412: Cider Dispatch | Big Fish, VA

412: Cider Dispatch | Big Fish, VA

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist May 8, 2024 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 Big Fish Cider is located. One of the cool extras (beside cider) when visiting this region, is that it is a Dark Sky area. This means good star grazing due to the lack of night lights drowning out the night sky.

Al interviews Big Fish Cider Maker and Owner Kirk Billingsley. Kirk was last on Cider Chat in Episode 124. That recording took place in 2018 at CiderCon the annual trade conference for the American Cider Association

Cider Chat 412 - Ria with Big Fish pulled chilled from the stream 200x300 cider dispatch
Ria with Big Fish pulled chilled from the stream

Changes at Big Fish from 2018 -2024

  • 400 apple trees planted
  • Can order Big Fish online
  • Tasting room open Friday -Sunday

Contact for Big Fish Cider Co.

Work with Cider Chat – Provide Cider Dispatches Too!

If you enjoy sharing your love of cider and also have a knack for conversation? Why not share some of your local cider hot spots and interview a favored maker.

412 Cider Dispatch with Al Sax at Big Fish

Cider Chat is looking for 20-25 minute cider dispatches. No prior podcasting experience required. Check out the page "Work with Cider Chat", fill out the form and get published on the world's #1 cider podcast as a Cider Reporter @ Cider Chat!

Mentioned in this Cider Chat

Cider Chat Episode 412 Thy Cider #xpromotecider for Cider Dispatch 300x200
Thy Cider in Denmark Cross Promotes Cider 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

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
387: American Cider Association CEO & CiderCon 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:15
Catching up with Michelle McGrath CEO of the ACA CiderCon 2024 takes place in Portland, Oregon, making it the perfect time to chat with the American Cider Association's CEO Michelle McGrath. The Northwest Cider Associati…
386: Managing Cider's Secondary Fermentation - DIY Tips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:49
The Purpose of Secondary Fermentation when Making Cider Improve the overall quality and characteristics of the final product during secondary fermentation by; Clarification: During primary fermentation, yeast converts su…
385: Cider's Ki - Remix [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:03
Searching for Cider's Universal Life Force a.k.a: Ki Of course Cider has Ki , as it is related to the Japanese martial art Aikido. It all began when four words "Bravey, Wisdom, Love and Friendship" were spoken at New Yor…
384: Beginner Cider-Making Tips for Primary Fermentation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:13
The process where fresh pressed apple juice is transformed into a delightful alcoholic beverage (cider) happens during primary fermentation. Before we get into the steps here is a list of Equipment and Ingredients you wi…
383: The Medlar Specialist & Her Delicious Medlar Book [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:28
Meet the Medlar Specialist Jane Steward, is the world's premier Medlar Specialist. She is both a Grower and Producer of medlar preserves at Eastgate Larder, based in the UK, and the Author of the first ever book featurin…
382: Beginner Tips for Squeaky Clean Cider Equipment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:04
Dive into cider making essentials. Learn the importance of pristine equipment and elevate your cider's quality. Ideal for beginners starting their journey. Tip #1: Understanding the Importance of Sanitation Sanitation is…
381: DIY Cider Making for Beginners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:25
Cider Making at home is a Perfect DIY Cider Making is fun! If you are a cider fan who would like to try to make cider at home without breaking the bank, this episode is the perfect DIY project to start your journey. New…
380: The Legacy of the Downing Brothers: Architects of Nature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:48
The Architectural and Horticultural Endeavors of the Downing Brothers In the realm of landscape design and horticulture, few names are as revered as those of Andrew Jackson Downing and his brother, Charles Downing. Throu…
379: The Intricacies of Cider Co-ferments [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:07
Delve deep into the realm of cider co-ferments Enjoy this special talk with a tasting of select co-ferments from New York Apple Camp 2023. Hear the discussion on techniques, flavors, and challenges. This talk was hosted…
378: The Inner Realm of the Ice Cider Queen | Eden, VT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:19
Nothing Sharp about the "Ice Cider Queen" Eleanor Léger is affectionately dubbed the Ice Cider Queen by many followers, most notably this podcast. She founded Eden Specialty Cider in 2007, the year of the first harvest o…