Lees may look like something destined for the drain, but in the cidery they can become a useful tool for fermentation, mouthfeel, fault correction, bottle conditioning, and more. Recorded at CiderCon 2026 in Providence, Rhode Island, cidermaker and fermentation consultant Ryan Monkman takes a practical look at working with lees. From knowing which lees to … Read more
A guide to cider making built from insights shared across 500 episodes of Cider Chat. After speaking with and featuring cider makers, orchardists, historians, and fermentation experts around the world, Cider Chat now holds a remarkable collection of knowledge about the craft of cider. This milestone episode reflects on a simple question explored again and … Read more
In this archive episode of Cider Chat, we go in a barrel cellar in Prince Edward County, Ontario, with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider and Lee Baker of Keint-He Winery. This interview took place in June 2018 during a cider tour Ryan sponsored across Ontario. Together we explore the craft of barrel-aged cider, including techniques … Read more
What is natural cider, really? At CiderCon 2025, this panel session sets out to challenge what they believe is a big misconception in the U.S. cider market: that “natural cider” automatically means something funky, volatile, or flawed. As moderator Haritz Rodriguez explains right from the start, natural cider is often misunderstood as “super funky, super acidic … Read more
How to clarify, stabilize, and finish cider the right way The Purpose of Secondary Fermentation when Making Cider Once the apple juice has started fermented and it is now slowing down, it is time to rack over your cider for secondary fermentation. Secondary fermentation is where your cider moves from “young” to “refined.” This stage … Read more
What makes a Pét Nat cider sparkle naturally and how is it connected to the rural method you might have heard about in the UK? In this episode, we take a practical look at: Key Takeaways Cider Making Resource Mentions in this Cider Chat Cider Making How-to Episodes: Fall Event – November 1, 25th Annual … Read more
A Toast to Perry and Place Enjoy an intimate recording from the 2025 Totally Cider Tour_UK Edition. This unforgettable evening featured James Forbes of Little Pomona, leading guests through a cider dinner pairing in the Malvern Hills located on the border of Herefordshire and Worcestershire in England. James presents both a welcome Perry, Ciders and a very special aperitif. We … Read more
Ever wonder what it’s like to step into a cidermaker’s barrel room and taste your way through fermentations in progress? In this exclusive Patreon bonus episode, Cider Chat takes you straight to the heart of 1000 Stone Farm in Brookfield, Vermont, where cidermaker Kyle Doda opens barrel after barrel of his small-batch, thoughtful ciders. In … Read more
Is Ancestral Method different than Pet Nat? This panel discussion on Ancestral Method was moderate by Nicole Leibon of LeNosse Knows consultation. She was joined by Yann Gilles, a French cider consultant, Levi Danielson of Oregon’s RAW cider and David Carr of California’s Raging Cider. This feature was was recorded at CiderCon 2024, the annual … Read more
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 … Read more
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