126: Little Pomona's Big Ciders | Herefordshire, UK

126: Little Pomona's Big Ciders | Herefordshire, UK

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist May 2, 2018 Duration: 1:10:36

Little Pomona's makers and founders, Susanna and James Forbes have a long history with libations. James worked as a wine buyer and marketer, while Susanna who started in physics became one of the UK's leading libation writers. Her book Cider Insider will be released later this year. James is amazing and with Susanna who also did a spell as drinks editor of Imbibe magazine and as a member of the Guild of British Beer Writers. She used to go by the moniker Drink Britain!

Cider Chat 126 Little-Pomona-Susanna-James-forbes feature-200-x-300-px

In this Cider Chat with Little Pomona

  • From the city to country life in Herefordshire
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  • The family of cider makers
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  • Stepping out of the box with cider styles
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  • The orchard at Little Pomona

126 Little Pomona cider bottles

Little Pomona Ciders

  • There is no doubt that these ciders are stepping out! Read: not your typical UK cider.
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  • James' background in wine is certainly influencing the profile of each cider produced.
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  • If ever there was a cider that would be worthy of buying one now to drink and 5 more to cellar, Little Pomona is the cidery to choose.
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  • Delicate, yet bold, each cider that I tasted during this chat was complex, tannic and not your typical UK cider.
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  • Old Man and The Bees - 7.5% wild yeast cider
    • Dabinet
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    • Harry Masters Jersey
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    • Foxswhelp
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    • Ellis bitter
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  • The Unicorn - a spontaneous keeved cider
    • We "Shaked it to wake it" and then drank it in this chat! Lovely
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  • Art of Darkness (2015)
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  • Being released at the London Wine Fair on the 22nd of May 2018 go to (stand DB15) and find C'est Si Bon Bonnes (2016), a single barrel bottling
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  • In July 2018 look for Perry Comma, a single barrel bottling in Pet Nat style form the 2017 vintage. The fruit came from a very ancient orchard close to Dymock in Gloucestershire.
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  • In August, look for another Pet Nat with a blend of Dabinett (95%) and Ellis Bitter (5%) from the 2017 harvest, called For Those About to Rack.

Contact the Fine Cider Company distributes Little Pomona ciders in the UK.

Contact Little Pomona

Mentions in this 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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