505: Cider Senseis: Discipline, Craft, and the Cost

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 Mentions in this Cider Chat 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.      

Episode 499 of Cider Chat looks at the "Omnia Era of Cider" - a time when everything is happening at once in modern cider, from traditional methods to new styles and experimentation. Using art history and the Pommes in Art story as a guide, this episode explores how we often don't realize we are living in an important era until years later. This episode serves as a pause before Episode 500, where we return to the beginning and talk about how cider is made. 00:00 Episode 499 Prelude 01:00 Chaos Then and Now 03:31 Omnia Era Explained 05:46 Art as Cider Lens 06:13 Michelangelo David 08:45 Renaissance to Cider 11:13 Arcimboldo Fruit Portraits 13:35 Pomona and Vertumnus 16:35 Sack of Rome Shift 18:29 Mannerism and Omnia 23:17 Talking Pommes Banter 25:53 Looking to Episode 500 Find the full show notes and photos for Episode 499 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/499-the-omnia-era-of-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 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 blends, single varietals, and rare apples including Wayne, Swayzie – Pomme Grise, Yarlington Mill, and crab apples while discussing Ontario cider history, barrel aging, Pet Nat cider, and what it means to make cider that comes from somewhere. 00:00 Somewhere Cider Idea 02:17 Episode Setup Tom Heeman 03:44 Cider Travel Updates 06:16 Road To Episode 500 10:19 Heeman Farm Origins 11:18 Orchard Plans Partnerships 12:04 London Ontario Location 14:13 Apples Bees Cider Bug 15:28 Cider Mead Beginnings 17:18 Launching During Covid 19:58 Style Shift Toward Dry 23:26 Ontario Terroir Apples 25:48 Family Buy In 27:51 Tasting Flight Begins 30:10 Magic Apple Story 34:52 New Traditions Pet Nat 36:14 Somerset Blend Deep Dive 37:55 Ontario Blend Origins 38:23 Aging Takes Time 39:04 Yarlington Mill Pour 40:28 Terroir and Acid Balance 41:51 Somewhere Cider Philosophy 42:12 Happy Space Mission 45:16 Wayne Apple Discovery 47:13 Old World Notes Explained 51:32 Swayze Pomme Grise 55:15 Ontario Apple Golden Age 58:59 Sweet Crab Apple Shock 01:04:21 Clamping and Carbonic Trials 01:08:27 Wrap Up and Credits Find the full show notes for Episode 498 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at:https://ciderchat.com/podcast/498-heeman-cellars/  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.

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 Marcus Robert – Tieton Cider Works, Washington Tim Godfrey – Golden State Cider, California Eleanor Leger – Eden Specialty Cider, Vermont Brent Myles – Sly Clyde Cider, Virginia Ben Calvi – Vermont Cider Co, Vermont 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/ 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.