452: Mac to Redfield: Four Phantoms Brewery Embraces Cider | MA

452: Mac to Redfield: Four Phantoms Brewery Embraces Cider | MA

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist March 26, 2025 Duration: 52:18

Drew Phillips opened the doors of Four Phantoms in Greenfield, Massachusetts in 2021. He began his fermentation career in the Pacific Northwest, and while waiting to open his own brewery, he took on the role as cider maker at Artifact Cider Project.

Cider chat Ep 452 Drew Phillips of Four Phantoms
Drew Phillips

Known for his creative ciders and beers, Drew blends tradition with innovation, sourcing local fruit and experimenting with wild fermentation. Check out his talk on the making of Old Gods .

In this episode, Drew shares how Four Phantoms' unique approach reflects the terroir of Western Massachusetts.

Early Challenges of a Brewery/Cidery: Gaining a License

  • Drew initially couldn't produce cider legally due to licensing restrictions in Massachusetts.
  • After securing a farmer winery license, he started making cider alongside beer and mead.
  • All ciders are crafted from Pine Hill fruit in Colrain, Massachusetts.

Signature Ciders and Fermentation Techniques

  • Late Harvest – 6.5% Apples (Spy, Golden Russet and Baldwin)
  • Tamlane – 6% 100% Macintosh apples, aged on black birch wood, giving it a herbal, German liqueur note.
  • Redfield – 7.7% 100% Redfield apples – A red-fleshed apple cider with natural acidity and structure.
  • Chapin's Waltz – 8.5% A blend of Golden Russet, Baldwin, and Northern Spy, co-fermented with low intervention.
  • King of the Wharf – 7.5% A Mac-based cider aged on rum-soaked oak chips, giving it a smooth, warming finish.
  • Old Gods – 8% Inspired by Finnish farmhouse brewing, fermented on black birch.
    • Listen to Episode 345 on how Old Gods a Co-Fermentation of Wort and Apple Juice was made!
Cider Chat Ep 452 Four Phantoms cider list - 2025
Ciders Tasted during this chat

Low Intervention and Sense of Place

  • Drew emphasizes low-intervention cider making — no back-sweetening, minimal sulfites, and natural wild cultures.
  • The ciders reflect the unique qualities of Western Massachusetts apples and local wood aging.
  • Poly tanks and oak aging contribute to the distinctive flavors and textures.

Community and the Future of Four Phantoms

Cider Chat Eo 452 Four Phantoms tasting room back area 200x300
Four Phantoms Tasting Area by the production room
  • Drew values the connection between local agriculture and cider.
  • He sees cider's future as more craft-focused than beer, with room for independent voices.
  • "Cider resists commercialization," says Drew. "It's about sense of place."

Contact Info for Four Phantoms

Mentions in this 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

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