Sometimes all it takes is one sip.

It happened to the founders of Woodfolk Cider, Martha Lowry and Alistair Whitehead, and it can happen to YOU! What began as a shared love of food, drink, and hospitality eventually led them to plant orchards, build a cidery, and welcome visitors to their 87-acre farm in Ontario, Canada.

Today, their orchard-based cidery sits among forests, rivers, rolling hills, and rows of young cider apple trees and the open invitation to expand your universe one glass at a time.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Cider Discovery Moment
00:52 Meet Woodfolk Cider
02:23 French Cider Tour Update
04:49 Secret Tap at Four Phantoms
07:53 eCiderNews Roundup
10:33 Welcome to Woodfolk's Orchard
12:18 The Farm and Family Origins
13:03 From Music and Brewing to Cider
15:09 Distilling, Spirits and Ontario Taxes
17:38 Building the Tasting Room Experience
18:17 The Woodfolk Cider Lineup
19:19 Introducing Tannic Cider to New Drinkers
21:17 The LCBO Challenge for Farm Cideries
24:14 Pressing Apples and Growing Orchards
26:51 Perry Pears, Climate and Terroir
29:22 Harvest-Based Fermentation
29:49 Barrel Aging and Neutral Oak
30:57 Learning From Happy Accidents
32:00 Yeast Choices and Orchard Diversity
33:48 Tasting Meadowland
34:54 Harvest Dates and Labeling Rules
36:23 Cider, Stewardship and Community
40:06 Modern Love Cider
40:39 Copper Moon and the Art of Blending
43:54 Food Pairings and the "Aha" Moment
46:33 Looking Five Years Ahead
48:17 Final Thoughts on Woodfolk Cider
49:55 French Cider Tour Reminder
51:04 Closing Theme Song

• Website: woodfolkcider.com

Located near Orillia, Ontario, approximately 90 minutes northwest of Toronto.

• Totally Cider Tours
• eCiderNews
• French Cider Tour 2026
• Cider Going Up Patreon

Find the full show notes for Episode 507 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link:
https://ciderchat.com/podcast/507-woodfolk-cider-ontario/

Listen wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch?
Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

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https://patreon.com/ciderchat

Richard Yi of Brooklyn Cider House isn't interested in making cider that appeals to everyone. He's interested in making cider with personality and if you've ever enjoyed hearing a cider maker tell the story behind the glass, you're going to enjoy this conversation.

In this epiosde, you'll hear how a young man who once imagined a future in engineering found his way into the family cider business. Richard shares the influence of his father, Peter Yi, the evolution of Brooklyn Cider House, and why embracing the unpredictability of fermentation has become central to his philosophy.

Along the way, we discuss:

• Growing into a family cider legacy
• The transition from engineering to fermentation
• Why cider doesn't need to taste the same every year
• Orchard expression and vintage variation
• The role of trust in fermentation
• Brooklyn Cider House's approach to craft and authenticity
• Building a cider culture that values difference over uniformity

Whether you're a cider maker, orchardist, or simply someone who enjoys discovering what makes a cider unique, Richard offers thoughtful insights into the balance between tradition, experimentation, and family.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Cider With Personality: Richard Yi's Approach to Craft Cider

01:34 Ciderville Standards Update

03:19 French Cider Tour 2026 Preview

04:50 Meet Richard Yi of Brooklyn Cider House

05:44 Family Roots, Wine, and the Path to Cider

07:23 Richard's Food Pairing Philosophy

09:31 Working Inside Brooklyn Cider House

10:43 Succession Planning and Learning the Craft

14:23 Building the New Paltz Farm and Orchard

17:28 Creating a Destination Tasting Room

18:27 Pizza, Barbecue, and Growing Crowds

21:10 Events and Community Building

23:15 Celebrating Korean Culture Through Cider

25:21 Craft Cider Versus Commodity Production

26:05 Native Yeast Fermentation and Cider Making

30:03 Wild Fermentation Versus Cultured Yeast

30:44 Small-Batch Ciders and Limited Releases

31:25 The Story Behind Nomad Cider

33:19 Nomad Cider Tasting Notes

35:24 Apples, Oak, and Barrel Aging

37:37 Sherry Cask-Aged Cider Explained

39:28 Lopez de Heredia and Winemaking Influence

42:15 Dance: A Basque-Inspired Fruit Co-Ferment

43:58 Dance Cider Tasting Notes and Technique

48:31 Innovation, Growth, and Consumer Trends

49:56 The Legacy of Peter Yi

51:17 Tandem Ciders Joins the CiderGoingUP Campaign

53:21 Cider Chat Summer Schedule and What's Next

• Tandem Cider in Michigan joing the #ciderGoingUp campaign
• 2026 French Cider Tour
• Ganzenhof Cider – Belgium
• eCiderNews

Find the full show notes for Episode 506 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/506-richard-yi/

Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch?
Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP - by supporting Cider Chat.
Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

#cidergoingup

There is a question that keeps coming up in cider, small business, and independent media:

Is this sustainable?

In this episode, Ria sits down with Adrian Luna, known as the Hard Cider Guy, for a conversation that goes well beyond cider. What starts as a discussion about content creation quickly turns into something deeper. Two practitioners, each with their own discipline, circling around the same hard truth: if you do not value your work, no one else will.

This is not about rejecting collaboration or generosity. It is about understanding the long-term cost of working for free, and what it takes to build something that lasts.

From orchard life to media strategy, from martial arts philosophy to the realities of burnout, this episode asks what it really means to take your role seriously, whether you are making cider or telling its story.

Timestamps

00:00 Is Cider Work Sustainable

01:28 Episode Theme and What's at Stake

02:12 Orchard Life and Spring Work

03:47 Planting, Grafting, and Growing Trees

07:02 French Cider Tour and Limited Spots

10:22 Meet Adrian Luna The Hard Cider Guy

11:20 The Cider Sensei Mindset

13:42 Finding Cider and Career Shift

15:51 Building the Hard Cider Guy Brand

17:21 From Scholarship to Cider Career

19:13 Too Many Hats Small Business Reality

20:53 Burnout in Cider and Media

24:20 Mission Statement Versus Making Money

26:03 Does Cider Need Independent Media

27:54 Should Creators Be Paid

29:32 Why You Should Not Work for Free

29:59 Martial Arts Discipline and Cider Ethics

30:50 Why Cider Media Needs Support

32:24 Finding Your Lane in Cider

33:16 Education and Audience Building

35:29 Hooks Versus Authentic Content

37:19 Discipline Through Adversity

42:33 Community Responsibility in Cider

48:15 Key Takeaways from the Conversation

49:12 Support Cider Chat and Keep It Going

50:12 Strange Apples Outro

Find the full show notes for Episode 505 at CiderChat.com
Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/505-cider-senseis-media-value/

Listen wherever you get your podcasts and do not forget to subscribe so you never miss what is coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch?
Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting Cider Chat.
Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

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

Listen wherever you get your podcasts

Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube

💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP

Episode 503 takes you through England and Wales with audio snapshots from the UK Blossom Time Totally Cider Tour while exploring one big question: What is a proper cider?

Travel orchard roads through Somerset, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wales as tour guests share reflections on traditional cider, perry pears, wild fermentations, farmhouse hospitality, blossom-covered orchards, and the people keeping cider culture alive. From Ross on Wye and Oliver's Cider and Perry to Gwatkin Cider Mill and beyond, this episode captures the feeling of living inside cider country for a little while.

Time Stamps

00:00 Proper Cider Defined
01:42 Tour Craft and Group Flow
04:07 Season Updates and UK Teasers
07:22 Pouring Quince and Rolling Clips
08:50 Trevor's Tour Takeaways
13:25 George and Marla's Cidery Story
20:18 France vs UK Cider Culture
24:35 Tom's Cider Journey via Spirits
32:28 Richard and Elizabeth's Mountain Cidery
39:36 Tour Gratitude Recap
40:52 UK Apple Diversity Takeaway
41:39 Cider Kindergartner Graduates
44:19 Cheese Box and Stinking Bishop
45:55 Perry Pear Center Passion
46:43 Usk Castle Cider Picnic
47:27 Blossom Tour with Syracuse Duo
49:11 Far Orchard Mystique and Bees
50:22 Cask Cider Hospitality
53:03 Gwatkins Bag in Box Secrets
55:21 Why Guided Tours Work
59:16 Last Minute Traveler Gene
01:01:08 Farmhouse Cider and Beer Overlap
01:06:33 Proper Cider at Wilkins
01:10:24 Signing Off and Theme Song

Find the full show notes for Episode 503 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/503-uk-blossom-time-proper-cider/

Listen wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch?
Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting Cider Chat.
Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

Travel with Cider Chat to Hungary for audio snapshots from the country's first Cider Salon, featuring makers from across Central and Eastern Europe, orchard visits, and a look at why Hungarian cider is a region to watch.

00:00 Budapest Travel Update

02:24 Cider Salon Plans

04:13 Litke Champagne Caves

06:34 Hungary Surprises and Lessons

09:44 Meet Andrew at St Matthias

11:35 Election Energy at Castle

16:13 Turul Bird and Innovation

18:53 Hungarian Cider Roots

22:23 Salon Maker Zuhatag

26:57 Asturian Sidra Reunion

30:06 Cidery Near Ukraine

31:27 Tom Oliver in Pécs

31:44 Why Hungary Matters

34:15 Cider Salon Worldwide

35:20 Natural Wines at Balaton

36:02 First Palinka Tasting

37:19 Teachers Cider Table

38:13 Czech Cidérka Spotlight

40:24 Dark Cider Origins

43:24 Bosnia Bohorina Ciders

45:43 Serbian Cider Shop

47:52 Cider Has No Borders

48:51 Orchard Visit and Paprika

50:36 Quince and Wild Ferments

52:47 Next Hungary Salon and UK Tour

54:12 Strange Apples Outro Song

Find the full show notes for Episode 502 at CiderChat.com
Direct Link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/502-hungary-uncorked/

Listen wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch?
Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting Cider Chat.
Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

Welcome to Season 11 of Cider Chat.

After 500 episodes exploring how cider is made, Episode 501 brings it back to the glass—how to taste cider in a way that actually feels natural.

No jargon. No pressure. Just a simple, sensory approach:

• What do you smell?
• What do you see?
• What do you feel?
• Do you want another sip?

Includes a quick mention of Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition and why judging is very different from everyday drinking.

00:00 Pommeau Snowy Epiphany

01:26 Stop Overexplaining Cider

02:59 Taste With Feelings

04:05 Season 11 Kickoff

04:34 Tours And Community News

05:52 Glintcap And Judging

09:38 Pour A Glass Together

10:13 Aroma First Impressions

11:58 Look And Notice

13:34 First Sip Reaction

14:07 Structure And Mouthfeel

15:59 Memories Around The World

18:49 Finish And Another Sip

20:30 Buy A Second Bottle

22:32 Final Sip And Wrap

24:03 Strange Apples Outro

Find the full show notes for Episode 501 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/501-how-to-taste-cider/

Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch?
Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP - by supporting Cider Chat.
Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

In this milestone Episode 500, we return to a simple question that has come up again and again over the past ten seasons of Cider Chat:
How is cider made?

After hundreds of conversations with cider makers, orchardists, historians, and fermentation experts around the world, this episode brings together the core lessons shared across 500 episodes - from orchard to bottle.

This episode walks through the cider making process step by step, including:

• Apples and cider apple varieties
• Milling and pressing
• Fermentation and yeast
• Malolactic fermentation
• Barrel aging and lees aging
• Blending
• Bottling and conditioning
• The science behind cider making

Throughout the episode, listeners are directed to past Cider Chat episodes where these topics are explored in depth with cider makers and experts from around the world.

Episode 500 also reflects on the growth of Cider Chat, the global cider community, and the people who make up Ciderville.

Thank you for listening, supporting, and being part of the journey to 500 episodes.

00:00 Welcome Episode 500

00:36 Season Voices Montage

01:51 Why Cider Chat

06:12 Cider Back To Basics

08:07 Orchard And Apples

11:10 Apple Stories And Resources

13:11 Milling And Pressing

16:57 Fermentation Essentials

18:27 Barrels And Oak Choices

19:30 Blending Art And Science

24:58 Time Bottling And Patience

25:43 Episode 500 Reflections

28:15 Thanks And Season Eleven

29:14 Outro And Bonus Banter

Find the full show notes for Episode 500 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/500-how-cider-is-made/

Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch?
Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP - by supporting Cider Chat.
Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.