Cider Voice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 [email protected]

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

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 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 - [email protected]

*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

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

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 - [email protected]

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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/

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

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