Canada’s mead producers have gained a national voice without having to build a national organization from scratch. This week, Cider Canada announced the creation of Mead Canada / Hydromel Canada, a new standing committee designed to represent Canada’s growing community of mead producers while operating within the existing Cider Canada framework. The move gives meadmakers … 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
Michigan Cider: The Great Cider State with Paula Englin Michigan has earned its place as a leader in the cider industry, boasting the highest number of hard cider businesses in the U.S. In this episode, Paula Englin, Executive Director of the Michigan Cider Association, discusses the state’s growth in cider, the role of education, and … Read more
Monica Cohen on Leading the ACA Monica Cohen, the new CEO of the American Cider Association (ACA), stepped into her role at CiderCon 2025 in Chicago. With a background in dairy marketing and a passion for helping craft industries grow, she brings fresh energy and a bold vision to the cider world. Her introduction to … Read more
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