504: Why Breweries Are Making Cider (and What It Means)

504: Why Breweries Are Making Cider (and What It Means)

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist May 20, 2026 Duration: 54:20

What happens when breweries start making cider… not because they have to, but because they want to keep drinking beer?

That question kicks off episode 504 featuring Dan Kramer and Ben Anhalt of Element Brewing Company.

"Most breweries probably see cider as a way to let them continue making beer."

That line says a lot. And it opens the door to a bigger conversation.

Breweries adding cider isn't just about diversification.
It's not just about gluten-free taps.
And it's definitely not just about adding another SKU.

Something is shifting.

In this episode, we dig into:
• Why breweries are turning to cider right now
• What changing consumer habits have to do with it
• How cider fits into a beer-first business model
• What this trend means for independent cider makers

At Element, cider isn't an afterthought. It's part of a strategy to stay relevant in a changing market and a window into where craft beverages may be heading next.

Time Stamps
00:00 Why Breweries Are Making Cider
02:01 Season Travels Recap and Road Notes
04:44 Tours, Travel Updates, and France Signup
06:44 Meet Element Brewing Company
07:07 From Brewing to Distilling: The Origin Story
10:43 Barrels, Aging, and Apple Brandy
15:37 Sourcing Cider and Apples for Production
19:23 Why Breweries Are Adding Cider Now
23:53 Branding and the Element Two Concept
25:44 South Deerfield Expansion Plans
29:13 Cider Making Mindset
29:40 Tasting a Dry Botanical Cider
30:36 Yeast Choices and Sweetness Strategy
32:15 Balance First: Building Flavor
33:38 ABV, Structure, and Serving Glassware
34:59 Learning Curve and Cider Books
35:50 Apple Varieties, Terroir, and Flavor
38:33 Experimentation and Small Batch Cider
41:12 Personal Palates and Fridge Favorites
42:40 The Bigger Shift: Breweries Moving to Cider
46:00 Advice: Make Your Cider Stand Out
48:53 Apple Brandy Toast
49:40 Why Independent Cider Media Matters
51:54 Tom Oliver and 500 Episodes
53:00 #CiderGoingUp Campaign
53:45 Final Sign-Off

Find the full show notes for Episode 504 at CiderChat.com

Direct link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/504-breweries-making-cider-element/

Mentions in this episode: Totally Cider Tour to France

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💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP


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: 100

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
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502: Hungary Uncorked / Cider Going UP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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501: How to Taste Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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499: The Omnia Era of Cider | Pommes in Art Revisited [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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498: Heeman's Cellar | Somewhere Cider from Ontario [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:05
In this episode of Cider Chat, we visit Heeman Cellars in Ontario, where a multi-generational strawberry farm expanded into cider and mead production focused on heritage apples, terroir, and experimentation. We taste ble…
496: Liberty Ciderworks | Spokane, WA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:28
Liberty Ciderworks in Spokane, Washington is an urban cidery focused on traditional methods. While located in the city, their cider reflects deep agricultural roots. Cider maker and founder Rick Hastings ferments with wi…