Neutral Cider Hotel

Latest Episodes:

None Of Those Apples Are Listening (Dick Whitecombe and Cath Potter, Pulpt's Level Cider) Jan 10, 2021

Show notes

Wassail! Join hosts Gabe Cook, Grant Hutchison and Tom-Tit (Martyn Goodwin-Sharman) as they hang bread from trees and pour cider on the roots on old twelvey, in the garden of the Neutral Cider Hotel!
Gabe jumps in with some boozy salutations, and explains the history of Wassail, Martyn says FACE, and Grant worries about the twelve listeners we’ve lost to the history lesson! British traditions of bog snorkelling, knee slapping and cheese rolling are admired, before Scott shoots it all down! Grant praises Jonny Hamilton and his piece on how Pellicle Mag came to be, and his thoughtful, honest dive into personal struggle and mental health. Martyn then brings up “the best thing he’s ever done”, and something to look forward to after the lockdown. Then, it's onto the interview!
Our interview this week is with two of the most influential voices in the UK cider scene; Cath Potter and Dick Withecombe! Hosting the Manchester Cider Club, a part of Cider Women and until recently Cider Buzz MCR, these cage rattlers have made their voices heard and have had such a wonderful impact on the scene! The guys chat about everything, from their view of the podcast, the cider bubble and reaching outside of it, converting beer drinkers, the impact of one book on their whole approach, the lexicon of cider and the work of CAMRA. It’s a full to the brim interview, and we could have drank along all night!
This week’s tasting sees the boys crack some bottles of Pulpt’s Level, a clean, crisp and easy drink that defies the deep analysis of the usual hotel drinks in favour of pure drinkability!
Finally, it’s game time at Neutral Cider Hotel, with ‘Variety is the Spice of Life!’ It’s multiple choice, so play along at home and let us know on the socials how well you did! Featuring ciders from Once Upon a Tree, Little Pomona, Wilding Cider and Pilton; with a bombshell bonus question that cost the quizmaster a little too much!
Other Links:
Gabe wrote a book: Ciderology
Grant has a cider business: Re:Stalk
Martyn loves to talk about cider: CiderShit
The Rest of The Team:
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy
Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
Website: www.neutralciderhotel.com

THE TEAM
Gabe is a cider expert: The Ciderologist / Substack
Grant owns a cider shop: Aeble Cider Shop
Martyn loves to write about cider: CiderShit

Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy
CONNECT
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Facebook: NeutralCiderHotel
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Linktree: NeutralCiderHotel
Listen and share episodes on our website: https://www.neutralciderhotel.com

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Join the conversation: https://www.reddit.com/r/NeutralCiderHotel/...

Bernard's Watch (Lily Waite, Find & Foster's Snicket, Seven and Pendragon Cider Tasting) Jan 03, 2021

Show notes

Join hosts Gabe Cook, Grant Hutchison and Martyn Goodwin-Sharman as they celebrate the new year as Poland’s 35th most popular food and drink podcast!

Gabe boasts about our hotel, Martyn says hello to his dad, Grant doesn’t respect his child anymore and Producer Scott apologises to Ryan and his factory! The guys also welcome in 2021 with a selection of their ‘ones to watch’, so check out the cider-makers selected for your future drinks.

A slow news week as the guys discuss the TV show Inside the Factory, featuring the world’s largest cider-making facility at Bulmers Cider. The guys then discuss which movies they watched over the Christmas holiday and Scott’s terribly sad Christmas Tree.

Our interview is with Lily Waite! Creator of Queer Brewing Project, providing visibility and community within the brewing world for LGBTQ+ people, she’s also an ceramicist and the British Guild’s Beer Writer of the Year 2020! The guys chat about everything, from her work fresh from Cloudwater’s Wayfinder project, her first beer writing and its retrospective and her brewing.

The tasting is three different bottles from Devon’s Find & Foster; Snicket, Seven and Pendragon. Different techniques and varieties from an awesome producer in the South West, the guys have been loving their drinks for some time, and this was a great excuse to crack three different bottles, and to grab the mop and bucket!

Finally, it's ‘Grant’s Game!’ where he takes the opportunity to punish the guys with anagram apple varieties.
The Team
Gabe wrote a book: Ciderology
Grant has a cider business: Re:Stalk
Martyn loves to talk about cider: CiderShit
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy
Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
Website: http://www.neutralciderhotel.com

The Best Of 2020 (Highlighting Our Favorite Moments of 2020) Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

Join hosts Gabe Cook, Grant Hutchison, Martyn Goodwin-Sharman and special guest host Producer Scott Riggs as they clean down and inspect every room, in this Best Of Extravaganza Episode of Neutral Cider Hotel!

2020 was ridiculous. It made itself known as a year unlike any other pretty much from the word go, but through all the chaos, struggle and hardship of a blackened sky, the rays of joy shone brighter than ever. One such ray, to three men in the United Kingdom and another in America, was Neutral Cider Hotel. A weekly get together inspired by the best cider the world has to offer, and gave each of them something to look forward to in the craziest of times. A chance to get together, chat, laugh and talk about their cider, their lives and everything in between. It also gave them an opportunity to make new friends in the thousands of new listeners that have joined them in the conversation.

With only a handful of episodes released this year, in spite of incalculable hours spent recording, Executive Producer Scott Riggs has pulled together all our favorite moments and guides us through a countdown to our absolute favorite episode of 2020. This is every last bit of fun we can squeeze out of 2020.

From crenellated uroliths to four minute yes/no questions, tackle and bait shop recording equipment to peasant salads, with guest appearances from Cher, Smeagle and the Founding Fathers of America to help along the way.

Thank you for listening, and here’s hoping that 2021 is a little more normal!

Other Links:
Gabe wrote a book: Ciderology
Grant has a cider business: Re:Stalk
Martyn loves to talk about cider: CiderShit
The Rest of The Team:
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy
Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
Website: http://www.neutralciderhotel.com

Neutral Cider Ho Ho Hotel (Martin Berkeley from Pilton, Wilding's Nempnett Thrubwell Tasting) Dec 20, 2020

Show notes

Join hosts Gabe Cook, Sir Crenellated Urolith the 3rd and Martyn Goodwin-Sharman as they meet See-anta himself in this Christmas edition of the Neutral Cider Hotel!

Gabe has to apologise to “Scottish culture,” and Grant and Martyn both treated themselves to cider from The Cat in the Glass. Then, a lovely snippet turns up in conversation about photography, cider and forgetfulness.

In the news, Grant talks about Cloudwater’s new Wayfinder; previous show guest, Helen Anne Smith of Burum Collective! It’s a wonderful program aimed at making positive change to the industry by promoting and raising voices outside of the usual bubble.
Our interview is with a legend in the scene; Martin Berkeley of Pilton Cider. The guys discuss his decade in the industry, the intrigue of keeving, breaking from the corporate image, fruit cider, The Bristol Cider Salon and everything in between.

For the tasting, the boys stay in Somerset, with a new product from Wilding Cider. Nempnett Thrubwell; a single orchard selection, ancestral method sparkling cider, this one is for celebrations and should be in the fridge this New Year's Eve! Check out Pellicle Mag’s great profile of Wilding here.

The guys list their Christmas Day ciders, including Little Pomona, Olivers, Tinston Wines & Ciders, Halfpenny Green, Pilton and more.

For this week’s game, Gabe brings a Christmas Quiz to the boys, with festive trivia and the true spirit of Christmas. Don’t try to play along at home, it goes a bit pear shaped quite quickly! Merry Christmas from all of us at Neutral Cider Hotel!
Other Links:
Gabe wrote a book: Ciderology
Grant has a cider business: Re:Stalk
Martyn loves to talk about cider: CiderShit
The Rest of The Team:
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy
Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
Website: http://www.neutralciderhotel.com

If You’re Missing Any Swords (Tasmine Fraser, Little Pomona's Disco Nouveau Cider Tasting) Dec 13, 2020

Show notes

Interview: Tasmine Fraser
Cider Review: Little Pomona - Disco Nouveau

Join hosts Gabe Cook, Grant David Hutchison and Martyn David Goodwin-Sharman as they explore the world of cider from the comfort of the Neutral Cider Hotel!

Gabe kicks off things in the game room, Grant plays Tetris with boxes in his new house and Martyn has been counting down the days for a bubble bath with Phoebe Bridgers!
In the news this week, Martyn connects with the imposter syndrome Adam Wells writes of for Malt Review, whilst Grant and Gabe bring possibly the greatest headline in the world of cider to the table. If anyone wants to take the band name ‘Pagan Journalist’ we’ll happily pass on the rights!

Our interview this week is with the wonderful Tasmine Fraser! She’s on the front line of global cider advocacy, as a member of the Cider Scene crew and especially through her own Instagram page, and after a social media post, she kickstarted the #noappleogies movement in response to sexism. The guys go through inclusivity in the industry, Tasmine’s cider, shared values and honesty, and impromptu aeroplane piloting! This episode really is, in Gabe’s words, a hoot!

Then we’re onto the tasting, and this week the guys get ready to rumble with a cider from the first guests to grace the podcast; Little Pomona! Disco Nouveau is Herefordshire cider’s answer to Beaujolais wine, bringing the rush of harvest in a fun package. It’s a great connector between the wine and cider worlds, and the guys get their skates on to dive in!

Then, it's Martyn's turn for a game and Grant is worried his losing streak will not be broken. The game is called ‘Who Gives a S**t?!’ Martyn takes the guys on a deep dive through his tasting notes, and they have to guess the maker and the cider. Join in at home and let us know your score on our socials!

Don’t forget to like, subscribe and write a review for the show, and thank you for joining us at Neutral Cider Hotel!
Other Links:
Gabe wrote a book: Ciderology
Grant has a cider business: Re:Stalk
Martyn loves to talk about cider: CiderShit
The Rest of The Team:
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy
Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
Website: http://www.neutralciderhotel.com

NCH: Cool AF (Sarah Warman from Hawkes Cider, Tasting Hawkes, Henney's and Aldi Cider) Dec 06, 2020

Show notes

Join hosts Gabe Cook, Grant Hutchison and Martyn Goodwin-Sharman as your eyelids get heavy and your breath calmer before they bring you back (snap) into the Neutral Cider Hotel!

Things are cool AF with Martyn, who has been down at Pilton Cider again, and Grant has brought Rebel Root into the Re:stalk portfolio. Gabe has been doing research for his new book, delving into IP Laws and somehow segueing into an apology to Scotland. And finally, Grant’s tasting for the Salford Virtual Beer Festival went well, raising funds for Start Inspiring Minds with music and cider! The Spotify playlist is available here.

This week’s news is a big one, so make sure to pay attention!

Our interview this week is with the awesome Sarah Warman of Hawkes! Coming from a progressive beer background, Sarah now has the opportunity to spearhead one of the key cider makers in these exciting times. The guys discuss everything; from the differences in the beer and cider industries, the divisive nature of parent company Brewdog, the Hawkes Ciderama festival, and the future of the apple donors project.

Then, onto the tasting with a focus on the affordable category. Is the widely available cider up to snuff, or are the guys a group of snobs? Featuring Hawkes Urban Orchard, Henney’s Dry Cider and Aldi’s Twisted Tree Sparkling. This week’s drinking game is “spot the "Withnail & I" quote

And finally, the guys answer a listener’s question about varieties, with some deep insight from Gabe.
Other Links:
Gabe wrote a book: Ciderology
Grant has a cider business: Re:Stalk
Martyn loves to talk about cider: CiderShit
The Rest of The Team:
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy

Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
Website: http://www.neutralciderhotel.com

Star Spangled Cider (Albert Johnson from Ross On Wye Cider, Tasting Oliver's Gold Rush 8 - Raw) Nov 29, 2020

Show notes

Interview: Albert Johnson - Ross on Wye
Cider Review: Oliver’s - Gold Rush 8 Raw
Join hosts Gabe Cook, Grant Hutchison and Martyn Goodwin-Sharman as they swill the planters and remember to use the right software when they record Neutral Cider Hotel!
Grant has packed his cider collection away ahead of a big move and rubbed lockdown in Martyn’s face, before the guys mull over mulled cider. Cider George sparks joy for Gabe with a supermarket cider, before Martyn reels off a list of bottle shops and tries not to offend everyone selling fantastic ciders! Martyn kicks off the news with some Perry praise and a middle-earth identity crisis, Gabe dives the guys back into the depressing world of Minimum Unit Pricing, and Grant questions the ‘original’ artwork for Gabe’s new book.
For the big interview, the guys invite one of Herefordshire’s finest to the ho (Gabe slang for hotel), Albert Johnson of the award winning Ross on Wye Cider. The 4th generation cider maker at the site, Albert’s heritage is matched by his creative and forward thinking approach to cider. The guys cover everything from the “most complete Perry they’ve released,” Grant’s store room of kegs, funk music and Gabe’s maddening digressions!
This week’s tasting is with another Herefordshire legend, Oliver’s Gold Rush 8 - Raw. Grant and Martyn have both waxed lyrical about the Gold Rush range, and this new 750ml Raw version has been one of interest. Something fishy is definitely going on, so make sure to drink along whenever Gabe mentions bagels!
Next up, a new game for our overseas listeners still full from Thanksgiving dinner; Star Spangled Cider! Historic cider references linked to the founding fathers, hard questions and hard cider! There is controversy with the answering, so let us know if you feel either of the contestants were robbed! Do be warned, there are interesting impersonations in this representation of American history!
And finally, the guys answer the listeners questions, with up and coming cider makers to look out for, and there’s some controversy when it comes to defining language in cider.
Other Links:
Gabe wrote a book: Ciderology
Grant has a cider business: Re:Stalk
Martyn loves to talk about cider: CiderShit
The Rest of The Team:
Executive Producer/Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy
Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
Website: http://www.neutralciderhotel.com

Your Kids Will Be Slaves To The Spiders (Helen Anne Smith from Burum Collective, Sundström Tasting) Nov 23, 2020

Show notes

Join hosts Gabe Cook, Grant Hutchison and Martyn Goodwin-Sharman in the Neutral Cider Hotel, as they "oracled there until" this whole thing blows over!
Gabe catches the guys off guard with anagrams and embattled bladder stones. Grant then praises J’adore Le Plonk by Rachel Hendry and Martyn celebrates the 20th birthday of Limp Bizkit’s Chocolate Starfish & the Hotdog Flavoured Water.
Martyn kicks off the news with a story about Hawkes getting 12 tonnes of community sourced apples through the mail, before chatting about the founder’s departure from the company. Grant then highlights a Men’s Health article on an oddly numbered, top 11 ciders. For Gabe's birthday, he had quick cider drinks with beard envy general Gwatkins, and a bottle of Eve’s Cidery Albee Hill 2019 made it one to remember. Grant wraps it up in trendsetting Clitheroe in Lancashire, with the news of Tom and Katy Mather’s bar, Corto.
The guys then chat with the wonderful Helen Anne Smith, the creator of Burum Collective. A community blog ran by volunteers, they’ve provided an inclusive space for discussion and creativity in the beer, wine and cider scenes. They discuss inclusivity within hospitality, holding a CV up to scrutiny, Grant’s enthusiasm, and education within the drinks industries.
For this week’s tasting, the guys get a different bottle each from the same maker: Sundström Cider. Made in the Hudson Valley, New York, Leif Sundström brings a wine like sensibility to each of the bottles on show. The range showcases varieties and techniques, and is worth the mop and bucket!
Gabe then busts out his new game; Ciderology Knowledgy (aka CiderKnowledgy)!
Finally, the guys answer the listeners questions, featuring the brown house, ciders for the cooler months, manly spliff’s CV and a post apocalyptic future. The guys then say goodbye, and Martyn is banned from Scotland.
Other Links:
Gabe wrote a book: Ciderology
Grant has a cider business: Re:Stalk
Martyn loves to talk about cider: CiderShit
The Rest of The Team:
Executive Producer: Scott Riggs
Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy
Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
Website: http://www.neutralciderhotel.com

The Cure For COVID-19 (Pete Brown, Ross on Wye's Thorn Perry Tasting) Nov 15, 2020

Show notes

Join hosts Gabe Cook, Grant Hutchison and Martyn Goodwin-Sharman on their tropical island of all things cider!
The guys discuss Frightened Rabbit as an answer on a game show, TV appearances and unflattering celebrity comparisons (It's Ed Sheeran!) before delving into the news.
Grant kicks off things with a return of Roger Wilkins, who has found the cure to covid! After the guys restored his honour in a previous episode, the now scientist has proclaimed his vitamin-heavy drink is the answer to the world’s problems. Gabe then takes the guys through the upcoming Cidercon, the world’s biggest cider gathering, which is now open for registration.
This week’s interview is with a man who’s not just in the know with cider, he’s actually written the book on it. We’re happy to welcome three time Beer Writer of the Year winner, Pete Brown! Highly acclaimed beer and cider writer, Pete’s got a huge library of stories and an equal breadth of published books to match. From Craft: An Argument to The Apple Orchard, Pete takes the guys through the cider regions who think they invented it, cider top trumps with Tom Oliver, the problem with ‘craft’ in cider and wanky writing. We cannot confirm or deny if he had a masturbate after the recording!
The featured cider this week is Ross on Wye’s Thorn Perry. Gabe’s favourite variety of pear, it’s a big, bold and bright perry with some very intense character. The Horse of Knowledge makes a return to discuss the Pet Nat process as the guys take their time with the drink.
Finally, they go through the listener’s questions, featuring Burum Collective’s Helen asking about education in cider, before Grant reads out the listener’s weirdest places to drink cider in the weirdest Grant voice you’ll ever hear.
Other Links:
Gabe wrote a book: Ciderology
Grant has a cider business: Re:Stalk
Martyn loves to talk about cider: CiderShit
The Rest of The Team:
Executive Producer: Scott Riggs
Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy
Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
Website: http://www.neutralciderhotel.com

Annoyingly Succinct (Autumn Stoscheck and Ezra Sherman from Eve's Cidery) Nov 08, 2020

Show notes

Join hosts Gabe Cook, Grant Hutchison and Martyn Goodwin-Sharman through these turbulent times by checking in to the Covid-free Neutral Cider Hotel!
The guys go through blending cider, buying houses and an off the cuff discussion of apple varieties.
In the news, Gabe kicks off things with some bad news about this year’s The Big Apple event in Herefordshire, whilst discussing his pie selection and fingering process. Martyn then humbly brings up his own writing for Graftwood as “news,” before delving into the journalistic mecca that is Bridport & Lyme Regis News for some cider-sciencetory! Finally, there’s a deep discussion on the etymology of the word “cheers”, featuring the worst impression of a gay icon from a half-cut Martyn.
This week’s interview is the boy’s first trip out of the UK! Connecting with a wonderful duo in their home all the way in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the US, the Neutral Cider Hotel is proud to host Autumn Stoscheck and Ezra Sherman of Eve’s Cidery. An orchard-based cidery with a focus on organic farming and minimal intervention, their drinks are always stunning and the boys dive into deep conversation straight away. Moving through every subject in fine cider, from terroir and sense of place, self-taught banjo players, the difficulties of innovation and child labour in the name of art.
The guys then sample Eve’s Cidery’s DeRidder after the conversation, and what a tasting it is. A 750ml wonder, a Pet Nat style cider made with stolen apples (scrumpy to the English!), hear the boys honest reaction and try to keep up with their pace. Drinking game this week, try and finish the bottle as quick as Martyn for a wild 5 minute ride!
Finally, they go through the listener’s questions, featuring a new generation of drinkers, craft-kegged cider, Martyn’s pissed eyesight and the art blending in cider, featuring even more praise for DeRidder!

Quote of the episode: “Well that’s what scrumpy does to a man.” - Martyn Goodwin-Sharman
Other Links:
Gabe wrote a book: Ciderology
Grant has a cider business: Re:Stalk
Martyn loves to talk about cider: CiderShit
The Rest of The Team:
Executive Producer: Scott Riggs
Editor: Scott Riggs
Music: Billy Kennedy
Token American: Scott Riggs
Connect:
Instagram: NeutralCiderHotel
Twitter: NeutralCiderPod
Website: http://www.neutralciderhotel.com

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