148: UN Makers at Kings Mill Cider | Ontario

148: UN Makers at Kings Mill Cider | Ontario

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist October 3, 2018 Duration: 56:35

Kees Morsink and Margaret Van Helvoort have traveled the world as United Nations aid workers in Africa where they were fermenting everything from yogurt to mango and even doing some distilling. Cider isn't new to these two enterprising Canadians. Kees had his first spontaneous ferment forty years ago when he put a gallon of cider in his school locker and the cider began to ferment.

Now-a-days they split their time traveling to India, Nepal, and Thailand making jewelry. This lifestlye provides them the ability to manage their own time which really helps with the seasonal demands of cider making.

Four years ago they began the process of starting up a commercial cider making operation at their home. The Tasting Room open in May 2018.

I visited with my Canadian host Ryan Monkman of Fieldbird Cider in June of 2018. We sat down in the Kees and Margarets living room and then moved to the Tasting Room next door.

From May 31st to December 31st you can visit the Tasting Room on Saturday and Sundays from 11-6pm. There is a window that allows viewing into the cidery.

We tasted the full compliment of Kings Mill Ciders, which are all available via their online store. All the ciders made are 9% alcohol by volume (ABV), unless listed below

  • Premium
  • Premium Dry
  • Hopped Ginger
  • Hopped
  • Ginger
  • Russet Heritage - 9.8%
  • Scrumpy - 8.2%
  • Arrested Development -10%
  • Ice Cider - 8.5%
  • MFL Sctumpy - 8.1%

Contact Info for Kings Mill Cider Inc.

Website: http://kingsmillcider.ca/home

eMail: kingsmillcider@gmail.com

Address:

  • 596 Kings Mill Road
  • Stirling, Ontario KOK 3EO Canada

Telephone: 613-395-4079

Tasting Room

  • Saturday & Sunday 11am - 6pm

Online Cider Store

http://kingsmillcider.ca/store

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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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