Ben Watson smiling while standing in an apple tree with pruning shears

Ben Watson Remembered: Author, Apple Advocate and Cider Ambassador

Ben Watson, the writer, apple advocate and longtime cider educator whose book Cider, Hard and Sweet helped introduce a generation of Americans to traditional cider and the apples behind it, died Saturday, August 15, 2026, at his home in New Hampshire. He was 64. Update, September 2026: Following the publication of this remembrance, Ben’s friend … Read more

Feature Chuck Shelton 254

254: Blending as Maker like Chef | Albemarle, VA

Blending as Maker like Chef Blending is a key part of cidermaking. It can take place at the pressing of the apple juice prior to ferment or after the cider has finished fermenting. Knowing when to blend is not something you can learn from reading a book, because is not a strict science. To blend … Read more