495: Cider Barrels Speak | Bâtonnage & Barrel Aging

495: Cider Barrels Speak | Bâtonnage & Barrel Aging

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist March 18, 2026 Duration: 58:24

In this archive episode of Cider Chat, we go in a barrel cellar in Prince Edward County, Ontario, with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider and Lee Baker of Keint-He Winery.

Listening to Fermentation

What Is Bâtonnage in Cider?

Find Key Takeaways for Home Cider Makers

Barrel Room Glossary

SO₂ Calculator

00:00 Barrels as Dance Partners

00:29 Episode 495 Replay Setup

01:40 Ryan Monkman Spotlight

04:06 Ciderville News and Cider Salons

06:21 UK Blossom Time Tour Plans

08:18 Entering the Barrel Cave

10:38 Cellar Terroir and Humidity

13:33 Malolactic Fermentation Explained

15:32 Listening to Fermentation

17:51 Comparing Barrels With and Without Malo

21:50 Yeast Trials and Complexity

23:48 Lees Contact and Benefits

26:24 Bâtonnage Tools and Routine

30:47 Bâtonnage Demo in Action

33:49 Hands On Stirring and Smelling

34:17 Stirring The Lees

35:26 Blending For Complexity

36:47 Aging Timeline And Autolysis

38:47 Barrel Faults And Oxygen

41:58 Managing Flor And SO2

44:09 Measuring pH And Sulfur

49:56 Cleaning And Storing Barrels

53:03 Citric Sulfur Storage Method

57:04 Closing Notes And Farewell

Find the full show notes for Episode 495 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/495-barrel-aged-cider-tips/
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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
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496: Liberty Ciderworks | Spokane, WA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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494: Humboldt Cider and the Historic Orchard of Albert Etter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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493: Cider as a Sport | Sidra in Asturias (Archive Edition) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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492: Absolem Cider Company | Maine Cider Energy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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An early conversation that explored possibilities cider was only beginning to consider. As Cider Chat moves toward its 500th episode, we revisit conversations from the earliest seasons, taking a long view of the moments…
490: Let Cider Lead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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489: Natural Cider Production Seminar | CiderCon 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Natural cider is often misunderstood as funky, volatile, or flawed. Recorded live at CiderCon 2025, this seminar reframes natural cider as a philosophy of low intervention, balance, and intentional care, not a free pass…
488: Vintage Cider Label Lawsuit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:10
A pending lawsuit spearheaded by Ron Extract of Garden Path Fermentation could change how cider makers label harvest year and "vintage" on cider over 7% ABV. Ron explains why the current TTB rules block truthful harvest-…