Cider Chat

Who is your audience? No matter what business venture, knowing your audience (targeted consumers) is key to one's success and is the first topic of conversation for the panel discussion titled Bring the Bellies to the Bar as presented at CraftCon 2021. This virtual conference was hosted by the Three Counties Perry and Cider Association took place in April 2021. Ticket holders to this conference can view the entire conference on line. For this panel, I (Ria) moderated and spoke with fellow panelist Cath Potter who hails from Manchester, which is North of London. I know Cath best for her enthusiastic good cheer for cider. She is a certified Pommelier and also a member of the UK group called Cider Women. Adam Wells who is a writer and co editor with Cider Review, Graftwood and contributes to Full Juice and Distilled Spirits. Nicky Kong, the owner of The Cat in The Glass – which is an online bottle shop selling – of course cider! Please note that I broke this hour long panel discussion into 4 parts Audience Strategy Content Getting into the Spotlight In this episode we discuss knowing who your audience is or who you hope it will be. In the next three episodes (275 - 277) we will discuss: Strategy, Content & Getting into the Spotlight. Mentions in this Episode Lucie Mayerová of Naked Orchards based in the UK Totally Cider Tours coming up for 2022 Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube  

Climb Every Mountain Wendy LeBlanc and Patrick Mann met in Washington State before moving to Germany to settle into the 1785 homestead owned by Patrick's parents. One would think that living near the 14,000 foot (4267.2 meter) mountains of the Pacific Northwest made this cidermaking couple inured to big mountains. They on the other hand blame the mountainous route over the highest peak in the Black Forest on Google maps, which considering so many other similar GPS gone wrong stories makes the most sense. In this edition of Stories in Ciderville, we get a behind the scene  tale of life as a cidermaking couple, beginning with an adventure in a VW Golf that has a trailer attached and loaded up with barrels. Hey when a good barrel deal comes your way you can't turn it down, even if the biggest snowstorm of the year is waiting for you on the return home. But wait it gets better, as these two makers of 1785 Cider (named after the year the home was built) share a second story of living in a multi generational household. And yes, that story involves a bathtub! Contact Info for 1785 Cider website: https://1785-cider.de/ Instagram @1785cider Location is near the Black Forest by the German and Swiss border Mentions in this Chat Totally Cider Tours - Reserve your seat for 2022 tour contact mailto:info@ciderchat.com Cockrell Cider.  Puyallup, Washington Find these books mentioned by @nonfictionbooklovers at the Cider Chat Book page Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Blend Cider is Like Building an Orchestra Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider in Ontario has helped Ria sort through the process of getting cider that has been conditon for over two years into the bottle! Now that we have learned how to make sure the cider is completely fermented, know the exact amount of sugar remaining in the cider and have done the math to determine how much sugar and what kind of yeast to add at the time of bottling to produce sparkling cider it is time to blend or not? Ryan and Nicole Monkman - FieldBird Cider Ryan describes this stage as building an orchestra. Knowing what musicians go well with others is key to making the perfect tune. For cider it means: Pulling samples from all your batches of cider and know that Tannins and acid work well together tannin though can mute aromatics when pushing aromatic - acid helps as does high alcohol Blending Taste Tips When tasting a lot of either sweet, or acid forward ciders the more your palate will become accustom to either profile. Tannin does the opposite, as the tannin begins to build up in your mouth. So as you taste more a tannic product over time you may think it is becoming more tannic, but it is not. Your palate is just overloaded and tricking you mind to think that the cider is over the top, when it may be perfect! Tannin bind with protein. If you swirl and sip, you will notice there are a lot of globs in the spit. Yucky but true because the tannin has binded with the protein in your mouth Refresh your mouth when Tasting for Blending Add protein to your mouth is a good way to off set the tannin. Cheese works, but if it is too strong of a cheese that can lead you donw a different rabbit hole of tastes. Instead, do as Ryan does in the lab, and mix pectin with water! The pectin will bind to the tannin and clear your palate. Pectin is tasteless and will really help to refresh you palate. Or leave the sample and come back to it a Use pectin to clean your palate during a lot of tasting. Pectin helps to clear the palate after a whole bunch of sips of sweet cider. Bâtonnage, Nano Proteins and Perceptions of Sweetness Bâtonnage  is stirring the cider into the. lees over time the span of its life in a barrel. Autolyis takes places, which is the breaking down of yeast cells in the cider during over time... usually 9 month into the process of bâtonnage. The human palate perceive the resulting nano proteins as sweetness. It can balance then acid and also add mid palate: which provides that full mouth feel that lingers. Contact for Ryan Monkman at FieldBird Cider website: https://www.fieldbird.ca/ Instagram  FieldBird https://www.instagram.com/fieldbird.cider/ Ryan Monkman https://www.instagram.com/rgmonkman/ Listen to past episodes with Ryan Monkman Ep: 269 Gross Lees in the Barrel | Ask Ryan 2021 Ep: 270 Cidermaker Tips to Avoid Bottle Bombs | Ask Ryan 2021 Ep 271 The Exquiste Slurry | Ask Ryan 2021 AskRyan Quarantine Quad series 2020   Part 1 Part 2  Part 3 Part 4 131: Cider Barrels with a Cooper, a Maker & Thierry Lemaire 132: Barrels & Bâtonnage 168: Barrel Aging Cider Inspiration Mentions in this Chat Totally Cider Tours - Reserve your seat for 2022 tour contact mailto:info@ciderchat.com Northwest Cider Club  Fermentis by Lesaffre - Q&A #20: What is the lag phase that yeast go through during the beginning of fermentation? Two upcoming Fermentis seminars May 20th - Session 1 for craft and industrial:https://www.edudip.com/en/webinar/exploring-the-diversity-of-yeast-strains-and-fermentation-conditions-for-different-cider-styles-session-1/1135676May 27th - Session 2 for home cider makers:https://www.edudip.com/en/webinar/exploring-the-diversity-of-yeast-strains-and-fermentation-conditions-for-different-cider-styles-session-2/1135696 Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

The Yeast and Sugar Slurry Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider in Ontario continue on with helping Ria get ready to bottle cider that has been conditioning for over 2 years! In this episode we discuss the amount of sugar to add, what kind of yeast to use and how to make what is known as a "slurry". The slurry - a mixture of water, yeast and sugar But let's first take a couple steps back....to episode 270 where Ryan offered tips for finding out if there is any sugar left in the cider. Knowing if there is any residual sugar even after 24 months is critical, especially if at the time of bottling you plan on adding a bit of what is known as "priming sugar" and yeast to create bubbles for an end product that is sparkling. After all, "bubbles help aromas pop" says Ryan and I certainly enjoy a bit of bubbles too in the glass. If the maker overlooks this step and adds too much sugar, the bottles will potentially over pressurize and may explode! No one in their good mind wants to make what is known as a bottle bomb, as they are very dangerous and will make all your beloved cider undrinkable as it drips down upon the wall or the floor. What a mess! Making the slurry  Begin with a 1/4 cup of warm water (not so hot that it would burn your finger) You can substitute cider for water, but make sure not to heat the cider so that it taste burnt or else that burnt flavor will transfer into the cider you are wanting to bottle. Use 1 yeast that works in difficult conditions such at AB-1 from Fermentis Bayanus yeast are used the most for making the slurry as they are able to work in very difficult conditions. Calculating the amount of sugar needed: As a rule: brewers add 3 to 4 grams of sugar/liter. So if you like how beers are usually carbonated, you can follow the same principle and add around 3-4 grams/liter. For 5 US gallons of cider that would mean adding around 76 grams of sugar. 5 gallons = 18.9271 liters | 18.9271 liters x 4 grams  = 75 Add 75 grams of priming sugar BUT only if you are completely sure that all the existing sugar has been fermented. IF your residual sugar test via clinitabs/AIM Tabs or the Fermentest show that you still have 2 grams/liter in your cider then you will subtract that amount from the total. to Review - 5 gallons = 18.9271 liters 2 (grams) x 18.9271  = 3.78542 grams ...I'd round 3.78542 up to 4 grams, thereby calcualting that there is 4 grams of sugar currently in my 5 gallon batch of cider. Soooo, instead of adding 75 grams, as I usually would for cider that has no residual sugar left, I will subtract 3 grams and only add 72 grams of sugar. Mix the yeast, water and sugar for the Slurry Mix the warm water, yeast and sugar. Let is sit for 20 to 40 minutes so the yeast is able to reproduce more yeast cells. Slowly add the cider into the Slurry so that it can fully inoculate the cider - Ryan says this alone can take up to 45 minutes. For commercial makers this could be a 12 hour process! Once done - bottle immediately. Carbonation should begin within two weeks. Contact for Ryan Monkman at FieldBird Cider website: https://www.fieldbird.ca/ Instagram  FieldBird https://www.instagram.com/fieldbird.cider/ Ryan Monkman https://www.instagram.com/rgmonkman/ Listen to past episodes with Ryan Monkman Ep: 269 Gross Lees in the Barrel | Ask Ryan 2021 Ep: 270 Cidermaker Tips to Avoid Bottle Bombs | Ask Ryan 2021 AskRyan Quarantine Quad series 2020   Part 1 Part 2  Part 3 Part 4 131: Cider Barrels with a Cooper, a Maker & Thierry Lemaire 132: Barrels & Bâtonnage 168: Barrel Aging Cider Inspiration Mentions in this Chat Totally Cider Tours - Reserve your seat for 2022 tour contact mailto:info@ciderchat.com Fermentis by Lesaffre - Q&A #19 When is the yeast most stressed during fermentation? Two upcoming Fermentis seminars May 20th - Session 1 for craft and industrial:https://www.edudip.com/en/webinar/exploring-the-diversity-of-yeast-strains-and-fermentation-conditions-for-different-cider-styles-session-1/1135676May 27th - Session 2 for home cider makers:https://www.edudip.com/en/webinar/exploring-the-diversity-of-yeast-strains-and-fermentation-conditions-for-different-cider-styles-session-2/1135696 Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube    

Bottle Safely to Avoid Bottle Bombs If like me you grew up in a house where your parents made homemade everything, chances are they also dabbled in making homemade soda, wine, beer, and cider. Mine sure did and I still recall hearing the popping of root beer bottles in the root cellar. Thankfully, we did have a separate room where the exploding glass bottles only left a mess and didn't hurt anyone else around. Bottle Bombs are dangerous and are caused by fermenting sugar over carbonating a bottle that can't withstand the pressure. Measure Sugar Content before Bottling In this episode with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider in Ontario Canada we explore the process of bottling with the goal of bottle conditioning with the final product being one that has a bit of sparkle (read: bubbles). Ryan Monkman - FieldBird Cider in Kent-He wine cellar Usually I bottle when the cider has not fully fermented. There is just enough yeast cells in solution that they will continue to munch away on the sugar and produce bubbles creating a sparkling cider that is both pleasing to the palate and as Ryan says,”Bubbles make aromatics pop!” The hook is that the cider has been aging in the carboy for well over 2 years. The yeast look spent, meaning they are dead yeast cells and any that are still holding on to life won’t have enough vitality to multi enough even if priming sugar is added to the cider with the hope of getting a bit of sparkle in the bottle. Autolysis:  is the destruction (or lysis) of a cell by its own enzymes. This process usually takes place after about 9 months. What to bottle in to avoid Bottle Bombs Quality glass  Champagne bottles are built for pressure Crown caps are better than flip tops Caps will have tendency to pop off, whereas flip tops can't and thus the glass is under extreme pressure How to measure residual sugar Ryans recommendations Hydrometer is best for determining alcohol, but can't give you a complete measurment on residual sugar Fermentest - what FieldBird uses Clintabs (clindamycin hydrochloride ) - no longer available unless you have left over tabs that your dog's Vet prescribed. AIMTabs here are 3 sources in the US for AIMTabs which are now used instead of clintabs. Note the prices as of April 2021 https://www.piwine.com/tablet-refill-residual-sugar-test.html $31.99 (& 17+ for Fed Ex shipping) https://carolinawinesupply.com/product/aim-sugar-tablets/ $36 https://dwinesupplies.com/products/aim-tab-reducing-substances-tablets  $50.55 Once you have determine the amount of residual sugar, you can then determine how much sugar and yeast to use for bottling. In the next Episode 271: Sugar, Yeast and Bubbly Bottles, Ryan and I will discuss the next step of how much sugar and what kind of yeast to use. Contact for Ryan Monkman at FieldBird Cider website: https://www.fieldbird.ca/ Instagram  FieldBird https://www.instagram.com/fieldbird.cider/ Ryan Monkman https://www.instagram.com/rgmonkman/ Listen to past episodes with Ryan Monkman Ep: 269 Gross Lees in the Barrel | Ask Ryan 2021 AskRyan Quarantine Quad series 2020   Part 1 Part 2  Part 3 Part 4 131: Cider Barrels with a Cooper, a Maker & Thierry Lemaire 132: Barrels & Bâtonnage 168: Barrel Aging Cider Inspiration Mentions in this Chat Totally Cider Tours - Reserve your seat for 2022 tour contact mailto:info@ciderchat.com CraftCon2021 - April 29th & 30th 2021 A virtual two day conference based in the UK Fermentis by Lesaffre - Q&A #18 What is the ratio of nitrogen to sugar that Fermentis sometimes recommends? Two upcoming Fermentis seminars May 20th - Session 1 for craft and industrial:https://www.edudip.com/en/webinar/exploring-the-diversity-of-yeast-strains-and-fermentation-conditions-for-different-cider-styles-session-1/1135676May 27th - Session 2 for home cider makers:https://www.edudip.com/en/webinar/exploring-the-diversity-of-yeast-strains-and-fermentation-conditions-for-different-cider-styles-session-2/1135696 Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

The Ask Ryan Series is back! In Spring of 2020 the first Ask Ryan series with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider was posted. This year we return with Ryan once again to dive into more  cidermaking questions. In this segment we return to more questions about oak barrels and cider and the technique known as Bâtonnage. The question: Is it okay for gross lees stay in the barrel or is it a good idea to rack out the cider into another barrel to get it off of the gross lees? Ryan Monkman Gross Lees Defined The sediment that forms on the bottom before fermentation is generally called Gross Lees. Considering this definition then, once the apples are pressed and before they go into the barrel there can be a drop of the heavy particles in the apple juice before it ferments. Sooo, it could be said that the gross lees are not in the barrel to begin with...or are they? Heavy Solid Ferments at FieldBird Cider 20% of the ciders that FieldBird makes is done so on the gross lees Dangers of Gross lees and how to manage The danger is that heavy solids bind with oxygen Cure: Manage the oxygen FieldBird does a rack and return with some of the ciders. This in turn helps with reduction When to do the Rack and Return? Track the ferment during alcohol fermentation Macro-oxygenation (Macro-Ox) is a technique where one intentionally over oxidizing juice before fermentation Ryan's Recommendations and Readings on the topic of oxygen and Bret management Book: Post Modern Winemaking This link above is an affiliate link that cost you nothing to click onto but may provide a kick back to Cider Chat. Ryan recommends getting an oil free air compressor for the hobbyist At FieldBird, they use Food Grade Oxygen Contact for Ryan Monkman at FieldBird Cider website: https://www.fieldbird.ca/ Instagram  FieldBird https://www.instagram.com/fieldbird.cider/ Ryan Monkman https://www.instagram.com/rgmonkman/ Listen to past episodes with Ryan Monkman AskRyan Quarantine Quad series 2020   Part 1 Part 2  Part 3 Part 4 131: Cider Barrels with a Cooper, a Maker & Thierry Lemaire 132: Barrels & Bâtonnage 168: Barrel Aging Cider Inspiration Mentions in this Chat Marcel's cidery in the Netherlands http://www.degerdeneer.nl A new 2021 book on cidermakers in the Netherlands http://hethamerstuk.nl/boek-ambachtelijke-cider/ CraftCon2021 - April 29th & 30th 2021 A virtual two day conference based in the UK Grazed Knee Cider | Isle of Wight Fermentis by Lesaffre - Q&A #17 What causes a stuck fermentation? Two upcoming Ferementis seminars May 20th - Session 1 for craft and industrial:https://www.edudip.com/en/webinar/exploring-the-diversity-of-yeast-strains-and-fermentation-conditions-for-different-cider-styles-session-1/1135676May 27th - Session 2 for home cider makers:https://www.edudip.com/en/webinar/exploring-the-diversity-of-yeast-strains-and-fermentation-conditions-for-different-cider-styles-session-2/1135696    

Cider Canada / Cidre Canada Barry Rooke knows that the Canadian cider market is growing and believes in it so much that he and his partner Wendy co-founded The Cider Crate, a website that hosts their blog, a map of cidermakers in Canada, a podcast.  His full time work is as Executive Director - National Campus/Community Radio Association and he is also an accredited member of the Canadian Society of Association Executives! Suffice to say, Barry has the tools at hand to help build an association from the ground up! Building Cider Canada Barry shares the baseline steps for building an association Interim President and Board Bylaws Membership Website and Social Media By the Fall this burgeioning association hopes to hold its first of what should be an Annual General Meeting. Cider Canada / Cidre Canada This multi lingual country with the province of Quebec speaking predominantly French Canadian is why the association is choosing both spelling for the associaton on its logo. Barry discusses 4 General Apple Regions to consider Atlantic -soft and sweet profile. Quebec - more tannic and acid forward Ontario - Brighter, higher alcohol Okanagan Valley, British Columbia - more minerality Though we only discussed 4, I do believe there are more and as time goes on each province will hone into their regions terroir further. Mentions in this Chat Fermentis by Lesaffre - Q&A #16 What is Fermentis yeast strain is recommended for an industrial cider using AJC/Sugar for cider, in varying ratios? AB1 A New Podcast fan for - The Original Designated Drinker with Ambrosia Borowski Episode 1:  Malort https://soundcloud.com/user-91938082/designated-drinkers-episode-1-mallort Tattiebogle Ciderworks  - Pennsylvania CraftCon2021 - April 29th & 30th 2021 A virtual two day conference based in the UK

Fermenting with Quince Was Aphrodite’s Forbidden Fruit a quince or the apple? She's not talking, but cidermakers are in this panel discussion on “Fermenting with Quince” that was recorded for CiderCon2021. Quince a.k.a. Cydonia oblonga is the sole member of the genus Cydonia in the family Rosaceae. Quince is a ‘pomme’ fruit with the likes of apples, pears, and medlars. This golden Pomme is having a renaissance of sorts with makers partly due to it aromatic qualities and tannins. Kim Hamblin and Dan Rinke of Art + Science in Oregon, Steve Selin of South Hill Cider in New York and UK makers Martin Berkley of Pilton’s Cider and James Forbes of Little Pomona will discuss fermenting with Quince for this panel discussion that was moderated by Ria Windcaller of Cider Chat.  The Fermenting with Quince questions What inspired you to ferment with quince and how long have you fermenting with quince? How do you source your quince? Quince varieties used - not unusual for makers to use unknown varieties. Quince product(s) and how it is made. What is the ABV? Tasting notes: or what should we expect. Maker Techniques for instance, 100% or blended into cider Fermenting with Quince Order of Speakers Art + Science | Oregon South Hill Cider | New York Pilton Cider | Somerset/UK Little Pomona | Hertfordshire/UK Mentions in this Chat Fermentis by Lesaffre - Q&A #15 - What yeast strain(s) would you recommend for a Cold/sweet/French cider? AB1 ,AS2 sweet complexity, Quince Episodes on Cider Chat Episode 248 New England Quince Taste Test 2020 Episode 252 #GrowQuince  | Part 1 Episode 253 #GrowQuince |Part 2 - The Harvest Episode 266 Vermont Quince Co. Elevates a Forgotten Pomme Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Vermont Quince Hosts the New England Quince Taste Test of 2020 Perhaps before you listen to this episode 266 you might like to go to episode 248 to hear the initial blind tasting to compare the notes with this episode. The Inspiration Behind Vermont Quince A mother and son trip to Spain, inspired Nan Stefanik to incorporate Vermont Quince Company was in 2012. Since that time her one person company has not only wowed the foodie market with her many quince marmalades and pastes, but she also secured a Specialty Crop Grant for the #GrowQuince Initiative. Nan notes that she is "Still amazed that even at her age, she knew so little about quince" which had first been introduce to New England in 1629. At the time quince became a staple as it is a great resource for pectin used in the making of jams. From New England, the quince traveled to Texas in 1850 and then California. The Golden State became a top producer of 90% of the commercial quince on the market. In the mid 20th century the producing artificial pectin led to the demise of quince production. Market Research and Vermont Quince Nan credits her son for encouraging her to do a bit of market research on Quince. She found that US chefs were sourcing their quince from overseas from Spain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. The thought of importing this once beloved pomme fruit (in the same family as apples and pears) inspired her to start her business Vermont Quince which produces a lovely assortment of quince condiments and preserves....and she even plays at home with infusing quince to make a delightful liquor. The quince is listed below in the order that they were presented in this blind tasting. Aromatnaya A Russian variety that bears a very large, bright yellow, aromatic fruit with a delicious, lemony flavor. Aromatnaya fruit can be eaten fresh, when thinly sliced and used to make marmalade and jellies. ID: This variety is typically squat and with ridges like a pumpkin Kuganskaya Known to be from the region of the southern Caucasus, north of Turkey and Armenia.  ID: This variety has very smooth skin and doesn't tend to split Smyrna Extremely large fruit with light yellow flesh, bright yellow skin. Attractive tree (or multi-stemmed shrub) has dark green foliage & very showy bloom. Tolerates wet soil. ID: Described by Nan as being a "big honking' fruit that can appear bulbous van Deman - this quince variety was developed by Luther Burbank, (March 7, 1849 – April 11, 1926) who was an American botanist and horticulturist based in California. Van Deman bears good crops of large and delicious, bright yellow fruit. Expect a spicy flavored from this quince.  Orange Expect ripening to occur October through December and to also extend through February in some colder areas. The Orange Quince is a self fertile tree and requires 300 chill hours. ID: round and apple like Follow the #GrowQuince Initiative by going to the links below as Nan continues to make available more ID tools and info on this once forgotten fruit! Contact info for Vermont Quince Company Shop for all the products Nan discussed and more at  Vermont Quince email info@vermontquince.com Facebook page: GrowQuince. Mentions in this Chat Fermentis by Lesaffre - Q&A #14 - Can you explain a little bit about the difference between mineral and organic nutrient/nutrient additions? Quince Episodes on Cider Chat Episode 248 New England Quince Taste Test 2020 Episode 252 #GrowQuince  | Part 1 Episode 253 #GrowQuince |Part 2 - The Harvest Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Tasting Calvados with Étienne Dupont Étienne Dupont took over the Domaine Familial Etienne Dupont in the Pays d'Auge region of Normandy France from his father Louis and grandfather Jules in 1980. Episode 098: Jérôme Dupont | Domaine Dupont is a conversation with Étienne son who sadly passed away in 2018. The recording with Jérôme provides the backdrop of the story behind the Dupont families acquiring the estate or what is called a Domaine in France.  Eitenne Dupont and Benoit at Cave Pepins In this episode Étienne and I are in the city of Caen and we are visiting Cave Pepin - wonderful store filled with Calvados, Cider, Poire and Pommeau. We are assisted by Benoit or Ben who works at the store and brought us through a tasting of Calvados. Etienne begins by describing the Étienne's Notes Three Sources of Aroma in Calvados The fruit The Yeast The Cask in which the Calvados has been kept If the cask is new wood you will taste the sap which presents itself as grainy. Classical Calvados - the cask only contained cider and Calvados Étienne asks if we suspect acetone in the Calvados as we are tasting. During our first tasting we are delve into the taste and as Étienne says, “We are fighting the acetone, we are too professional” Étienne's Tips on Distillation of Cider He prefers a quick fermentation of 3 days and then distillation. But alas the rules in Normandy require that distillation now must be done 3 weeks from the point of initial distillation. Use clean apples. When Domaine Dupont presses the juice goes directly into concrete vats at the Pressoir and then it is pumped underground via tubing to the pot still. The cider is racked off the gross lees at this point, with only the fine lees being distilled His preferred temperature to ferment the cider is 22 to 23 degrees celsius (71 Fahrenheit) and no fermentation below 8 degrees Celsius (46 Fahrenheit). Determining Age of Calvados Fine is younger 2-3 years old Hors d'Age is at least 6 years old Étienne jokes that Hors d'Age which can range from 6 years to 20 is designed to get you lost. I agree and so best to ask the producer! Or as Étienne says that "You must rely on your palate." Contact for Cave Pepin I recommend following -  Cave Pepin's Facebook page Contact for Domaine Familial Etienne Dupont Website: https://www.calvados-dupont.com/en/ciders-calvados.htm Mentions in this chat Piotr Marzęcki of Polandski Read about Piotr ciders via Cider From Poland Fermentis yeast that Piotr uses for his ciders.  UCLM S325 Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTubeFermentis Q&A #13 Fermentis by Lesaffre -This week's Q&A with Kevin Lane from Fermentis: What are the sulfite additions effects on cider/yeast that you are planning to use? Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts.