103: Robby Honda | Tanuki Cider, CA

103: Robby Honda | Tanuki Cider, CA

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist November 15, 2017 Duration: 48:26

Totally Cider Travels - Come along with Ria of Cider Chat as we travel through Somerset and Herefordshire in the UK visiting makers and drinking cider along the way! The trip begins in Bristol, UK on wednesday April 25 and run through May 2, 2018.

First dibs to go on this trip goes to the Patrons of Cider Chat. You too can join Cider Chat Patreon's page and become a Patron of Cider Chat helping to support this podcast. This trip will be posted this week on the Cider Chat Patreon page.

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Robby Honda owner and cidermaker at Tanuki Cider is one of a growing number of cidermakers in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. Robby's chat begins at 27:57 minutes in.

Before we get to Robby I share my tips on managing your cider once the initial fermentation has slowed down.

We chat:

  • Racking cider
  • Sulfite usage
  • Managing the head space once racking is complete
  • What to do if you cider freezes during fermentation

At the end of the podcast I share how I make cyser, a cider made with honey

Ria's Basic Cyser Recipe that always kickass!

  • 5 gallons fresh pressed apple juice
  • 5 pounds of raw honey
  • rehydrated Sweet Mead Yeast - I use WPL720 from White Labs, but any sweet mead yeast will do too.
  • Blend all this together and viola! You made cyser, now all you need is a bit of patience.

Contact for Tanuki Cider

Maker: Robby Honda

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/307059422967615/

Instagram: @tanukicider

Mentions in this Chat

  1. Kurant Cider - Pennsylvania : listen to Joe Getz on episode 14
  2. Big Apple Hard Cider - NYC : listen to Danielle von Scheiner on episode 35
  3. Oliver's Cider and Perry - Herefordshire/UK ; listen to Tom Oliver on episode 29
  4. Santa Cruz Cider Company - California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60
  5. The Cider Project aka EthicCider- California
  6. Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56
  7. Cider Summit : listen to Alan Shapiro founder of this cider fest on episode 75.
  8. Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg.
  9. Big Fish Cider Co. Virginia

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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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