001: Field Maloney | West County Cider Colrain MA, USA

001: Field Maloney | West County Cider Colrain MA, USA

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist October 31, 2015 Duration: 41:59

Field Maloney of West County Cider

Cider Chat Episode 001 Field Maloney of West County Cider
Field Maloney of West County Cider

Terry, Judith and Field Maloney – American Cider Pioneers

West County Cider, of Colrain Massachusetts was one of the very first producers of cider post prohibition in the US, starting back in 1984.

Terry Maloney made the cider on the side while continuing to work as head of the local hospital's ER.

Cider Chat 001 - Terry Maloney west county cider maker
Terry Maloney

He and wife Judith worked tirelessly selling their notable ciders and were founders of a yearly event in November called CiderDays one of the first cider fests in the US (1994-2019). In 2020, CiderDays felt the weight of the pandemic and muddled leadership that pressed the organizing Committee to dissolved.

Cider Chat Ep 001 - West County Cider - Redfield 200x300
Cider Chat Ep:001 West County Cider
Before West County became named a cidery

It was a long road for the family, even with write ups in the New York Times and Ebony magazine touting their ciders. Just as cider was beginning its long awaited comeback, tragedy struck the family in 2010. Terry died when a valve released on a tank of gas throwing him back into a nearby wall. Field who had helped plant apple trees with his dad as a kid, stepped up to the plate and is now full-on as cidermaker at this renown orchard. Listen as he speaks with Cider Chat about the cider revival in the US, working with Redfield apples, and the bountiful future of West County Cider.

Contact for West County Cider

Mentions is this Cider Chat


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

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