Cider Chat

• 458: Sodo Sidriné and the Rise of Lithuanian Craft Cider

  Donatas Genys didn’t set out to launch Lithuania’s first keeved cider. But after trips to England and Normandy, years of experimentation, and the planting of over 6,000 cider apple trees, that’s exactly what he’s doing. At Sodo Sidriné, located just a few kilometers from the city of Kaunus, Donatas is into a whole new era for cider Lithuania’s cider revival Donatas Genys Cider Culture and Baltic Roots Lithuania has deep agricultural roots, but apple trees which at many of the homes are desired more for eating or making apple wine while vodka and beer under Soviet rule flourished. Note: Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union on March 11, 1990, becoming the first Soviet republic to do so, an act made possible in part by the loosening of Soviet control under Gorbachev’s Perestroika reforms. Donatas is using both local varieties like Auksis and imported cider apples such as Yarlington Mill, Harry Masters Jersey, and Marie Ménard. His orchard-first philosophy ensures every cider is estate grown and rooted in place. Keeving in Lithuania The hallmark of Sodo Sidrine’s offerings is a naturally keeved cider. Donatas showcased his keeved cider at CiderCon 2025 and received a lot of praise from attendees, including this Cider Chat Producer Ria Windcaller. Genys admits it’s the most labor-intensive process, but also the most rewarding. This method yields a semi-dry cider with natural sweetness and long-lasting complexity, a rarity in a country where most consumers only know industrial cider. A New Era for Lithuanian Cider With a production facility nearly complete, Genys is preparing to scale up. His vision includes: Sodo Cider Stainless steel fermentation A small tasting room with potential for expansion Fruit wines and hopped ciders to appeal to a wider audience Apple brandy aged in sherry casks for future release Inside Sodo Sidrine Despite legal gray areas (there’s no craft cider license in Lithuania), Donatas is pushing forward — blending tradition, research, and experimentation with quiet determination. He expects his licensing process to be completed by the summer of 2025. Stay tuned! Contact info for Sodo Sidriné Website: https://sodosidrine.lt/ Mentions in this Cider Chat Totally Cider Tour_UK Edition Bent Ladder | Doylestown Ohio – Events Locust Grove Brewing – Mother’s Day Brunch – Live Music, Food Truck 11-2pm

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• 457: Snow Capped Cider: A Family Legacy at 7,000 Feet | CO

  At the base of Colorado’s Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top mountain, five generations of fruit growers have worked the land. Today, Snow Capped Cider carries on that legacy, crafting estate-grown ciders from fruit nurtured at elevations between 6,130 and 7,000 feet. The high desert sun, volcanic soil, and pure snowmelt water combine to create vibrant apples and distinctive ciders. From Hobby to Heritage What began as a small experiment soon blossomed into a full-fledged cidery. Sparked by a disappointing store-bought cider, Kari Williams and her family leaned into their winemaking background and deep orchard knowledge to create cider reflective of their exceptional terroir. Kari Williams Cider Making at High Elevation At Snow Capped Cider: Only estate-grown fruit is used. Over 100 acres are dedicated to cider-specific apple varieties. The extreme UV exposure at high elevation leads to apples with higher sugars, acids, and tannins, setting the stage for rich, complex ciders. Managing a shorter growing season, spring frost risks, and labor-intensive frost protection methods has shaped their unique approach to farming and fermenting. A Range of Styles Snow Capped produces: 16 canned ciders distributed across four states. 54 distinct bottled ciders, from single varietals like Kingston Black and Harrison to blends featured in the Elevation Series. Botanical infusions and experimental ferments, all handled with precision and passion. Their Gold Rush cider, a blend of French and English apples, showcases the vibrant flavors that their terroir imparts — a naturally complex, award-winning cider approachable for all levels of cider drinkers. Where to Find Snow Capped Cider Ciders are available via: Retail in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and California Online at VinoShipper Their exclusive cider club offering small-batch, estate ciders. Contact Info for Snow Capped Cider Website: https://snowcappedcider.com Mentions in this Cider Chat Mentions in this Cider Chat Totally Cider Tours Keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting this podcast via Cider Chat Patreon Season:Season 10 Categories:   Cider Maker profile, Colorado Ciders   Tags:   Cedar Ridge ciders, Colorado Ciders, Grand Mesa, high elevation orchards, UV exposure and fruit quality  

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• 456: From Oregon to Norway: Abram Goldman-Armstrong’s Cider Journey

  This episode of Cider Chat, was recorded in person with Abram Goldman-Armstrong at CiderCon2025 in Chicago. Hear his journey to cider. From growing up in Oregon’s Yamhill County to his current work in Norway’s Hardanger region at Alde Sider. Abram began fermenting cider as a student in Minnesota and went on to found the cidery known as Cider Riot in Portland, Oregon. His experience reflects both the evolution of the cider industry and the challenges of building a business grounded in values and community. The Cider Riot Years Cider Riot grew from a home cider making project into a well-regarded cider brand and pub. Abram describes building the business, navigating challenges like rising rent and market shifts, and the significance of Cider Riot as a political and cultural hub. The pub hosted community meetings, union organizers, and events that reflected Portland’s activist spirit. Standing Against Far-Right Violence On May 1, 2019, Cider Riot became the site of a violent confrontation when members of the far-right group Patriot Prayer, led by Joey Gibson, clashed with patrons during a May Day celebration. The altercation resulted in injuries, including a woman being knocked unconscious. Abram filed a $1 million lawsuit against Gibson and others involved, alleging that they had instigated the attack. The incident drew national attention and highlighted the challenges faced by businesses taking a stand against hate groups. Relocating to Norway After Cider Riot closed in late 2019, Abram accepted an offer to collaborate with cider makers in Norway. He began working with a small brewery before moving west to Hardanger, where he now produces cider at Alde Sider. The region has a long history of apple growing and is the first in Norway to receive a protected designation for cider. In this Cider Chat Early influences in Oregon: Working with Alan Foster of White Oak Cider, planting bittersweet varieties like Kingston Black. DIY beginnings: Making cider in college using apples from the dining hall and a cheese grater. Founding Cider Riot: From garage startup to a full-scale cidery and pub in Portland, Oregon. Pub culture & Portland community: Supporting labor organizing, queer and trans spaces, and anti-fascist events. Financial challenges: Draft-focused sales model, missed retail opportunities, and the impact of hard seltzers. Closure of Cider Riot: Reflections on its cultural significance and decision to shut down in 2019. Move to Norway: Invited to launch a cider program with a brewery in Sandefjord, leading to Tall Ship Cider. Transition to Alde Sider: Current role as lead cider maker in Hardanger, Norway’s key cider region. Hardanger cider traditions: Protected cider designation and historic use of apples like Gravenstein and Discovery. Production methods at Alde: Use of Nottingham ale yeast Chaptalization with Danish beet sugar High-acid juice (~pH 3.1–3.2) Residual sweetness target of 1.003 SG Crossflow filtration to halt fermentation Barrel aging program: Experiments with French agricole rum and Norwegian whiskey barrels. Community cider scene: Five producers in the village of Nå, collaboration across the fjord, and cider tourism via fjord boat. Cultural observations: Comparing pub cultures, lifestyle differences between Norway and Portland. Low-ABV cider innovation: Creating a 4.7% cider for draft sales in collaboration with 7 Fjell Brewery. Use of wild yeast: Petnat-style experiment using orchard yeast and natural inoculation. Future plans: Continuing to explore cider styles in Norway, working with bittersweets, and developing new blends. Contact Info Abram Website: https://www.aldesider.no Mentions in this Cider Chat 317: How a “Cyder” Teapot fueled the American Revolution Stone Ridge Orchard Wassail May 3rd & 4th – tickets https://www.clover.com/online-ordering/Event-Tickets Episode: 450th Roger Wilkins – The Cider King

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• 455: Zero Percent Sh*t | John Edwards Returns

  John Edwards, longtime cider maker and integral team member at Ross on Wye Cider & Perry Co., and the creative force behind his personal label Fly be Night Cider was last on the podcast in 2019. John Edwards In this Cider Chat with John Edwards ohn is part of the tight-knit crew at Ross Cider who keep things running from orchard to bottle. The team has embraced a belt press system, which John finds surprisingly nimble—even for small batches. While Ross is rooted in tradition, they’re also evolving their process to match the scale and diversity of their orchard. Transitioning to stainless steel fermentation tanks Working with old and rediscovered apple varieties Committed to wild yeast and natural fermentation Managing fire blight Diversifying the orchard’s apple stock with varieties like Kingston Black, Golden Ball, and Cider Lady’s Finger. Fly Be Night: A Creative Outlet Fly by Night remains John’s personal cider expression—just a few barrels a year, shared with friends. Each release gets a new label (last year’s was “Space Goat”), and while the iconic “0% Sh*t” label is retired, the spirit of fun and integrity lives on. A Cellar Surprise for Ross Fest 2025? John has one cider still in the cellar: a 2014 Foxwhelp that might just see bottles soon. Whether blending at Ross or bottling at home, John’s work reminds us that cider thrives on community, curiosity, and a bit of mystery. Mentions in this Cider Chat Episode 195: Fly Be Night Cider | 0% Sh**, UK Totally Cider Tour UK Edition

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• 454: Wild Ferment Meets Fine Cider: Inside Oliver’s Barrel Room

  Rainy Days Goes Best with Dry Cider in the Barrel Room Walking into the barrel room at Oliver’s Cider and Perry Company, you might think you know what to expect. But surrounded by whitewashed stone walls, standing beneath the old Hessian sacking floor, and facing rows of aging barrels, I quickly realized this wasn’t just a cidery—it’s a living, breathing creative space for cider making. Tom Oliver sources fruit both from his farm and from local orchards across Herefordshire. This isn’t an estate cidery where everything is grown on-site—but what sets Oliver’s cider and perry apart is Tom himself. A master blender with an instinct for balance, he brings character to every bottle. And while the farm may not produce every apple, it certainly imparts its own terroir through the land, the barns, and the quiet, purposeful rhythm of the work. Tom and Ria In this Cider Chat Blending Tradition with Innovation Tom is now experimenting with distillation: apple brandy, pommeau-style blends, and barrel-aged perry into brandy too! He’s careful with naming, refusing to call something a “Pommeau” unless it honors French tradition. Barrels sourced from rum, sherry, port, bourbon, and white wine shape each unique blend. Tasting in the Barrel Room In the barrel room We tasted perries straight from the barrel—some from single ancient trees, others blended with gin pears or red pear varieties. Each sip revealed: Confectionary sweetness Banana, melon, pineapple notes Mellow malolactic fermentation This isn’t a showpiece cidery as Tom puts it, “It’s a working farm“, evolving from a hop yard and now cider. Tom calls it “just a part of the agricultural calendar.” No pretense, just purpose. Tom Oliver straddles the line between tradition and experimentation with ease. Whether it’s a single-varietal showcase or a spirit-kissed blend, the goal remains the same: make cider that speaks of time, place, and people. Contact info for Oliver’s Cider and Perry Co. Website: https://www.oliversciderandperry.co.uk Mentions in this Cider Chat 2025 Totally Cider Tour_UK Edition Send an email to [email protected] to get on the wait list for the next cider tour! Tom Oliver Featured episodes: 029 Tom Oliver| Oliver’s Cider and Perry, UK 105 Tom Oliver on Making Perry | UK 366 Acclaimed Cider w/Minimal Intervention | Tom Oliver

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