455: Zero Percent Sh*t  | John Edwards Returns

455: Zero Percent Sh*t | John Edwards Returns

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist April 16, 2025 Duration: 49:50

John Edwards, longtime cider maker and integral team member at Ross on Wye Cider & Perry Co., and the creative force behind his personal label Fly be Night Cider was last on the podcast in 2019.

Cider Chat Ep 455 John Edwards and Zero % hit
John Edwards

In this Cider Chat with John Edwards

ohn is part of the tight-knit crew at Ross Cider who keep things running from orchard to bottle. The team has embraced a belt press system, which John finds surprisingly nimble—even for small batches. While Ross is rooted in tradition, they're also evolving their process to match the scale and diversity of their orchard.

  • Transitioning to stainless steel fermentation tanks
  • Working with old and rediscovered apple varieties
  • Committed to wild yeast and natural fermentation
  • Managing fire blight
  • Diversifying the orchard's apple stock with varieties like Kingston Black, Golden Ball, and Cider Lady's Finger.

Fly Be Night: A Creative Outlet

Fly by Night remains John's personal cider expression—just a few barrels a year, shared with friends. Each release gets a new label (last year's was "Space Goat"), and while the iconic "0% Sh*t" label is retired, the spirit of fun and integrity lives on.

A Cellar Surprise for Ross Fest 2025?

John has one cider still in the cellar: a 2014 Foxwhelp that might just see bottles soon. Whether blending at Ross or bottling at home, John's work reminds us that cider thrives on community, curiosity, and a bit of mystery.

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

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
049: Agathe Letellier | Manoir d'Apreval, Normandy - France [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:21
Are you a cider fan? Then follow this podcast on twitter @ciderchat In this chat: Agathe Letellier is making cider, pommeau and calvados at her cidery Manoir d'Apreval in Pennedepie in Normandy, France. It is a coastal c…
048: Heleen Nobel & Eelco Huizinga | Appels en Peren, Netherlands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:40
Appels en Perren is the first retail store in Amsterdam selling only Apple and Pear products from the Netherlands and European countries such as France, Germany and the UK. In this week's chat we speak with Heleen Nobel…
047: CiderDays 2016 Schedule | The Oldest Ciderfest in the US [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:44
Simultaneous cider events! Oh My! In this chat I provide insider tips on: The 2016 CiderDays Schedule, held in Franklin County Massachusetts on the first week of November since 1994 Where to buy cider Where to find bulk…
046: Going to CiderDays | Insider Tips, Massachusetts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:35
With a bit of history on the oldest Cider Fest in the US held the 1st weekend of November. CiderDays (yes it has always been spelled as one word) was founded in 1994, by Judith and Terry Maloney or West County Cider in C…
045: J. Cline Ph.D. & D. Plotkowski | Pomology Cider Research, Canada [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:59
Dr. John Cline and Derek Plotkowski chat on the study of pomes, i.e., Pomology and their current research on cider apples. They are based at the University of Guelph in Ontario Canada. John Cline Pomology and Cider in On…
044: Sebastian Lousada | Flag Hill Farm Cider, VT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:57
Meet Sebastian Lousada Flag Hill Farm makers of what they call Vermont Organic Hard Cider, is fully off the grid, certified organic, and producers of both cider and Pomme-de-vie AND I bet you haven't heard of it! So Grab…
043: Colin Davis | Shacksbury Cider, VT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:33
Colin Davis is Production Manager and cidermaker at Shacksbury, a cidery based in northern Vermont in the town of Shoreham. Shacksbury was incorporated in 2013 and began selling ciders in 2014. Unlike many new startups t…
042: Jennifer Smith & Sara Grady | Women Leaders in Cider for NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:55
Jennifer Smith the Executive Director of New York Cider Association and Sara Grady Founder of NY Cider Week discuss the state's commitment to cider and upcoming events. I sat down for a chat with these two women who are…
041: Emily Ritchie | Northwest Cider Association [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:45
Emily Ritchie is the Executive Director of the Northwest Cider Association a region covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. This region's cider scene is on fire and growing! Emily Ritchie The No…
040 Diego Rivera | Quebrada del Chucao, Chile [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:58
Quebrada del Chucao is a family owned cidery in Villarica (vee aree-ka), a village located in southern Chile. The Nahrwold family along with cousin Diego Rivera have been making cider commercially since 2012. Villarica i…