we dive into the interviews.

The first interview is from August 2023, when Producer Scott traveled to Herefordshire for Gabe’s wedding celebration and spent a day eating, drinking, bottling, and catching up with Susanna and James.

After that, we go back to their second appearance on the pod in March 2021, when Susanna and James brought several ciders for us to taste, along with their assistant cider maker, Blair.

Finally, you’ll hear our very first interview from our very first episode of the Neutral Cider Hotel way back in October 2020. The audio quality for the guys is poor because they had some recording issues (and Producer Scott still loses sleep over it), but James and Susanna’s audio sounds fantastic, and that’s what really matters.

We hope you enjoy these conversations as much as we do, and thanks, as always, for listening and supporting the podcast.

Susanna - We miss you, we love you and the world feels a bit emptier without you. Wassail ❤️

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

CONNECT
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Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel

Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.net/

Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/neutralciderhotel

Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/

Καλωσορίσατε στο ουδέτερο ξενοδοχείο μηλίτη! Join Gabe Cook, Martyn Goodwin-Sharman, Grant Hutchison and Producer Scott, for this week’s booking, in a layover from Greece.

The guys chat holiday and work for Gabe, the now-not-so-new release of In Touch IV for Martyn, tickets to the hottest show in town for Grant, and a training montage from the 80’s for backpacking with Scott.

Then it's the news, with the slow moving cogs of the local cider industry on full show, with the guys discussing the recent grubbing of 300 acres of orchard by the company Heineken. Having a surprisingly balanced look at the situation, the hoteliers give their hot takes on the subject, before this week's big interview.

The first celebrity cider maker, the artist formerly known for Mock the Week is the one and only Ed Byrne! Fresh on tour with his new show: Tragedy Plus Time, Ed discusses everything with the guys. From horticulture to brotherhood, second place apples to beautiful people exclusives, its a laugh chatting to a comedian in incredible physical shape. The guys chat and drink, and this week it's Starlight by the wonderful Rull Orchard.

Finally, the guys have heard the hotel guest complaints, and are responding to the backed up pipe running through the hotel. Busting open with messages throughout the years, the speakpipe is back, and this time with some very lovely notes.

And with that, the hotel closes for another week. Please do check out the socials, and send us your messages to have your say in where the guys go next, what happens in the future, and just let us know how you’re doing! And get ready for our next guest at the Neutral Cider Hotel!

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

CONNECT
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
X: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube: NeutralCiderHotel
Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel

Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.net/

Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/neutralciderhotel

Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/

Join Gabe Cook, Martyn Goodwin-Sharman, Grant Hutchison and Producer Scott Riggs at the Neutral Cider Hotel! The lads warm up for another victory lap around the specialist drink podcast circuit, regale of fatherhood, and lament using their mum’s dialup!

The guys select a drink that represents their last year, with Martyn selecting Wilding Cider’s Dabinett & Foxwhelp, Grant carefully opening Oliver’s Gold Rush 10, Gabe brings New Zealand’s finest to the table with Peckham’s Apple, and finally Scott cracks a blast from the past with Oliver’s Bottle Conditioned 2018. 

The guys diverge from tradition and plug a different book, Perry: A Drinker’s Guide by fellow podcaster Adam Wells. There’s tour discussions with The Twilight Sad and The Cure, the wonderful Cidercon and a conversation with Minnesota natives, an old friend and some new enemies. 

Producer Scott shares a tale of the tooth and some sad news about an old friend. Then, the guys close out the show by playing a little quiz that Gabe created. It's more of a slog, but feel free to scream out your answers at home!

And with that, the hotel closes for another week (or two). Please

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

CONNECT
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
X: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube: NeutralCiderHotel
Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel

Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.net/

Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/neutralciderhotel

Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/

Join Producer Scott as he chats with NCH Host Martyn Goodwin-Sharman on this special episode of the Neutral Cider Hotel podcast!

For the fifth and final stop on his 2023 UK tour, Producer Scott traveled from London back to Bristol where it all began. Sitting down with the podcast host that induced the most side-splitting laughter...The guy that told Rainn Wilson to fuck off within five minutes of their interview with him...A man with a heart of gold and the hardest working man in cider, Mr. Martyn Goodwin-Sharman.

They started out by discussing what Martyn has been up to over the past year, why his popular Cidershit Instagram account is so quiet lately, what has motivated him to be so damn fit and what's this impending baby news we've been hearing so much about.

They also talked about how Martyn's views on cider have changed, his outlook on fatherhood and what the Neutral Cider Hotel means to him.

And for this final episode, it was fucking fantastic chatting and laughing with Martyn, a genuinely funny and good human.

So, here we are. The final episode of this little mini-series checking in with the guys and a couple of cider makers we love. We really hope you've enjoyed these conversations as much we enjoyed making them.

And a heartfelt thank you from all of us at the Neutral Cider Hotel for supporting us for all of these years. We are truly humbled and grateful that you listened, wrote us, left voicemails and just always gave us the motivation to carry on.

And, we will carry on.

Please feel free to reach out to us on social media, leave us a voicemail or send us a note. We read them all and really appreciate each and every person that listens.

Also, do check out the other conversations from this trip in the podcast feed or any other episodes you've missed.

Thanks again for listening to the Neutral Cider Hotel podcast!

The Team:
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist
Grant has two cider businesses: Re:Stalk and Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs

T

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

CONNECT
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
X: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube: NeutralCiderHotel
Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel

Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.net/

Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/neutralciderhotel

Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/

Join Producer Scott as he chats with drummer and NCH Host Grant Hutchison on this special episode of the Neutral Cider Hotel podcast!

Stop #4 on his trip through the UK finds Producer Scott heading north...to the coastal town of Anstruther in Scotland to spend some time with a cider rockstar and literal rockstar as well as a cider shop owner, Grant Hutchison.

Over the adorable squeals of his baby daughter Wren, Grant and Producer Scott got right into a proper chat and spoke about how he's been getting on for the past year. They also talked music and Grant's feelings about getting back into it after Frightened Rabbit ended. You see, last year Grant joined this Scottish band called The Twilight Sad as their drummer and soon after joining, they went on a massive worldwide tour opening for a little band called The Cure!!! So, it was really interesting to hear how that came about.

They also talked about his ambitions to expand cider in Northern Scotland, an exciting bit of news about his legendary cider shop Aeble, and his aspirations for the future of the Neutral Cider Hotel.

It was so nice hearing two longtime friends (and a wee baby) have a proper catch-up. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as they did.

Please do check out the other conversations from this trip in the podcast feed or any other episodes you've missed. Our socials are a great place to stay connected with us (links below), or send us your voice messages and let us know how you’re doing!

Thanks for listening to the Neutral Cider Hotel podcast!

The Team:
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist
Grant has two cider businesses: Re:Stalk and Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs

The Rest of The Team:
Music: Billy Kennedy

Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook:

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

CONNECT
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
X: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube: NeutralCiderHotel
Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel

Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.net/

Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/neutralciderhotel

Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/

Join Producer Scott as he chats with Tom Oliver of Oliver's Cider & Perry Company on this special episode of the Neutral Cider Hotel podcast!

The third stop on his trip through the English countryside finds Producer Scott still wandering about in Herefordshire, but this time with Tom Oliver at his cidery and farm.

The conversation delves into what sets Oliver's Cider and Perry apart from the rest, the challenges of the new UK cider tax scheme and Tom's perspective on the biggest challenges facing cider today.

They also explore Tom's passion for music and his long tenure as a tour manager and sound mixer for loads of popular bands including The Proclaimers, Everything But The Girl, Van Morrison and so many more.

Finally, Tom explains his love for American Football and his favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It's a fascinating conversation with a brilliant man that we hope you enjoy.

Please do check out the other conversations from this trip in the podcast feed or any other episodes you've missed. Our socials are a great place to stay connected with us (links below), or send us your voice messages and let us know how you’re doing!

Thanks for listening to the Neutral Cider Hotel podcast!

The Team:
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist
Grant has two cider businesses: Re:Stalk and Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs

The Rest of The Team:
Music: Billy Kennedy

Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube:

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

CONNECT
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
X: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube: NeutralCiderHotel
Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel

Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.net/

Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/neutralciderhotel

Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/

Join Producer Scott as he chats with James and Susanna Forbes of Little Pomona Orchard and Cidery on this special episode of the  Neutral Cider Hotel podcast!

The second stop on his trip through England finds Producer Scott in Herefordshire where he spent the day with James and Susanna at their cidery, in their orchards and sampling as much as of their cider as he could.

Their discussion includes what they've created over the last year, what their working on this year, some exciting new products outside of cider they are working on (including vinegar!) and what they see on the horizon for their business and cider in general.

Some things of note in the episode:
Scott's new favorite cider: Little Pomona's To Boldly Go
Website to find English ciders in the US: https://store.anxodc.com/ship-anxo-imports

We hope you enjoy these special check-in episodes and we definitely plan to get things going again as soon as we can. Until then, please do check out our socials, and send us your messages to have your say in where the guys go next, what happens in the future, and just let us know how you’re doing!

Thanks for listening to the Neutral Cider Hotel podcast!

The Team:
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist
Grant has two cider businesses: Re:Stalk and Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs

The Rest of The Team:
Music: Billy Kennedy

Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube:

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

CONNECT
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
X: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube: NeutralCiderHotel
Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel

Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.net/

Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/neutralciderhotel

Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/

Join Producer Scott as he chats with The Ciderologist and NCH host Gabe Cook on this special episode of the  Neutral Cider Hotel podcast!

Producer Scott recently traveled to England to celebrate Gabe's marriage and while he was there in the English countryside, he cracked out his recording equipment to see what Gabe has been up to since the podcast went on hiatus.

Their discussion includes what Gabe's doing now, some ciders he's been enjoying over the past year, his view on where the cider industry is today, what it's like being a father and the future of the NCH podcast.

There will be five of these episodes (one new one each day of the week for the week of 18 September 2023) including:

Tuesday - James and Susanna from Little Pomona
Wednesday - Tom Oliver of Oliver's Cider
Thursday - Grant Hutchison
Friday - Martyn Goodwyn Sharman

We hope you enjoy these special check-in episodes and we definitely plan to get things going again as soon as we can. Until then, please do check out our socials, and send us your messages to have your say in where the guys go next, what happens in the future, and just let us know how you’re doing! Thanks for listening to the Neutral Cider Hotel podcast!

The Team:
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist
Grant has two cider businesses: Re:Stalk and Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs

The Rest of The Team:
Music: Billy Kennedy

Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBWwLBb4m47T-9fbEA6XIYg

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

CONNECT
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
X: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube: NeutralCiderHotel
Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel

Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.net/

Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/neutralciderhotel

Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/

Join hosts Gabe Cook, Martyn Goodwin-Sharman, Grant Hutchison and Producer Scott as they drink dentist cider in the Neutral Cider Hotel!

Firstly, congratulations are due for our very own Gabe, as he’s soon to be a dad, don’t worry we’ll make a new bell noise for his latest release, the guys unpack their suitcases with a lot of travels, and someone has had a pesky bout of something wicked…

The guys also have a little voice note thanks to the beautiful Producer Scott, and it definitely caps off the first part, before it's off to the news!

Gabe details the hot news, with the Cider Salon first up! With heaps of makers, great liquids and a whole host of fringe events, it's sure to be the highlight of the cider calendar for sure! Gabe brags about his new best friend James Acaster, before the guys chat World Cider Day. Martyn shares the good news in London with The London Cider House and Scott announces we've passed the 50 episode mark.

Then it's onto this week’s interview, who happens to be the founder of one of the USA’s most pioneering modern cider makers.  A self proclaimed die hard craft beer revolutionary, this Portland-based cider maker pushes the boundaries of flavour and process to make the most unusual ciders that (apparently) no one else will make! And if you’re really lucky, he might even officiate your wedding.  Checking in to the Neutral Cider Hotel, it’s Nat West from Reverend Nat’s Cider! The guys chat about everything, including the honeymoon suite, starting making cider, the ciders no one else will make, standing up for flavour and fermenting meat in your drinks! It’s a full on chat with a lot of flavour, even if it isn’t right up Grant’s street!

Then, the guys close out the show by playing a little game that Gabe created. Its less of a game and more a random stab at a list, and if that doesn’t excite you, you might be a young conservative!

And with that, the hotel closes for another month. Please do check out the socials, and s

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

CONNECT
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
X: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube: NeutralCiderHotel
Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel

Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.net/

Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/neutralciderhotel

Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/

Join hosts Gabe Cook, Martyn Goodwin-Sharman, Grant Hutchison and Producer Scott as as they do a deep dive on Star Wars in the Neutral Cider Hotel!

Grant Hutchison is back on the podcast explaining why he missed the previous episode’s recording. Gabe lets the guys know that he’s recently won CAMRA’s Campaigner of the Year Award  and we’re all so proud of him and his relentless cider (and self) promotion. Finally, Martyn shares a wonderful story of drinking culture in the UK and a night of fun capped off with a vomit shower.

Then, it’s onto the news where Gabe details a new release from Strongbow that’s edging into the Hard Seltzer world with their new Dark Fruit Ultra. There’s also a discussion of some of the big cider competitions that are back on this year including GLINTCAP, Hereford Cider Museum and Royal Bath and West Show. Grant reveals that his cider shop (Aeble) has launched a new cider subscription service offering high quality ciders for subscribers throughout the UK. Finally, Gabe and the guys raise a glass to Gabe’s former boss Alex Peckham from Peckham’s Cider in New Zealand as Alex recently passed away from illness. Cheers to you, Alex. RIP.

Then it's onto this week’s interview and, as Producer Scott likes to say, it’s a doozy! This week, the guys invite onto the show a couple of committed environmentalists and permaculture practitioners that apply strong sustainable credentials to their cider making. The result is a spectacular range of delicious ciders that we can’t stop talking about. Checking into the hotel is Lydia Crimp and Tom Tibbits from Artistraw Cider!

In between loads of laughter, the guys chat about how they got started, getting high on their own supply, their unique and environmental approach to cider, how they work together as a married couple, their obsession with puns and their favorite radio station, Cider.fm!

Finally, the guys close out the show by highlighting some of

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

CONNECT
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Threads: NeutralCiderHotel
X: NeutralCiderPod
YouTube: NeutralCiderHotel
Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel

Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.net/

Leave us a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/neutralciderhotel

Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/