293: Lee McAlpine of Montana CiderWorks | Established 2002

293: Lee McAlpine of Montana CiderWorks | Established 2002

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist October 20, 2021 Duration: 54:51

Who is Montana CiderWorks

Lee McAlpine is the Founder and Owner of Montana Ciderworks based in Darby, Montana. In 2022, Lee will celebrate the 20th year of operations and has a special Pommeau release made with her cider and distilled locally. It has been aging for 3 years and will only be available at the cidery.

In 2002, she planted over 700 cider varieties that focused on 7 English Cider varieties that Lee felt would blend well with the covet Montana grown Macintosh apples.

Lee was a firefighter who had a passion for sustainable agriculture and for Montana.

Ep: 293 Cider Chat 293 Lee McAlpine Lee McAlpine

The Cidery set up

Lee has a 20 x 20 foot production room and primarily ferments in Flex tanks and has a small batch program.

The Cidery has no Tasting Room, but you can show up and buy cider on site.

Lee's cider are fermented for a year before bottling!

Topics in this Cider Chat

  • Why the McIntosh is so coveted in Montana
    • The region going back to 1880 specifically growing the McIntosh was a vibrant orchard region at one time. Lee notes that it is the temperatures between day and night in this region that really helps elevate the Macs and thus they she finds notes of cinnamon to this apple variety and the cider.
    • There are 33 different spourts of McIntosh.
  • Local food to pair Montana CiderWorks cider - Lee recommends the Cheddar cheese made by Lifeline Farm a Biodynamic farm.
  • Why Lee chose not to have a Tasting Room

Mentions in this Chat

Montana CiderWorks is For Sale!  Contact Lee directly for more info

Ciders Made at Montana CiderWorks

  • Small Batch - single varietal ciders - look for via vinoshipper
  • North Fork - Semi-Dry English Style Cider
  • Darby Pub Cider - Semi-Dry New World Style Cider
  • McIntosh - Medium Sweet Single Variety Cider
  • Hopped Up - Limited Release Cider

Contact info for Montana CiderWorks

Website: http://montanacider.com/

eMail: Lee@montanacider.com

Address261 Rye Creek Road, Darby MT 59829

Phone: (406) 360-5078

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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.
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