124: No input apples at Big Fish Cider | Virginia

Kirk Billingsley has been charmed by cider ever since he was a kid. Coming home from school he fondly remembers being mentored by his dad who had a barrel of sweet cider (non fermented apple juice) outside the family’s home in the same county of Highland where he still lives today. In 2015 he opened Big Fish Cider Company after making cider non commercially for 25 years in his home.

This chat was recorded at CiderCon2018. Sarah Collins Simmons who works with Kirk also joined us and offered a great perspective on the orchard care of all the trees helping Big Fish make such delicious cider.

Big Fish Apples

Varieties at the main apple orchard

• Golden Russet
• Northern Spy
• Jonagold
• Ashmead Kernel
• Dolgo crab apples

In total Big Fish has around 300 trees to pick from. Most, if not all, are heritage trees that were planted over a 100 years ago on farmland that was long forgotten.

• On any given day they are pressing 250 gallons of cider.

Cidermaking technique used at Big Fish: Slow & cold ferment

With an occasional bit of back sweetening because the apples are so acid (sweet helps to balance out the acid)

Use small 2000 liter and 1000 liter tanks and Oxygen barrier IBC

Big Fish has a Tasting Room

• The room is currently 400 square feet and has 3 tables and 12 chairs
• This year they are expanding the Tasting Room…maybe there will be 6 tables and 24 chairs.
• Kirk bought the building a while back. It was built in 1920 and built with wood called Wormy Chestnut

Kirk’s Cidermaking Tip:

• Experiment with yeast
• Look at areas of the world that like the style of cider that you do.

Contact for Big Fish Cider Company

• Website: http://www.bigfishcider.com/
• eMail: [email protected]
• Telephone: 540-468-2322
• Address
  • 59 Spruce Street
  • Monterey, VA  24465

Where to stay when visiting Big Fish Cider Co?

• The Highland Inn

Mentions in this Chat

• March Maple Festival http://www.highlandcounty.org/events/maple-festival/
  • The second and third weekend of the month each year.

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Ask for the following ciders - By supporting these cidermakers, you in turn help Cider Chat

1. Kurant Cider - Pennsylvania : listen to Joe Getz on episode 14
2. Big Apple Hard Cider - NYC : listen to Danielle von Scheiner on episode 35
3. Oliver’s Cider and Perry - Herefordshire/UK ; listen to Tom Oliver on episode 29
4. Santa Cruz Cider Company - California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60
5. The Cider Project aka EthicCider- California
6. Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56
7. Cider Summit : listen to Alan Shapiro founder of this cider fest on episode 75.
8. Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg.
9. Big Fish Cider Co. Virginia
10. Tanuki Cider Co. Santa Cruz California episode 103
11. Ross on Wye Cider and Perry, UK
12. Process and Analytical NMR Services - John Edwards provides analytics of cider - stay tuned for his Chemical Fingerprints workshop coming up on Cider Chat
13. Ironbark Ciderworks, Claremont, California

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