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 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

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 @RossCiderAdam writes cider @Cider_ReviewJustin is gonna get his mates into cider @JustinWells1346Get in touch via Twitter or instagramOr 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

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 @RossCiderAdam writes about it mainly @Cider_ReviewGet in touch via Twitter or instagramOr email us - albert@cidervoice.com

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

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 @McGeePDXAlbert makes cider @RossCiderAdam writes about it mainly @Cider_ReviewJustin 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.