262: Virtual Cidery | Building a Cidery Part 8

262: Virtual Cidery | Building a Cidery Part 8

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist March 3, 2021 Duration: 40:57

ep 262 Virtual Cidery w/Ryan Monkman

What is a Virtual Cidery?

 

A virtual cider is a cidery managed out of someone's else's cidery, or winery and in some cases a brewery. This week's featured guest is Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider in Prince Edward County Ontario. I met Ryan in 2018 and visited his Virtual Cidery host Keint-He Winery. The location was ideal being close to where Ryan lives making it very easy for him to manage the barrels of cider stored in the amazing underground barrel room.

Ask Ryan pt 4 feature photo episode 224 Cider Chat Ryan Monkman

The arrangement or agreement is key to the success of this cidery model. Ryan discusses the following options to consider.

  1. The virtual maker (VM) does sales, while the host does packaging.
  2. The VM does everything.

Virtual Makers must decide: How involved do you want to be?

Benefits of the Virtual Cidery Model

  • Low risk
    • - you get to test your brand and product without having to set up a full brick and mortar site
  • Low financial up front costs
  • The VM and host have the potential to do collaborations.

Selecting the right Virtual Host

For Ryan, he found three key areas to consider

  1. People : Can you get along with the people who work there and the owner?
  2. Equipment: is the host site equipment going to meet the VM needs?
  3. Maintenance: If equipment breaks, can you wait till the host fixes it?
  4. Plan for unexpected costs - If the barrel steamer is broke, it is in everyone's best interest to get it fixed instead of waiting for the host who might be strapped for cash.

Contact for FieldBird Cider and Ryan Monkman

Website: https://fieldbird.ca/

Address:

1385 Highway 62
Prince Edward County, ON

Mentions in this chat

The Building a Cidery Series Part 1-7

Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving!

Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts.


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

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
418: Creative Cider Branding Tips with Cultivar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:25
Paving a Path for Cider Branding at Cultivar Meet Kirk Evans, the founder of Cultivar Creative. In this episode, Kirk shares his journey from a casual cider maker to a professional brand designer specializing in cider pa…
416:Cider Symphony w/Bach in a Bottle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:26
Crank the Bach & Go Boating with Green Bench in Hand Brian Wing of Green Bench Mead and Cider is a classical music fan. Green Bench is located in Saint Petersburg, Florida and Brian was recently on episode 398 which is a…
415: Cider Hybrids |Cider Nothings or Cider Somethings? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:33
What exactly are Cider Hybrids Exploring Cider Hybrids and Co-ferments as recored at a panel discussion at CiderCon 2024. The terminology for this category is still developing, reflecting the innovative and experimental…
414: B Corp Certified Businesses | Solar, Candle, Coffee & Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:19
Businesses Certified as a B Corp Stand Out! Explore the benefits of B Corp certification with leaders from solar, candle, coffee, and cider industries. Learn about their challenges and successes in creating positive soci…
413: Ancestral Methods in Cider Making [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:14
Is Ancestral Method different than Pet Nat? This panel discussion on Ancestral Method was moderate by Nicole Leibon of LeNosse Knows consultation. She was joined by Yann Gilles, a French cider consultant, Levi Danielson…
412: Cider Dispatch | Big Fish, VA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:28
Find the latest Cider Dispatch from Highland County Virginia Cider Bon Vivant Reporter Al Sax provide a cider dispatch report from Monterey Virginia. This area of Virginia is known as Highland County and it is here that…
411: Curative Options for Cider Making Problems | CiderCon 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:51
Technical Tips for When Things Go Wrong with Cider Making This episode features two cider professionals and a cider industry consultant, which is exactly who you need a direct line to when your cider has problems. Hear f…
410: International Perry Panel | CiderCon 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:26
Cider's Best Friend is Perry Enjoy this panel discussion "Pear Necessities: International Perry recorded at CiderCon 2024. The panel was moderated by drinks writer, Adam Wells of the UK. Sitting to his right was Tom Oliv…
409: Cider's Pilot Guy & Intel Girl | Olympic Bluffs, WA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:05
Escape to Olympic Bluffs a Dream Vacation Destination Olympic Bluffs Cidery & Lavender Farm is located on the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The farm is on a bluff that overlooks the Salish…