Cider Voice (Cider Voice)

It’s about time we dug into one of the world’s biggest cider cultures – and the only only outside the UK with a large concentration of bittersweet and bittersharp cider apples – France.

So who better to catch up with than Virginie Thomas of @bouscule_tes_sens – author, consultant, advocate and trainer?

We cover all things French cider, chat through some of the similarities in how the drink’s perceived in the UK and France, then talk about writing a world cider guide during a pandemic, doing tastings with blindfolds on, the mighty crêpe and Brittany’s new cider route.

Follow the link in bio to listen, or head to your favourite podcast provider – we're on them all.

Something you'd like to hear us discuss? A guest we desperately need to get on? A hot take you'd like to share? We love to hear from our 12 listeners, so give us a shout at albert@cidervoice.com. We might even read it out if you're very unlucky...

The team pull a late one for an extra exciting episode with a serious time difference as we catch up with Camilla Humphries (@camillas_crush) cider maker, expert and advocate in Mornington Peninsular, Australia.

We see almost none of Australia’s amazing cider scene here in the UK so Camilla gives us the full rundown from climate to apples to the inspirational Cider Australia (@cideraustralia) movement.

We also learn about her travels around the cider regions and orchards of the world on a research trip for the Churchill Trust, and how her learnings have been applied by Cider Australia in their advocacy and research. 

Read Camilla’s report here: https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/project/to-investigate-orchard-growing-systems-for-improving-australian-cider-production/

Albert pulls all-nighters @rosscider @adamhwells moonlights @cider_review Justin burns the candle @justinwellsjustin

In our mini episode for this week, Justin gets back at Adam for being muscled out of the last episode, to sit down with Albert as they two talk about group cider tastings. Justin has been planning a tasting to host with his friends, and we talk about why that's a good idea and how you think about formatting your tasting! Find out Albert's one simple trick to always have an amazing time in a cider tasting.

• Albert makes cider @RossCider
• Adam writes cider @Cider_Review
• Justin is gonna get his mates into cider @JustinWells1346
• Get in touch via Twitter or instagram
• Or email us - albert@cidervoice.com

 

We’re now two for two on providing speakers for the Applefest banquet, as Adam followed in Albert’s footsteps to give a keynote speech at this year’s perry-themed speech. Expect shameless book plugs, accusations of perrymaking idiocy and talking himself out of being invited to Somerset ever again.   Luckily Albert was on hand to record it, and we’re delighted to share it today. But microphone plus echoey room equalled technical challenges that for once weren’t our fault – so we recommend headphones this week..   Don't forget to pre-order Perry: A Drinker's Guide! The Kickstarter for Adam's book is open for two more weeks: you can find it right here.   Making cider or perry this year? Contribute your data and knowledge to the crowd-sourced pomona: visit https://ourpomona.org to help out.

 

We chat to cider legend and founder of The Cat in the Glass Nicky Kong. Everything from dream cider bars, to the rise of online cider merchants, from keg conditioning to Mostviertel perry cats – and even matching apple varieties to Liverpool football players.

An anxiety pulling up of my socks, with Martin Johnson

We continue to mine our families for quality cider content, and this time it’s Albert’s turn to provide a relative, in the shape of his fellow @rosscider maker, @yewtreepeterstow supremo and, coincidentally, brother, Martin Johnson.

We discuss the running of a perfect cider pub, and everything Martin has done to transform the Yew Tree into just that. Storage and service of cider, how to get drinkers to give new things a try and bringing cider together with food. (Stand by for a wet sandwich supper club now that Albert has rightly fallen for the mighty Italian Beef).

Featuring a swathe of Broome Farm ciders as you’d expect, we test Albert’s knowledge of his own batches and discover just how hard we can plug Ross-on-Wye.

It's the 44th episode of Cider Voice and in Albert's absence thanks to his exciting new role we have a huge question: do we finally have a 13th listener? To celebrate we're joined by whisky writer and new Cider Review contributor Beatrix Swanson.

Bea talks to Justin and Adam about growing up in Germany's apfelwein country and how she joined the cider community. We extol the virtues of the bagnum and ponder whether cider and perry might be the ultimate drinks for Gen Z.

Since, like all the best people, Bea's come to cider from whisky, we also turn our attention to the vital question of the perfect whisky and cider pairings, whilst Justin worries that he might need a bigger bottle rack.

A really fun episode chatting to one of the most exciting new voices in cider.

Albert has a new job @rosscider @adamhwells has a new whisky @cider_review Justin has a new mouthful of pasta @justinwellsjustin

The universe is ending but there’s just enough time for the greatest cider and perry banquet ever experienced.

In part two of our Cider and Food episode, Albert gets Ben, Justin and Adam to come up with their ultimate feasts, complete with fantasy guests and glassware. From goblets the size of pudding bowls to Terry Pratchett, Pudding Beasts and Herefordshire-Yucatan collaboration pork shoulders, this is a cider supper like no other. Whose pairings will come out on top? Will Adam throw himself into oblivion before the cheese course? There’s only one way to find out.

Albert makes cider at rosscider.com Adam writes about it at cider-review.com and Justin drinks it at wherever it is served, which most recently was in Mexico!

An interview with Jeremy Harris about his cidery 'Hollow Ash Orchard', based in Broad Oak in south Herefordshire. Visit their website here: http://www.hollow-ash.co.uk/Welcome_to_Hollow_Ash.html

Absolute cider royalty comes to the pod this week as Justin and Albert are joined by Alison Taffs, head honcho at multi-award-winning might-as-well-keep-the-trophy cider pub The Hop Inn.

We talk about Alison and Justin's shared background as drama students at Mountview, and how that armed them to become tasting host extraordinaires, we touch on managing alcohol intake when working in the drinks industry and Alison schools us on what makes good hospitality.

Only momentarily distracted by Justin looking up directions to the Hop Inn on his phone, we learn how to build the ultimate cider list as a pub and how gaining confidence with tasting notes can help drinkers, producers and hospitality staff.

Ciders by @gospel_green

Albert lords the land @rosscider Adam hops in @cider_review Justin is on heavy antihistamines @justinwellsjustin

This time, Justin, Adam and Albert go on a walk through the complex world of bittersweet (and bittersharp) cider. Armed with questions, praise and a few fairly satisfactory answers, our earnest trio attempt to define dryness, get technical about tannins, try to figure out polyphenols, and ponder the platonic ideal of corner shop snack pairings... with only a mere couple of digressions about punts and cheese.

Ciders from Skyborry Cider & Ross-on-Wye

Albert is bitter @rosscider

Adam is sharp @adamhwells

Justin is sweet @justinwells1346

After receiving an eloquent letter of encouragement from one of our 12 listeners, we re-run our extremely thorough and official tournament for the greatest cider apple or perry pear.

Bigger, better, with no apples off the table and two bonus judges in @helenannesmith and @ratchellle, this is Pome Total War, with apples and pears judged on every factor – taste, yield, vibes, name, treacherousness and level of freckles.

Who’ll triumph in Bulmers Norman vs Thorn II? Just how perfect is Porter’s Perfection? What’s the proper pronunciation for Plant de Blanc? And just who is ’T.O.’?

Discover the answers to some of these questions and more, as well as the identity of the true greatest cider apple or perry pear. Plus drinks by @palmers_upland_cyder, @littlepomona and (shockingly) @rosscider

What are the ciders that have shaped the way you look at the drink, and possibly changed your life?

In this episode, Albert hands the pod keys to Justin and Adam, who sit down to answer this very question.

In the process they discuss their seminal ciders and perries, with only a moderate number of seismic conversational segues to discuss mid-20th century Japanese cinema, what you’d top up a Raison d’Être bottle with and how a paucity of sand is actually dooming us all.

Get in touch on Twitter, Instagram or email us at albert@cidervoice.com

Albert is king of the sandcastle @rosscider Adam plays in the @cider_review sandpit Justin has his head in the sand @justinwellsjustin

Ciders today by: Killahora Orchards Butford Organics Chalkdown Little Pomona Eve’s Downside Halfpenny Green Eden Ross-on-Wye

and… erm… Waterford Whisky

Welcome to S2. Joining Albert are Adam Wells and Justin Wells, drinks enthusiasts with different levels of expertise, and listen in as we chat about our hopes and dreams on all things cider audio related.

The plight of the hapless cidermaker, with Caroline Wells

For absolutely definitely 100% the first time ever on the show, we reveal that Justin and Adam have started their own cidermaking project, Three Wells Cider, and we’re joined by their business partner, cidermaking colleague and fellow Wells, Caroline, to tell you all about it.

From being accidentally compelled to become craft drinks producers after buying a pair of blundstones to dodging storms, breaking mills, grey-faced conversations about hose fittings and vanning cider from Bromyard to Reading, this episode became part group therapy, part exposé of the lies propagated by the minimum intervention movement.

Listen along and enjoy the story of Three Wells Cider’s first ever vintage. 

Bonus ciders from Hjulsjö, Find & Foster and Little Pomona.

The team welcome a transatlantic cider rock star to the pod for this episode as they're joined by Eleanor Leger, co-founder and owner of Vermont's @edenciders

We talk about all things ice cider and how Eden experiment with this magnificent dessert cider style. Plus the economics of fine cider, and how Eden have diversified over the years whilst staying true to their full juice roots.

Having experimented with British varieties we talk about the different flavours they produce in American terroirs, which leads us to a discussion of the new frontier of propagating wild American apples for cider.

Finally things get extra serious as Eleanor demonstrates the massive impact that climate change has had on not only her orchards, but the very styles of cider she can make.

An absolutely brilliant chat with one of the most significant figures in aspirational cider.

Albert is lightly chilled @rosscider @adamhwells cools off @cider_review Justin breaks the mill @justinwellsjustin

Albert and Adam, ably assisted by stand-in producer Norman, catch up about their recent trip to Portland, Oregon, to fulfil a long-held dream of attending CiderCon and speaking on a panel. What did they learn, what did they taste, what were their highlights and can Norman resist thrashing the tug of war toy about for 15 minutes? Only one way to find out.

• Albert makes cider @RossCider
• Adam writes about it mainly @Cider_Review
• Get in touch via Twitter or instagram
• Or email us - albert@cidervoice.com

*Albert won’t be talking about bittersweets*

In this new episode you get a break from food content, because the UK’s number one aspirational cider convention – Craftcon – is steaming towards us on April 5th and 6th and Albert and Adam can’t wait.

To tell you all about this brilliant event and why you should buy a ticket whether maker, advocate, seller or drinker, we sit down digitally with Lydia and Tom of Artistraw – two of Herefordshire’s most exciting cidermakers and long term stalwarts of Craftcon.

We talk about the upcoming convention, including nonexistent seminars from Albert, Adam’s non-nonexistent keynote speech on perry and the host of cider and perry talks and tastings on offer. And we get into Tom and Lydia’s journey as aspirational cidermakers themselves.

Albert crafts at @rosscider Adam tries not to con at @cider_review Justin was busy @justinwells1346 Tom and Lydia make @artistrawcider

Get your tickets for Craftcon right here this instant: https://craftcon.co.uk

In this mini-episode Adam runs out of both co-hosts and synonyms for superlatives as he sits down to chat with two of the pod's best friends, Helen Anne Smith and Rachel Hendry of Burum Collective.

We talk through their newly-launched collaboration ciders with Little Pomona: what they are, why they were made, what the process was and how come one of them just wouldn't sparkle?

Along the way we touch on Burum's ongoing work to promote free education and inclusivity in hospitality, the importance of time in cider and the number of days' toil needed to become a proper cidermaker. (We settle on two – Albert's mileage may vary).

Albert is fantastic @rosscider

Adam is fantastic @cider_review

Justin is fantastic @justinwellsjustin

Contribute to Our Pomona

Once again we dive into the inspiring international scene, this time learning all about cider in Japan thanks to our guest Lee Reeve, @inciderjapan.

We talk through Japan’s cider beginnings in the 1950s, its modern movement that began around 2017 and the different styles, makers, places and inspirations behind modern Japanese cider.

From French-style keeves to English bittersweets, from Fuji apples to wild indigenous varieties found in the mountain forests, there’s so much going on here to explore. 

Lee also talks us through his journey importing the best of English, French, American, Norwegian and Australian cider to Japan, and how cider is gaining a foothold in a country with such a strong and historic drinks tradition.

Shoutouts to producers including @kamoshika_cidre @vinvie.jp @sonofthesmithhardcider and @marukame_farm_cidery

Thanks for all the messages you’ve been sending – keep them coming to albert@cidervoice.com. We love hearing from the 12 of you.

Albert’s away again so it all goes off the rails – Adam’s distracted by how good a cider is and Justin’s gone for a sauna.

But then we rein it back in and chat about Justin’s first experience leading a cider and perry tasting – ‘an introduction to Herefordshire.’

We talk what he served, what he learned, preferences and preconceptions and and Gin Pear/Cookie Dough Affogato.

Planning a tasting with some of your own friends? This is the episode for you.

Albert toils @rosscider @adamhwells spoils @cider_review (and has written a book!) Justin broils @justinwellsjustin

Liberty to Cider – with Elisha Mason

We take an apple-tinted journey into the past with our guest this week, Elisha Mason, @museumofcider Archives and Collections Officer.

Leading us into the mysterious (and, apparently, heavily haunted) archives and cellars of the magnificent Museum of Cider in Hereford, Elisha talks us through British Cider Riots, and how they inspired revolution in America, dream teapots and finding an unexpected foot in a box (different museum…)

Continuing to answer the big questions we ponder who would be the best starship captain amongst historical pomologists and orchardists, ask what an ingenio is and string out the great Cider Voice debate: Bulmer’s Norman vs Thorn Pear. Also, is Adam secretly the Scrooge of Wassailing (and can he even pronounce it?)

We loved recording this episode with Elisha. Drop us a line at albert@cidervoice.com with your suggestions of people we should speak to next, or just to talk all things cider and perry.

Ciders by @aldesider @tomolivercider @rosscider

In this episode we go up in the world as we’re privileged to talk to Michelle McGrath, CEO of the American Cider Association. We talk about her 8 year tenure and how the American cider industry has changed in that time, then get into apples, approaches and, most of all, the inspirational and epic annual event that is CiderCon – which Albert and Adam are both attending and speaking at for the first time this year.

A massively informative and revelatory conversation we were super grateful to Michelle for joining us in.

• Michelle is the CEO @McGeePDX
• Albert makes cider @RossCider
• Adam writes about it mainly @Cider_Review
• Justin just sort of hangs out at @justinwells1346

It's been a year since we relaunched Cider Voice and to celebrate, Albert's holding a massive festival at the farm and launching 14 special edition ciders.

In this episode we run through all the festival releases, from the last of a particular perry pear ever to be grown on the farm to an apple that isn't called Hagloe Lobster. Has Albert been coerced into releasing a perry by Adam? And is Ross-on-Wye just becoming a sea of acid.

Have a listen to discover this year's full festival release rundown, and if you haven't booked your festival ticket yet, hie thee to rosscider.com

An interview with James & Susanna Forbes about their cidery, 'Little Pomona', based in Bromyard in North Herefordshire. Visit their website here: https://littlepomona.com/

We level up once again this week as we welcome international cider dignitary Darlene Hayes to Cider Voice.

One of the most important and influential figures in the American and now global cider revolution, Darlene has played a central role in expanding cider education, especially through the Certified Cider Guide and Certified Pommelier Programmes.

We talk through Darlene's introduction to cider, burrow down a rabbit hole of varietal curiosity (with a shoutout to Albert's new Sherrington Norman) and then chat all things Pommelier following the course's worldwide expansion.

If you want the inside track on these new cider qualifications; what they are, how they were put together, what's involved in taking them – and how to avoid any obvious slipups, this is the episode for you. Plus a special behind the scenes glimpse at the shape that these cider education programmes might take next.

In this episode Justin and Adam demand the finest ciders available to humanity and they want them here and they want them now, so who better to speak to than Felix Nash, founder of the Fine Cider Company.

We talk the 10-year development of Fine Cider, the ways Felix has found to bring restaurants round to the concept, parallels with and differences to fine wine, the new Fine Cider Shop in London and the importance of getting the public on board via events like the upcoming Stockport Cider Salon.

Shoutouts primarily to tomoliverscider

Albert makes fine cider @rosscider @adamhwells writes fine words @cider_review Justin's feeling fine @justinwellsjustin

It's Perry Month for CAMRA and Cider Review, and since Adam wants to shamelessly plug his book, we're diving into the magical, secretive world of perry, with Kertelreiter Cider & Perry's Barry Masterson and Burum Collective's Helen Anne Smith.   Listen along as we talk about ultra-rare pears and Brian Napoleon, whilst Justin turns up with a cider because he 'left his perry at a friend's house'.   lbert makes cider and perry at Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company   Adam writes about it mainly on cider-review.com (and has a book coming out! Which you can pre-order on kickstarter!)   Justin, a professional actor-director, enthuses about it, drinks it, occasionally makes it and keeps our podcast vaguely professional.

Listen as Albert Johnson from Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry is joined by Adam Wells from Cider Review to give you the fourth and final update of the 2023 Harvest Diary. A recap of the end of harvest, a quick look at how the vintage is looking, thoughts on the months to come, and a celebration of working with FRUIT!

Listen as Albert Johnson from Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry is joined by Adam Wells from Cider Review to give you the second update of the 2023 Harvest Diary. A quick review of the harvest so far, discussing varieties, sugar levels, terroir and vintage. We answer listener questions on names, harvesting and hopped ciders!

Don't forget there's less than three days left in the Kickstarter for Adam Wells' new book, published by CAMRA, Perry: A drinker's guide. Visit the Kickstarter now to pre-order the book for release in May 2024.

With Albert on Freya-watch, Adam and Justin decide to celebrate a year of Cider Voice by learning how to actually podcast, and chatting to our secret producer, Neutral Cider Hotel's Martyn Goodwin Sharman, aka @cidershit

Cue a wide-ranging chat with someone who's watched the aspirational cider revolution first-hand for almost a decade. Everything from Daniel Craig ice lollies to cider tie-die t-shirts, not really caring about varieties (sorry Albert) and the question of how to get people to care about cider.

Turns out all we need to take the next step in podcasting is a celebrity presenter, six-hour recording sessions, a pandemic and a few convincing impressions from Justin. Cheers Martyn!

Albert makes cider @rosscider @adamhwells writes about it @cider_review Justin is getting dangerously knowledgeable @justinwellsjustin

With Albert back in the fold and Justin finally having picked his ciders up from his friend's house we journey back in time into cider's murky past via a fantastic conversation with Elizabeth Pimblett of the Cider Museum – no, Museum of Cider!

We learn about cider in the Civil War, Bulmers Pomagne, the hidden history of women in cider, riots and crystal glassware, and along the way dig into archery on football pitches, apples named after people and why Albert thinks the old Pomonas are useless.

Contribute to Our Pomona

Albert makes cider @rosscider Adam writes about it mostly @cider_review Justin leaves it at other peoples' hosues @justinwellsjustin

For your slice of pod today we continue our season’s cider and food theme. This time we’ve got baking in our sights as we sit down with an old friend of Adam’s, who just happens to own and run one of the most wonderful bakeries in London – Laura Almond of Beaten By a Whisker

We talk about how BBAW went from a roadside honesty box to its beautiful new home in Walthamstow, chatting plant-based-baking, interior design and whether sourdough is actually wild fermented cider along the way.

Then it’s challenge time as Laura comes up with two sensational bakes featuring perry from Artistraw and Ice Cider from Burrow Hill, before Albert and Justin present their own showstoppers. Will Brown Snout Pancake Squolch be enough to topple Laura? Only one way to find out.

Albert kneads the dough @rosscider Adam pipes words onto @cider_review Justin has been left to cool @JustinWells1346

The best steak outside Peterstow. We return in the first episode of a two-parter to talk all about cider and perry's place at the table with original CiderVoice co-founder Ben Thomson.   Inspired by the Txotx celebrations of the Basque Country and the gastronomic scene of Austria's Mostviertel region we talk through the basics of pairing cider with food, chat through some of our own favourite pairings, discuss why we think it's so important to consider cider and perry as matches for food and Adam fails once again to plug his book.   Drinks are served from Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company, Little Pomona and Haselberger.   Albert makes cider and perry at Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company   Adam writes about it mainly on cider-review.com (and has a book coming out!)   Justin, a professional actor-director, enthuses about it, drinks it, occasionally makes it and keeps our podcast vaguely professional.

Well, it's another Albertless episode, but that doesn't hold Justin and Adam back from interviewing the once and future Cider Critic James Finch of Chapel Sider and Cider Review fame!

They discuss Chapel Sider's origin and future, James' love of orchards, and the vicissitudes of cider writing and advocacy, along with a bit of a retrospective on Cider Review and how it came about. Not to mention the legendary Fine Cider Fridays 👀

What's next on the radar for James? Will Justin keep asking questions he asked ten minutes ago? Will Adam survive the brutal summer heat of Ireland? And, most importantly, will the guys avoid the Wrath of Albert by managing to wrap in less than an hour?!

Find out at CiderVoice.com, or wherever you pod!

Albert is on paternity leave @rosscider adamhwells in spoiling in the heat @cider_review Justin is forgetting what he's asked @justinwellsjustin

Catching up with Cider Voice co-founder Ben, we talk all about the Ross-on-Wye cider festival; joy, community and the importance of safety flushes. Music intro and outtro by Drew Flanagan, live at Ross Cider Fest

In the latest instalment of 'Seminal Ciders' Adam catches up with someone who's been writing about cider even longer than he has – Natalia of @ciderexplorer.

Based in Germany, Natalia's been covering the continental cider scene since 2017, shining a light on central European cider cultures as well as countries whose cider doesn't always get a spotlight.

We talk about the cider that got her started, the current state of German cider, the magical event that is @CiderWorld, the first cider she ever gave full marks, the bottle that persuaded her perry could be good and more!

Featuring ciders from Poland, Germany, Austria, France and Croatia: @cydr_ignacow @gutshof_kraatz @blakstoc @Jerome.forget61 @kertelreiter_cider @buzdovan_craft_cider

Albert explores apples @rosscider @adamhwells charts words @cider_review Justin may be some time @justinwellsjustin

An interview with Emma and Leo about their cidery, 'Blue Barrel Cider', based in Nottingham. Visit their website here: https://bluebarrelcider.com/home/

This episode was recorded in August 2020, so sorry for the delay! It also ends fairly abruptly, and there are the sounds of small children and a dog toy in the background. But allow yourself to be inspired by Emma and Leo's enthusiasm and passion for their cidery and their work in the community

In our new episode we finally sit down and get properly technical (ish) thanks to Laurence Cocking, former winemaker now cidermaker extraordinaire at @littlepomona.

In other news, we get an earth-shattering four emails from listeners – and it turns out we’ve had one of them since February. Justin and Adam refuse to skip the banal bit. Laurence brings traditional method know how, ably supported by Justin’s advice on ‘blasting the dead yeast cells out’. And Albert wants to know just how damn big champagne bubbles are.

In an epic instance of poor co-ordination Justin and Adam both taste ciders from @bluebarrelcider, with Laurence and Albert staying on brand.

Albert methods traditionally @rosscider Adam bubbles over @adamhwells and @cider_review Justin ferments in bottle @justinwells1346

Whilst Albert heads to Westminster, Justin and Adam recruit Little Pomona's James Forbes to chat about all things fortified in the cider category.

James has just brought out his first Mistelle, Fomo (even if he's forgotten it today) and we learn how an 'alarming' coloured cider led to one of the most hyped releases of the last couple of years. Just and Adam are both card-carrying fans of all things fortified, and we chat about styles, approaches, ways to drink them and fortifieds with food.

Plus Justin has hosted another cider supper club, this time with a Japanese-inspired vegan menu, Adam has unexpectedly won an award for Perry: A Drinker's Guide, and we learn how to tell the difference between fermentation and malolactic fermentation using just a bowl of Rice Krispies.

Available on all podcast providers. Like, subscribe, follow, get in touch and share with all your friends and enemies!

‘The wobbler’. ‘The shakey shakey’. ‘Ladder method’. ‘Plank method’. ‘Squolch’. What does it all mean? With harvest rapidly incoming, Albert and the Cousins Wells sit down to discuss the vital topic of Toil.

The physical business of making cider is, we feel, much underdiscussed. But between Adam’s leather jacket and Justin’s ‘hands more suited to picking up cake’ we feel we’re the people to do it.

From trees that are laughing at you, to trailers that won’t tip their apples, splishy-splashy filth water and the squolch bucket, every facet of toil is covered. Plus has it turned out that the route to big sales is dressing in a medieval cowl?

In other plugs, Ross Fest is round the corner, Justin’s becoming a regular at the brilliant Joyce and The London Cider House and it’s definitely not too early to buy Adam’s book Perry: A Drinker’s Guide as a Christmas present for everyone you know.

Albert toils @rosscider @adamhwells spoils @justinwellsjustin recoils 

Bonus cider this week from @evescidery

Listen as Albert Johnson from Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry gives you the first in a new a bi-weekly series of harvest diary updates, uploaded every other week to complement our full length episodes. A quick review of the Yew Tree's successful supper club, an update on the apples and pears we have been working with so far, and shout-outs to the important Hereford AppleFest as well as the just launched (and just fully backed) Kickstarter for Adam Wells' new book, published by CAMRA, Perry: A drinker's guide. Visit the Kickstarter now to pre-order the book for release in May 2024.

Our new year's resolution for 2024 is to double down on 'cider with food' content. With limited skill and dangerous enthusiasm, we turned to a proper professional to put us on the path to gastronomic glory.   Fliss Freeborn is a Fortnum & Mason Award-winning food writer, the brains behind the blog Student Cuisine for the Gloomy Teen (Jay Rayner-endorsed, no less) and the Amused Bouche newsletter. She's a panellist on Radio 4's Kitchen Cabinet, has bylines for all sorts of national newspapers and in 2023 published the brilliant cookbook Do Yourself a Flavour. If Fliss can't level us up in the cider kitchen, who can?   Armed with four ciders and perries – which Justin and Albert have to guess – Fliss has created four brilliant bespoke recipes. A four course feast for the cider chef that you can find in full here [Link to Recipes]. Along the way we chat about her journey to cooking and writing about it – everything from marble pantries to yellow labels and the nonna method.   Albert is Head Chef @RossCider Adam tosses word salads @Cider_Review Justin boils over @justinwells1346

An interview with Sam Nightingale about his cidery 'Nightingale Cider', based in Tenterden in South-West Kent. Visit his website here: https://nightingalecider.com/ This was the first Cider Voicecall that is actually a voicecall, so expect the audio to be a little different than in previous which were recorded in person, outdoors.

Adam has written a book! It’s called Perry: A Drinker’s Guide (guess what it’s about), and it’s out at the start of May.

So in this episode we’re indulging him by chatting all about it. Why write a book about perry? How did it all come together? What were the challenges and surprises? And who wrote that AMAZING foreword?

Meanwhile Justin is on his own mission for perry. Listen out for crunching sounds next time you pass a hedgerow, that’s all we’ll say!

You can pre-order a copy of the book here: https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/perry-a-drinkers-guide/

Book a ticket to the launch event at Ross-on-Wye’s The Yew Tree here: https://shop.rosscider.com/product/perry-a-drinker-s-guide-by-adam-wells-launch-party-perry-tasting-friday-3rd-may-at-7pm/816

Other launch events include:

Big Apple, Much Marcle, 11:30am 5th May

CAMRA Launch event, London, week commencing 13th May (date TBC)

Station House, Durham, 22nd May

Artistraw Cider, Hay on Wye, afternoon 26th May

Castle Tap, Reading, evening 26th May

By The Glass, Cardiff, 11th June

Little Pomona, Bromyard, 6pm 22nd June

Manchester Cider Club, 8th August

London Cider Club, 26th September

Plus look out at all big CAMRA festivals. And we hope to add a few more events soon!

Albert runs the book @rosscider

Adam smudges pages @cider_review

Justin (hawthorn) leafs through @justinwellsjustin

Contribute to Our Pomona

Listen as Albert Johnson from Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry is joined by James Forbes from Little Pomona to give you the third update of the 2023 Harvest Diary. A quick review of what we had been doing together today (literally today!), as well as a recap of the harvest so far, discussing varieties, business, keeving and apples and pears!!

This was recorded on a single microphone so unfortunately you'll hear a bit of a discrepency between the volume levels. We've tried our best to normalize them but Albert is always louder than James.

An interview with James Mann and Colleen O'Sullivan about their cidery, 'Duckchicken Cider', in South London. Follow them on twitter here: https://twitter.com/dc_cider

The team debriefs after a truly epic craftcon. We try to choose favourite moments – from Albert’s grey face to Justin’s journey home to Adam pretending to understand the science of tannins. We celebrate the marvellous positivity, dynamism and curiosity that craftcon instils in the British – and Italian! – cider communities, and we deviate seamlessly into a discussion of ourpomona.org, and the ways we can reach out and connect for the 363 days a year we don’t get to be at craftcon.

Ciders by @tornplant and @tomoliverscider

Albert crafts @rosscider Adam cons (not in that way) @Cider_Review and @adamhwells Justin is still on a bus home from Cirencester @justinwells1346

An interview with James Marsden about his cidery, 'Gregg's Pit Cider & Perry', based in Much Marcle in South Herefordshire. Visit their website here: http://www.greggs-pit.co.uk/

With Adam still MIA, Justin and Albert make it all the way to the top, sitting down with the godfather of aspirational cider, Mr Tom Oliver @tomoliverscider.

Drawing on Tom's wealth of knowledge and abundant wit we chat adventures in America, ordering everything on the menu and the increasing importance of aspirational cider on keg.

As a kindred Herefordshire cidermaker Albert and Tom compare notes on the importance of the stamp of the maker, the recent inaugural edition of Cider School, pride in Herefordian produce, collaboration and the upcoming Apple Fest.

A privilege, as ever, to talk to one of cider's most important characters.

Ciders by @chapel_sider and @hudsonvalleyfarmhousecider 

Albert makes cider @rosscider Justin leads tastings @justinwellsjustin Adam can't think of a single Tom Oliver pun @cider_review

(Ed: why didn't he just write, Adam wants some more @cider_review?)

For the third instalment of our 'this is your life, but in cider' series, Adam finally stops just talking to co-hosts and sits down with drinks writer Rachel Hendry (@ratchellle), who is definitely appearing in a full-length cider voice episode for the first time.

With absolutely no technical hitches whatsoever we cover accidentally becoming an award-winning beer writer, the relationships between pub regulars and the staff who work in those pubs, ciders so good they make you scream and the trials and tribulations of fact retention.

Have a listen and discover Rachel's five all-time most important picks, from the perry that 'did it' to the 'most fun drink ever'.

Albert makes cider @rosscider Adam (@adamhwells) writes on @cider_review (and has written a book!) Justin is London's hottest new cider tasting impresario (@justinwellsjustin)

In this episode the team go back to basics to discuss the reason we're here podcasting in the first place. With hot takes, rambles, sporadic bickering and even a bit of education here and there, we cover varieties, making, perceptions and definitions as we attempt to figure out exactly what cider even is.

No knowledge assumed; precious little imparted. Enjoy the ride!

Albert makes cider @RossCider Adam writes about it mainly @Cider_Review

Justin just sort of hangs out at @justinwells1346

Today we take another massive step on our ‘cider with food’ adventure as we jet off (not literally, guttingly) to the Basque Country for a chat with Haritz Rodriguez, the cider artist best known as @Ciderzale.

With a mere several segues for conversations about scurvy, neolithic wheat harvesting and the proper looms for making 16th century sails, we learn about one of the world’s greatest cider cultures as well as the legendary ‘txotx’ celebration that runs from January to April in the Basque Country and where food and cider pairing scales its Olympus.

Basically, if you’re hungry, don’t listen.

Albert captains the ship @rosscider

Adam charts a course @cider_review

Justin’s timbers shiver @justinwellsjustin

Ciders to day served by @smithhayneorchards @thecatintheglass @musker.eus #Leduc-Piedimonte

 

In the second part of our series on the drinks that shaped our journey in cider, it’s Albert’s turn to reveal the bottles that have most impacted him.

Shockingly, three of them are Ross-on-Wye – though Albert didn't actually press the apples in any of them, though he helped bottle and shape the latter two. Even more shockingly however, two of the ciders aren’t Ross-on-Wye's at all!

In this episode we learn the bottle ‘that did it’ for Albert and the two Ross-on-Wyes that shaped his cider making trajectory. Plus the British cidery that’s most impacted him and a recent cider that inspired him to keep learning and evolving.

A lovely conversation with one of aspirational cider’s modern greats (Adam’s words, not Albert’s!)

Ciders by @rosscider @littlepomona and @haykinfamilycider

Albert makes cider @rosscider Adam writes about it @adamhwells and @cider_review

With the whole CV team back together again we thought about doing an earnest and serious conversation about apple and pear varieties. But with all the sport on we changed our mind and turned it into a knockout tournament to discover the greatest (British) cider apple or perry pear of them all. 

Pitting 32 contenders against each other, Adam tasks Justin and Albert with finding the ultimate. Thorn vs Bulmers Norman? Egremont Russet vs Yellow Huffcap? Moorcroft vs Kingston Black? Stoke Red vs Butt? Which will be left standing at the end?

Get ready for an extreme fund of sporting metaphors: What are the Gareth Southgate and Andy Murray of perry pears? Who is the Joe Root of Cider Voice? Which matchup is like Hamilton winning Silverstone for the 9th time? And which round do our judges just want to dispense with?

Featuring Justin’s pomological insights like ‘Coppy sounds a bit like cuppy’ and Albert’s true feelings on Bisquet, the biggest question of all is will the final go to penalties? Want to know the greatest apple or pear? You'll have to listen.

Shoutout to Swedish cidermaker Hjulsjö 103

Albert's the midfield general @rosscider @adamhwells has a vicious backhand @cider_review Justin's dug in @justinwellsjustin

Albert and Adam sit down to chat with Gabe Cook aka The Ciderologist on everything from his origins in the cider world, to the state of bittersweet cider, to education in cider and perry and the way forward. Part trip down memory lane and part assessment of the current British cider scene.

Join Gabe's substack: https://theciderologist.substack.com/

Sign up for the Certified Cider Professional Programme here: https://www.theciderologist.com/pages/certified-cider-professional-programme

BBC Natural World: Wye, Voices from the Valley (2007).

Albert grows weird apples at @rosscider @adamhwells assesses weird apples for @cider_review (and has written a book!) Justin drinks the weird apples (@justinwellsjustin)

 

Instead of an interview, in episode, Albert hosts a discussion with , Ben Thompson of Cider Voice and Adam Wells and James Finch from Cider Review.

Together they're tasting Smith Hayne's Special Reserve 2018 Cider. It leads us into a discussion about apple varieties, blending, keeving, the use of sulphites, transparency in labelling, and more.