In today’s episode I chat with Ben of Ploughman’s Cider. We dig into 10 years of cidermaking on the family’s 7th generation farm. We talk about making slow cider with wild yeast, using a degree in agriculture ecology to grow cider specific varieties using sustainable practice, the annual reset button, being innovative while paying homage to cider’s roots, farmer’s markets, and who the most important people in a cidery are.

In today’s episode I meet up with Abram, former owner of Cider Riot in Portland, Oregon, and current head cider maker for Alde Sider in Norway. We caught up while at the American Cider Association’s Cider Con in Providence, Rhode Island. We chat about his journey from making cider with a cheese grater in his dorm room to becoming an award winning cider maker, how he uses his creative writing degree, government shut downs mucking things up, cider: the red-headed step child, right sizing a business, and the differences between US and Norwegian cider. I lost my voice while at Cider Con, so enjoy my hoarse, raspy, barely there voice for most of this episode!

In today’s episode I chat with Adam, owner and founder of Offset Ciderworks in Edmonds, Washington. We talk about creating sessionable modern ciders with a pear apple blend, building momentum by raising capital, the advantages of using culinary apples and pears, creating consistency in agricultural products, the importance of market research and a business plan, keg washing debacles, and how can size really does matter.

In today’s episode I chat with Marshall, cofounder and co-owner of Greenwood Cider in Seattle, Washington. We talk about how funk bandmates/roommates making hooch in their basement over a decade ago turned cidery owners and how this three person operation makes rustic, unfiltered ciders that span the range of traditional methods to experimental modern ciders with unusual flavor combinations. Plus we gab about the astonishing number of packaged products they put out, cracking the perry code, secret foraging spots, wildfires, controversial apple preferences, and our AI overlords.

In today’s episode I chat with Eliseo, owner, cidermaker, and one man show of Heartland Ciderworks in Oregon. We talk about transitioning from making really bad cider in college to an award winning cider maker, how having a degree in economics has its advantages, seasonal production, being a full time solo cidery owner and stay at home dad, plus the joys of fermenting in IBCs, creating traditional cider styles, and how he nerds out on researching apples, pears, and production techniques.

In today’s episode I chat with Kelly and Tammy, owners of Bend Cider in Bend, Oregon. We talk about living in the high desert, the future of cider, and juggling small business ownership and a family. Kelly is a wildlife biologist turned cidermaker. We nerd out on ecosystems, species diversity, climate change, cider tourism, and microclimates. Cider nerds unite!

In today’s episode I chat with Sean Harris, founder and cider maker of Serpentine Cider in San Diego, California. We talk about his status as “most amazing boyfriend ever”, his approach to cidermaking as part artist, scientist, and chef, plus we dig into some of the interesting out of the box flavors they have tried!

In today’s episode I veer away from cider to another gluten free beverage found in a pint glass, ginger beer and chat with Aaron, co-founder of Ginger Cult Ginger Beer in Portland Oregon. We talk about their transition from cider to ginger beer, what flavors blend well with ginger, their inspiration from English ginger beer, and hilarious reviews on that app we all love to hate.