Review of Angry Orchard’s Tapped Maple, their newest seasonal cider, with Vermont maple syrup.

>>This is a review of a sample bottle provided to Cider Says by  Angry Orchard.  Although I will take care to treat it the same as any other review, there is always the potential for bias as I received it for free.  The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my cider review cue.  I love free stuff, especially cider!  Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here?  Contact me.<<

Cider:  Tapped Maple
Cidery:  Angry Orchard
Cidery Location:  Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations:  Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV:  5.o%
How Supplied:  6 or 12 pack of 12oz bottles
Style:  American commercial cider made from dessert apple varieties, with maple syrup

 

 

Availability:  January thru April, wide release, in individual 6 packs plus 12 pack variety packs

Cider Description:  Angry Orchard Tapped Maple blends American culinary apples with maple syrup tapped from Vermont maple trees. The maple syrup – rich in flavor and natural maple sweetness – adds a delicate balance, creating a not-too-sweet cider with a strong maple-forward aroma, and full, round mouthfeel. This new seasonal style is perfect to enjoy around the dinner table or fire pit with friends during cooler months.

Apple Varieties:  Pacific Northwest dessert varieties (Braeburn, Fuji, Granny Smith, Gala, and Pink Lady)

Ingredients:  hard cider, water, cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, malic acid, maple syrup, natural flavor, carbon dioxide, sulfites

Price:  n/a (but retails for $8.99-$9.99 / 6 pack, or $15.99-$18.99 / 12 pack variety pack)
Where Bought:  n/a
Where Drank:  home
How Found:  n/a

First Impression:  Dark straw yellow hue.  Still (no carbonation).  Smells of concentrated apple with a hint of maple.

Tasting Notes:  Semi-sweet to semi-dry.  Medium bodied.  Low tartness.  Low to moderate acidity.  No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins.  Notes of concentrated apple with hints of maple and citrus.  Quick finish.  High apple flavor.  High sessionability.  Moderate flavor intensity.  Low complexity.

My Opinion:  I enjoyed it.  Very drinkable, as it isn’t too sweet.  I was expecting more maple, but I’m glad they didn’t go overboard.

Most Similar to:  The other ciders with maple I’ve had are Woodchuck Campfire Pancakes (which was fake maple overload and very sweet) and Seattle Cider Oaked Maple (which had even less maple flavor than this one, and was drier).

Closing Notes:   This was a nice selection from Angry Orchard, although I’d like to see them improve their ingredient list.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Tapped Maple?  What did you think?