497:Beginner Cider Makers Q&A | Advice from Professional Cider Makers (Archive)

497:Beginner Cider Makers Q&A | Advice from Professional Cider Makers (Archive)

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist April 1, 2026 Duration: 1:02:16

This archival episode of Cider Chat brings together five experienced cider makers answering real-world questions from beginners at CiderCon 2019.

Originally released as Episodes 174 and 175, this combined feature presents a comprehensive Q&A covering everything from fermentation and stabilization to business strategy, equipment, and scaling a cidery.

The discussion bridges the gap between hobby cider making and commercial production, offering practical insights grounded in real experience.

Panelists

Moderated by Cider Chat MC Ria Windcaller

00:00 Cider Choices Matter

01:27 Episode Setup

03:02 Ciderville Event News

05:41 Support The Podcast

06:31 Patron Shoutouts

10:34 Panel Introductions

14:34 Defining Cider

15:32 Lessons Learned

18:55 Residual Sugar Safety

23:51 Contract Vs Taproom

27:13 Ice Cider Deep Dive

33:11 Settling Juice Tips

34:40 Solids and Enzymes

35:06 Plastic Fermenters Tips

36:41 Profitability and Distribution

40:54 Learn on Someone Else

41:27 Core Ciders Strategy

45:43 Tasting Room Location

49:43 Funding and Crowdfunding

52:07 Essential Lab Gear

53:54 Filtration and Hopbacks

58:05 Fermentation Temperature Control

01:01:03 Wrap Up and Sign Off

Find the full show notes for Episode 497 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link at:https://ciderchat.com/podcast/497-beginner-cider-makers-qa/

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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
109: Ice Cidermaking Tips with Chadd Cook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Ice Cider is made by freezing fresh pressed apple juice. The first element to freeze in the process is the water that is naturally occurring in all apples to a less or greater degree. As the water freezes, the pure liqui…
108: The Alcohol Professor chats Cider Competitions & Judging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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106: Totally Cider Tour - UK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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105: Tom Oliver on Making Perry | UK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:05
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104: Chadd Cook | Cider Hill Cellars, MA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:46
Sign up now for Totally Cider Trip to the UK in April 2018!! - Come along with Ria the Producer and Host of Cider Chat as we travel through Somerset and Herefordshire in the UK visiting makers and drinking cider along th…
103: Robby Honda | Tanuki Cider, CA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:26
Totally Cider Travels - Come along with Ria of Cider Chat as we travel through Somerset and Herefordshire in the UK visiting makers and drinking cider along the way! The trip begins in Bristol, UK on wednesday April 25 a…
102: Cider Ignites | NY State of "Apple" Mind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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A special listen with five New York State cidermakers, who each brought home medals from the Royal Bath and West Show cider competition in the UK! The introduction is by Sara Grady, Vice President of Programs at Glynnwoo…
101: Cider Ignites NYC-Part 1 | Makers & Enthusiasts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In Part 1 of "Cider Ignites NYC" we chat with New York Cidermakers and enthusiasts who are attending Hidden Stars, a cider fest held during NYC Cider Week 2017. First up is Kyle Sherrer of Graft Cider in Newburgh New Yor…
100: Celebrating 100 Cider Podcast Episodes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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"The Nose" is back helping Ria sort through the past year and celebrate this 100th episode of Cider Chat! We delve into wild yeast, terroir, and hear a bit from every single guest on the past 50 episodes of Cider Chat. T…