484: Rethinking American Cider History with Patrick McCauley

484: Rethinking American Cider History with Patrick McCauley

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist December 31, 2025 Duration: 1:09:59
Meet Patrick McCauley, a Michigan-based cider maker and researcher, who is questioning some of the most common myths about American cider history. What Patrick uncovers is a far more regional, farm-based, and resilient cider story than the usual "cider died because of Prohibition" narrative.
 

00:00 Introduction to Cider and Prohibtion

00:23 Meet the Host and Guest

01:56 Listener Support and Community

04:51 Cider Salon Hungary, Uk & French Cider Tour

08:03 Featured Conversation with Patrick McCauley

10:25 Cider Production and Historical Insights

14:48 Regional Cider Production in the US

30:36 Impact of Prohibition and Industrialization

37:30 Challenges in Cider Production

38:33 Cider Culture and Consumer Perception

39:22 Historical Context and Regional Differences

42:08 Modern Cider Making Techniques

45:14 The Future of Cider

48:05 Historical Research and Discoveries

59:24 Reviving Lost Cider Traditions

01:05:58 Closing Remarks and Gratitude

 

Contact info for Patrick McCauley

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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

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
079: Dan Young | Tandem Ciders, Michigan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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076: Lou and Sue Chadwick | Grafting at Second Chance Farm, MA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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074: Nicole and Rafe Ward | Forgotten Ciders, Michigan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:13
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073: Shea A.J. Comfort | The Yeast Whisper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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072: Lost Apples of the Quabbin | Massachusetts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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071: Jeppe Gents | Fejø Cider, Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:15
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070: Mattie Beason | Black Twig Cider House, North Carolina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:48
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