Liberty Ciderworks in Spokane, Washington is an urban cidery focused on traditional methods. While located in the city, their cider reflects deep agricultural roots.

Cider maker and founder Rick Hastings ferments with wild yeast, ages cider for 3 to 12 months, and source fruit from nearby orchards. This approach creates cider with structure, balance, and regional identity.

This interview is with Jamie, who is a certified pommelier, and her husband Ben Pratt who both partnered with Rick in 2019. This interview was recorded at CiderCon in 2026.

00:00 Cider Eyes Open

00:40 Meet Liberty Cider

01:58 Ciderville News Kanga

04:46 Western Mass Cider Stop

07:51 Tour Prep And Pacing

12:53 Spokane Urban Cidery

15:09 Orchards And Sourcing

17:20 How They Joined Liberty

21:54 Tasting Room Third Place

23:29 Cider Series And Flights

29:33 Educating New Drinkers

31:07 American Apples Lineup

32:01 On The Table Golden Russet

32:22 Golden Russet Terroir

33:22 Tasting Notes Compared

35:31 Wild Yeast Unfiltered

38:43 Reserve Versus Core

39:19 Cider Club Shipping

41:59 Future Growth Strategy

44:14 Visit Spokane Taproom

46:38 Events Puzzle Festival

49:21 Barrel Program 55 Chain

52:39 Wrap Up Ciderchat

54:13 Closing Orchard Song

Find the full show notes for Episode 496 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/496-liberty-ciderworks/
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In this archive episode of Cider Chat, we go in a barrel cellar in Prince Edward County, Ontario, with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider and Lee Baker of Keint-He Winery.

Listening to Fermentation

What Is Bâtonnage in Cider?

Find Key Takeaways for Home Cider Makers

Barrel Room Glossary

SO₂ Calculator

00:00 Barrels as Dance Partners

00:29 Episode 495 Replay Setup

01:40 Ryan Monkman Spotlight

04:06 Ciderville News and Cider Salons

06:21 UK Blossom Time Tour Plans

08:18 Entering the Barrel Cave

10:38 Cellar Terroir and Humidity

13:33 Malolactic Fermentation Explained

15:32 Listening to Fermentation

17:51 Comparing Barrels With and Without Malo

21:50 Yeast Trials and Complexity

23:48 Lees Contact and Benefits

26:24 Bâtonnage Tools and Routine

30:47 Bâtonnage Demo in Action

33:49 Hands On Stirring and Smelling

34:17 Stirring The Lees

35:26 Blending For Complexity

36:47 Aging Timeline And Autolysis

38:47 Barrel Faults And Oxygen

41:58 Managing Flor And SO2

44:09 Measuring pH And Sulfur

49:56 Cleaning And Storing Barrels

53:03 Citric Sulfur Storage Method

57:04 Closing Notes And Farewell

Find the full show notes for Episode 495 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/495-barrel-aged-cider-tips/
Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch?
Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP - by supporting Cider Chat.
Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

In this episode of Cider Chat, we hear from Tom Hart of Humboldt Cider Company, located in Eureka, California along the rugged Pacific coastline behind what locals call the Redwood Curtain. We also discusses preserving the original Albert Etter orchard in Humboldt County and continuing the legacy of these historic cider apples.

00:00 Welcome to Cider Chat

00:38 Wickson Crab and Albert Etter

03:06 News Cider Salons Ahead

05:08 Hungary Salon and Champagne Cellars

09:08 Blossom Time and UK Tour

10:59 Support and Show Notes

12:04 Meet Tom Hart

12:30 Humboldt Cider Origin Story

14:36 Taproom and Local Crowd

16:17 Emerald Triangle Economy Shift

22:08 Apples Supply and Production

25:02 Brand Name and Partnership

26:35 Growth Plans and Cider Board Work

30:44 Juice Tankers and Redwood Roads

33:12 Humboldt Outdoors and Fishing

34:47 Where to Stay in Humboldt

35:02 Farmers Market in Arcata

35:59 Cider Batch Sizes and Varietals

37:02 Meet Albert Etter and Ettersburg

38:44 Etter Apple Legacy Varieties

42:12 Stewarding the Historic Orchard

44:47 Orchard Layout and Perry Pear

46:48 Rare Trees and Homestead Grafting

48:32 DNA Testing and Replanting Plan

58:08 Wildlife Challenges and Wrap-Up

59:54 Show Notes and Support the Podcast

Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com
Episode 494: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/494-humboldt-cider-albert-etter/

Listen to Episode 494 of Cider Chat® wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch?
Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

💛 If you love what you're hearing, please consider supporting Cider Chat.
Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.