Review of Angry Orchard’s Rosé, their newest release. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had most of their line-up (see here).
>>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: Rosé
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial rosé-style cider
Availability: wide release, year round, since February 2018 (they have a Cider Finder)
Cider Description: The red flesh apples in Angry Orchard Rosé are from France. Each apple is crisp, juicy and red to the core, adding an irresistible rosy blush and apple-forward taste with a refreshing, dry finish. Angry Orchard Rosé can be enjoyed outside with friends or at the dinner table.
Apple Varieties: Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and red-fleshed apples sourced in France
Ingredients: hard cider, water, cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, malic acid, natural flavor; colored with red flesh apples, sweet potato, radish, and hibiscus
Price: n/a (retails for $7.99-9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I spotted it in a grocery store, then read about it online, then some showed up
First Impression: Moderate pink hue. No carbonation. Smells very mild, fruity and floral.
Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to semi-sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of watermelon, strawberry, floral, and green apple. Quick finish. Low apple flavor and complexity. Low to moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.
My Opinion: I liked it. However, its more on the easy drinking on a hot summer day end of the scale. Also, I think this would have benefited from carbonation, as it was a bit flat and full bodied for not being too sweet. I liked that they went all-natural on the color, but I wish the ingredient list as a whole was more natural as well.
Most Similar to: This is much less complex and refined than something like Alpenfire Glow or Snowdrift Red (both made from red-fleshed apples) or Sea Cider Ruby Rose (with rhubarb and rose hips). It was closest to Square Mile Rosé, except sweeter.
Side Note: I’m getting annoyed with cideries advertising the cider was “made from/using/with X apples”, when very little of that cider apple variety was used. I get why though – consumers are becoming better educated, and are pushing the market. Data shows commercial cider sales are down and craft cider sales are up.
Marketing tactics are something all consumers should be aware of. For example, if a cider says it is made from bittersweet cider apples but it is closer to clear than amber, then more dessert and/or heirloom apples were likely used than bittersweet apples. The press release for this cider focuses on the use of red-fleshed apples, but from the ingredient list and low price, it is apparent that very few were used. There is nothing wrong with that…I just think it is deceptive marketing. Unfortunately it is quite common.
Closing Notes: Rosé seems to be the latest cider trend, with all the big names releasing one – Angry Orchard, Crispin, Strongbow, and more. However, the style isn’t yet defined for cider. So far the term has been used for everything from a cider with fruit or hibiscus added, up to the good stuff made 100% from red-fleshed apples (like Alpenfire Glow, Alpenfire Cinders, and Snowdrift Red). In wine it refers to a white wine that receives color & flavor from red grape skins. In cider, so far it seems to just refer to the color.
Have you tried any rosé ciders? What did you think?
Cider Says 
There is a massive marketing campaign even in Europe. Although their Rosé is not available here.
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It is terrible. Tastes like cabbage water and similarly bitter / dry. It has no notes of flavor (your delusional). It does have a nice scent, but tastes nothing like it, even difficult to call it apple. It has a strong carbonation flavor, and doesn’t go down smoothly, same reason.
This was my first try at Angry Orchard. I wanted to love it, because I lived in one of those areas. I am struggling to give ROSE even one good mark…ok, the color. I tried to add fruit juice, orange juice anything to like it, nothing mixes, nor dulls that pungent carbonation / cabbage flavor. Very sorry, I really am. Now I am stuck with 4 more bottles. bar code 8769200659
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Lyn – Thanks for sharing. Everyone has different tastes. This is nowhere near my favorite, but I found it plenty drinkable for my palate. I can however share that the first time I tried (and reviewed) it I drank it from a glass, but the second time I was lazy and drank it from the bottle, and it was far less flavorful and smelled weird, like you said, a weird carbonation byproduct. I’m guessing the glass lets it off gas so you can actually smell and taste the cider. Similarly, I imagine letting it sit in a glass for awhile before drinking would help.
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Yes my apologies, I was being rude with that comment, guess a little worked up. I tried to go back and had trouble finding the site. I never comment anywhere, but felt strongly about the rose. I was actually looking for the company and stumbled upon your review. I was going to say to you….”my apologies, you taste what you taste, and I could have had an odd lot”. Also, when I went back thru your ingredient description, I saw you listed radish….that was pretty enlightening, considering I mentioned cabbage. Thanks for your generous reconsideration. I am going to keep your site in favorites now and check out some of your other reviews, : )
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Lyn – No worries. That ingredient list was actually on the side of the bottle (kinda hidden, sideways, like the middle of the 3 photos). Apparently radish is one of the ways they colored the cider, along with the red fleshed apples, sweet potato, and hibiscus. I didn’t taste it though.
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Thanks I see it. And their phone number is there (I threw away the box). I may comment by phone. PS the only other cider I have I tried was Strongbow w Orange Blossom. I liked that, just to give you an idea. Take care.
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Lyn – Thats funny, because I thought Strongbow Orange Blossom was pretty gross, syrupy, fake, etc. Every cider definitely won’t be for everyone.
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Is Angry Orchard Rose’ made with yeast?
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Hi Beth – In short, yes.
long story: By definition, every alcoholic beverage is made using yeast, as yeast is required for fermentation, which creates alcohol. Sometimes wild yeast (that which was naturally on the fruit) is retained when making cider, but typically yeast is added for a consistent predictable product. Typically commercial ciders just list “hard cider” first on the ingredient list, and that is most typically apple juice concentrate, water, and yeast. For a craft cider, the ingredient list (if included) is typically apples or apple juice, and yeast.
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I just need to know if it’s carbonated. I had stomach surgery and can’t drink anything carbonated.
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Hi Danita – I didn’t detect any carbonation (tasted flat/still), but its possible there is a slight amount. I’d ask Angry Orchard to be sure (I just review ciders, and am not associated with any manufacturer). Thanks for stopping by.
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Please take the corn syrup out this is ruining a good product
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Hi Nadinr – I am not associated with the cidery, I am just a consumer who reviews ciders for fun. I recommend submitting your feedback to Angry Orchard directly – try http://www.angryorchard.com/contact-us. However, I can tell you that the bottle I had did not list corn syrup as an ingredient (only hard cider, water, cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, malic acid, natural flavor; colored with red flesh apples, sweet potato, radish, and hibiscus).
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The best thing to come out in a while! Love it, not too sweet, light and refreshing! My new fave!
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I love it – I am not a beer drinker more of a rum girl – but this stuff is so good! I’ve tried strongbow and it was not good to me at all – too foamy and the flavor was not on my good side – but the angry orchard is perfect mix of flavor and sweet – I recommend when you are thirsty on a hot day for sure! Reminded me of a flavored sparkling water
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This is the first cider I have tasted so I don’t have any sort of palate built up on flavors. When I first started to drink this it did taste more like wine to me. I think that might just be a yeast taste that you can also get in wines.Near the end of the drink the apple flavor came out a lot stronger to me. I like sweet wines and this seemed a little dry but definitely sweet enough for me to drink..
I am happy enough these, but I will try other ciders before I buy this again.
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Hi Derek, Thanks for checking out my blog and sharing your thoughts on Angry Orchard Rosé! I’d specifically recommend you look out for locally made ciders, which tend to be more craft than commercial (ie. better quality). They can really vary in sweetness, so although it sounds like you like pretty mid-level sweetness (which is good, as that is often the most common), it may be helpful to read the bottle or packaging to see if they specify, or even look it up online. Cheers!
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