309: Blue Bee Cider | Richmond, VA

309: Blue Bee Cider | Richmond, VA

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist March 2, 2022 Duration: 53:36

Blue Bee Cider Founder Courtney Mailey

Courtney Mailey, always knew she wanted to be a farmer of sorts. In the high school she took part in an aptitude test with the result showing that she was to be a farmer. By the way, she was the only kids in her whole class with that goal.

Her journey to cider became more obvious after a stint in working in DC, a trip to Ireland (where she met her husband) and an apprenticeship at Albemarle Ciderworks.  She was on the path and took the leap, in 2016 when she bought the current site of Blue Bee Cider in the Scott's Addition area of Richmond, Virginia.

308 Courtney Mailey in tasting roo Courtney Mailey

Topics discussed in this chat

  • Courtney's cider journey
  • Being Richmond's first urban cidery
  • Hewes crab ferments
  • Climate change
  • Richmond's foodie, art an culture

Mentions in this Chat

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  • Fermentis - Yeast and Fermentation Solutions for Cidermakers
  • Sraml - Food Processing and Cidermaking equipment specialist

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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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