In Episode 512, Cider Chat MC Ria Windcaller reads her August eCiderNews editorial, Plant the Damn Apple Tree, reflecting on entrepreneurship, uncertainty, abundance, and what an apple tree might teach us about the time in between. From the Editor’s Desk: Summer 2026 News Cycle Reflections Cideries close. People in our community are passing. The weather … Read more
The American Cider Association has released its first schedule-at-a-glance for CiderCon® 2027, providing the clearest look yet at how the conference will unfold during its first year co-located with the Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America. The conference will take place April 5-7, 2027, in San Antonio, Texas, with tours and travel scheduled for Sunday, … Read more
The American Cider Association’s announcement that CiderCon 2027 will be co-located with the Craft Brewers Conference generated widespread discussion throughout the cider community. In this episode, ACA Board President Christine Walter joins Cider Chat to discuss the decision, explain how it came about, and respond to many of the questions raised by cider makers, orchardists, … Read more
Why Breweries Are Making Cider Ria, Cider Chat MC, sat down with the owners of Element Brewing Company Dan Kramer and Ben Anhalt and asked the question that is quietly reshaping an industry: Why are breweries making cider now? The answer came fast: survival, curiosity, and opportunity. “Most breweries probably see cider as a way … Read more
An editorial on leadership, scarcity, and why cider no longer needs to borrow authority from beer or wine. In Let Cider Lead, host Ria Windcaller steps back from interviews to offer a clear-eyed reflection on the state of the cider industry, drawing on more than three decades in cider and nearly eleven years documenting the … Read more
In this episode of Cider Chat MC, Ria Windcaller speaks with Ron Extract of Garden Path Fermentation about a lawsuit currently pending that challenges a surprising restriction in U.S. alcohol labeling. Ron explains that when his cidery submitted a label for TTB approval for the first time (because the cider was just over 7% ABV), … Read more
What is Pommeau? Pommeau is a: fortified blend of fresh apple must (unfermented) and apple brandy (typically Calvados in Normandy or Lambig in Brittany). The unfermented apple juice and brandy are combined before fermentation, which halts the process entirely and preserves natural sweetness. By law in France, Pommeau must be aged a minimum of 18 … Read more
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 … Read more
The Cider Institute: Training the Next Generation of Cider Makers The Cider Institute, formerly known as the Cider Institute of North America (CINA), is the premier resource for cider education. Founded in 2016 at CiderCon, the Institute focuses on training cider makers of all levels, from beginners to advanced professionals. With a growing global reach, … Read more
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