Angry Orchard Unfiltered Crisp Apple

December 16, 2019December 14, 2019 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Crisp Apple, hard cider, tasting notes, unfiltered

Review of Angry Orchard’s newest regular release, an unfiltered less sweet version of their Crisp Apple. It is my first time trying this, but I’ve had a number of their other selections (see here).

Cider: Unfiltered Crisp Apple
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 6%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider from dessert & bittersweet apple varieties, unfiltered, less sweet

Availability: wide release

Cider Description: Crisp Apple Unfiltered is an homage to traditional cider with a natural, less sweet, fresh apple taste. It is made with bittersweet apples, the gold standard in cider making.

Ingredients: hard cider, water, cane sugar, apple juice from concentrate, malic acid, honey, natural flavor, carbon dioxide, and sulfites to preserve freshness

Price: ~ $2 / single bottle (runs ~ $8.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: Total Wine
Where Drank: home
How Found: browsing

First Impression: Hazy light amber hue. Smells of sweet baked apple. Very low carbonation.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Light bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Hints of tannins and bitterness. Notes of unfiltered apple juice, orange, honey, and chemicals. Moderate length tart finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity.

My Opinion: The weird chemical flavor ruined it for me, and my husband agreed – we ended up dumping it out. Maybe it had gone bad, but it didn’t taste like ciders I have had before which were truly flawed (the most common I’ve found is those which have turned vinegary).

Most Similar to: Angry Orchard Easy Apple, Crispin The Saint, and some favorites of mine, Downeast Original Blend and 2 Towns Return of the Mac, except with a chemical twist…ick

Closing Notes: I was hoping this would be a full-ABV version of their Easy Apple (their less sweet, less filtered, low ABV cider), but that one is much better.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Unfiltered? What did you think?

Understood in Motion 03 (Angry Orchard and Tom Oliver collaboration)

April 13, 2018April 7, 2018 cidersays Angry Orchard, Oliver's, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Oliver's Cider & Perry, Ryan Burk, tasting notes, Tom Oliver, Understood in Motion

Review of Understood in Motion 03, Angry Orchard’s third release in the collaboration series, this time with Tom Oliver, of Herefordshire’s Oliver’s Cider & Perry. The first collaboration was with Eden Specialty Ciders (see my review here), and the second was with EZ Orchards (see my review 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: Understood in Motion 03
Cidery: Angry Orchard and Oliver’s Cider & Perry
Cidery Location: Walden New York U.S.A & Herefordshire England
ABV: 7.2%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottle
Style: American & English craft cider from Dabinett, Northern Spy, & Foxwhelp apples, wild yeast fermented, oak aged, dry, still

Availability: Angry Orchard’s facility in Walden NY, released March 2018

Cider Description: Understood in Motion 03 started over two years ago, as two different natural ciders fermented with wild yeast. The Dabinett apple was the principle apple variety used in this collaboration, an 18^th century English bittersweet apple that is favored for its reliability to yield fruit annually, and is now grown in the United States. The result, a still, tannic, dry, wild and funky cider that pairs well with a hearty meal enjoyed with friends.

Angry Orchard’s Ryan Burk and Oliver’s Cider & Perry’s Tom Oliver worked together on this cider over the last two years. This article has more information.

Price: n/a (retails for $25)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about it online.

First Impression: Hazy orange amber hue. Very low carbonation. Smells of cider apples, sourness, and funk.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light bodied. Low tartness, sourness, funk, and bitterness. Moderate acidity and tannins. Notes of bittersweet apples, pomace, orange, leather, grapefruit, and oak. Long tannic sour finish. Moderate apple flavor and flavor intensity. Low sessionability. Moderate to high complexity.

My Opinion: I liked it. However, I would have much preferred it without the sourness; I don’t mind funk, but for some reason I’m not a fan of sourness. I liked it better closer to room temperature, but even then it still had the sourness on the finish. The bittersweet apple flavor and aging was great though.

Most Similar to: English cider (rich bittersweet apples, tannic, funky), with a hint of Spanish sidra (sour, citrus)

Closing Notes: I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to try these special releases not available locally – I’m spoiled with these samples!

Have you tried any of the Angry Orchard special releases? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Rosé

March 14, 2018March 14, 2018 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Rosé cider, rose, tasting notes

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).

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?

Angry Orchard Pear Cider

October 30, 2017October 27, 2017 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, pear, pear cider, perry, tasting notes

Review of Angry Orchard’s Pear Cider. This is a new release. See the press release here. Note that this isn’t perry as it is made from both pears and apples. I’ve previously sampled their Crisp Apple, Traditional Dry, Elderflower, Summer Honey, The Muse, Iceman, Stone Dry, The Old Fashioned, Knotty Pear, Walden Hollow, Easy Apple, Understood in Motion 01, Tapped Maple, Spiced Apple, Maple Wooden Sleeper, and Understood in Motion 02.

Cider: Pear Cider
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial pear cider made from dessert apples & pears

Availability: wide release, year round, since October 2017 (they have a Cider Finder)

Cider Description: Angry Orchard Pear Cider is delicately crafted to highlight the mellow sweetness of pears. Using apples and pears grown in the US, this hard cider blends ripe pear taste with crisp apple notes for a well-rounded and smooth drink.

Made from pear varieties including Bartlett, D’Anjou, and Bosc, and apple varieties including Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith.

Ingredients: hard cider, water, cane sugar, malic acid, pear juice from concentrate, natural flavor, carbon dioxide, and sulfites

Price: n/a (retails for $7.99-9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: a cidery rep contacted me

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Still (no carbonation). Smells of pear juice and apple juice.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins. Notes of pear, pineapple, green apple, and mango. Long tart finish. Low to moderate pear flavor and complexity. Low apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability.

My Opinion: I liked it. The finish was really surprising though, as the tartness lingered much more than I’d expect (maybe the malic acid?). It was easy to drink and it didn’t bore me, although tasted a bit commercial.

Most Similar to: Crispin Pacific Pear. Or, for a craft choice, Longdrop Tanager Pear Cider. Or in between, Flatbed Pear Cider.

Closing Notes: I was told that they will also still continue to make their Orchard’s Edge Knotty Pear (a pear cider with cardamom and oak barrel aging).

Have you tried any pear ciders? What did you think?

Understood in Motion 02 (Angry Orchard & EZ Orchards Collaboration)

September 4, 2017September 1, 2017 cidersays Angry Orchard, EZ Orchards, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, collaboration, EZ Orchards, hard cider, tasting notes, Understood in Motion

Review of Understood in Motion 02, Angry Orchard’s second release in the collaboration series, this time with EZ Orchards. The first was with Eden Specialty Ciders and released nearly a year ago (see my review of Understood in Motion 01 here).

Cider: Understood in Motion 02
Cidery: Angry Orchard & EZ Orchards
Cidery Location: Walden NY & Salem OR
ABV: 7.2%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged bottles
Style: American craft cider from bittersweet & heirloom apple varieties, wild yeast fermented, partially Cognac barrel aged, dry & still

Availability: Angry Orchard’s facility in Walden NY and at select locations in Oregon, released August 2017

Cider Description: The east meets west coast with Understood in Motion 02, a collaboration between Angry Orchard Hard Cider and E.Z. Orchards Cidre. The cider is a homage to style, tradition, and a shared respect for the integrity of the fruit. Apples used are Bittersweet Muscadet de Lense and Marie Menard from Oregon, and heirloom, acid-forward Gold Rush and Northern Spy from New York. The fruit was naturally fermented in a process that requires very little intervention but lots of careful attention.

Angry Orchard’s Ryan Burk and EZ Orchards’ Kevin Zielinski worked together on this cider over the last year. This article has more information.

Price: n/a (retails for $25)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about it online.

First Impression: Still (no carbonation). Light pumpkin yellow hue. Smells mild, of citrus and must.

Tasting Notes: Semi-dry to dry. Light to medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. Hints of bitterness, sourness, and funk. Notes of lemon, grapefruit, straw, cork, honey, must, and wood. Moderate length warming finish, which is when a slight Congac flavor shines through. Low apple flavor. Moderate to high complexity. Low to moderate sessionability. Low to moderate flavor intensity. Low barrel influence. Low to moderate spirit influence.

My Opinion: I liked it, but didn’t love it. I was hoping for more bittersweet apple flavor. Although this definitely wasn’t a fully heirloom apple cider (as the acidity was muted), the bittersweets didn’t get to shine through, as it was lacking their richness. The flavor notes I got from this were really interesting and unique.

Suggestions: I liked this cider best in between fridge and room temperature, as the complexity increased as it warmed up. I think it would taste good with something creamy, like cheese or a cream-based soup.

Most Similar to: A mild farmhouse-style cider, such as releases from Wrangletown, Dragon’s Head Wild Fermented, and Angry Orchard Walden Hollow.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to try these special releases not available locally – I’m spoiled with these samples!

Have you tried any of the Angry Orchard special releases? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Maple Wooden Sleeper

May 1, 2017May 1, 2017 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Crown Maple, hard cider, maple, tasting notes, Wooden Sleeper

Review of Angry Orchard’s Maple Wooden Sleeper, a bourbon barrel aged cider in collaboration with Crown Maple, a maple syrup company. Here is an article with more information on the cider, and here is an article about recent Angry Orchard’s Innovation Cider House releases.

Cider: Wooden Sleeper
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY
ABV: 12.0%
How Supplied: 750ml waxed top bottles
Style: American cider (made from bittersweet & bittersharp apples), with Crown Maple syrup, bourbon barrel aged for 5 12 months

Availability: only at Angry Orchard’s Innovation Cider House and Crown Maple’s tasting room, 400 bottles released March 2017

Cider Description: For this very special and limited cider, we collaborated with our friends up the road at Crown Maple by using their estate grown organic maple syrup to blend with our barrel aged Wooden Sleeper. The resulting cider is deep, complex, and layered with notes of oak, bourbon, and of course, New York maple syrup. Maple Wooden Sleeper is best shared with family and friends to finish out a great meal. Enjoy now or cellar for years to come. Cheers!

Cidery Description: The cider makers at Angry Orchard have been experimenting with apple varieties, ingredients and processes to develop hard cider recipes for more than 20 years. The cider makers have traveled the world to find the best apples for cider making and chose specific varieties – like French bittersweet apples from Normandy, culinary apples from Italy and the Pacific Northwest U.S. based on each cider’s desired flavor profile.

In fall 2015, Angry Orchard opened a new home for research and development on a historic 60-acre apple orchard in the Walden, NY. There, the cider makers will continue to drive experimentation at the Innovation Cider House, and drinkers are welcome to visit for samples of exclusive ciders made on-site. Despite the recent growth of hard cider in the US, the category is still small and relatively unknown. Angry Orchard is committed to drinker education and awareness-building to help grow the category for all craft cider makers.

Price: n/a ($25 retail)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I asked my Angry Orchard rep about it. They spoil me!

First Impression: Dark amber hue (natural). Still (no carbonation). Smells rich, of caramel, maple, oak, and alcohol.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. Low tannins. Low bitterness. No sourness or funk. Notes of caramel, brown sugar, maple, oak, vanilla, bourbon, and molasses. Long warming finish. Low maple flavor. Low oak flavor. Moderate bourbon flavor. Very low sessionability. Low to moderate apple flavor. High complexity and flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Amazing! This is my favorite type of cider – rich, complex, and boozy. However, this definitely won’t be for everyone, and isn’t very cider-like.

Most Similar to: Alpenfire Smoke, which is also a rich, complex, and boozy cider (although Alpenfire’s cider is slightly more refined tasting). This didn’t have as much maple flavor as the other maple ciders I’ve had, likely as it had so much else going on too. The other maple ciders I’ve had are Angry Orchard Tapped Maple, Seattle Cider Oaked Maple, and Woodchuck Campfire Pancakes. I’m actually surprised I haven’t seen more ciders with maple, as I think it is a great combination. Rich and complex ciders are my favorite kind. I’d love to try Downeast’s Maple cider, but they aren’t available out West.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got the chance to try this special release. This is the second batch of Wooden Sleeper (the first didn’t have maple), and another is already in the works.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Wooden Sleeper? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Spiced Apple

March 3, 2017February 26, 2017 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Spiced Apple, spiced cider, tasting notes

Review of Angry Orchard’s Spiced Apple, their newest limited release cider, with pie spices, only available in their winter variety pack.

Cider: Spiced Apple
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 5.0%
How Supplied: 12 pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider made from dessert apple varieties, with pie spices

Availability: January thru April, wide release, in the Winter Orchard Sampler Variety Pack (with Crisp Apple, Easy Apple, Stone Dry, Green Apple, Tapped Maple, and Spiced Apple)

Cider Description: Angry Orchard Spiced Apple was Inspired by the spices in this classic dessert and connection to the American cider making tradition. This hard cider achieves its balanced profile by combining bright and festive warming spices and a blend of culinary and bittersweet apples. This new limited release style is perfect for evenings with friends and family during the last months of winter.

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

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

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

First Impression: Light amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of sweet concentrated apple with pie spices.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to sweet. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Moderate acidity. No sourness, bitterness, funk, or tannins. Notes of concentrated apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey. Moderate length finish. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate flavor intensity. High sessionability. Low complexity. Moderate spice intensity.

My Opinion: This is a pretty typical sweet spiced cider, which isn’t one of my favorite styles. I didn’t find any faults with it though.

Most Similar to: Most spiced ciders I’ve had have been drier, like Elemental Seasonal Spiced Apple, 2 Towns Nice & Naughty, Carlton Cyderworks Sugar and Spice, Sonoma Cider The Sleigh, and AEppelTreow Sparrow Spiced. D’s Wicked Baked Apple was on-par with this one as far as sweetness, but was more baked apple than spiced.

Closing Notes: Angry Orchard still appears to carry their Cinnful Apple, which is a fall seasonal, while this is a one-off only available in this winter’s variety pack.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Spiced Apple? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Tapped Maple

February 27, 2017February 26, 2017 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, maple, Tapped Maple, tasting notes

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

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?

Angry Orchard & Eden Specialty Ciders Collaboration – Understood in Motion: 01

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016 cidersays Eden, review Angry Orchard, barrel aged, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Eden, hard cider, tasting notes, Understood in Motion

Review of the first collaboration between Angry Orchard & Eden Specialty Ciders, Understood in Motion: 01. It is the first in a series of planned releases, made by head cidermaker Ryan Burk of Angry Orchard and co-owner & cidermaker Eleanor Leger of Eden Specialty Ciders. It is named for the motion of apple harvest and the cider making process.

The apples were grown and pressed in Vermont at Eden’s cidery, then the juice was shipped to Angry Orchard’s Innovation cidery in New York for fermentation and six months of aging (some in tanks and some in Calvados barrels). After that, Ryan and Eleanor met to blend the cider with some three year old Eden ice cider.

Here is an article with more information on the cider, and here is an article about Angry Orchard’s Innovation Cider House releases in 2016.

Cider: Understood in Motion: 01
Cidery: Angry Orchard & Eden Specialty Ciders
Cidery Location: Walden NY & Newport VT
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged champagne bottles
Style: American craft cider from Vermont heirloom apple varieties, a mix of tank & Calvados barrel aging, and mixed with ice cider

Availability: Limited release, only at Angry Orchard’s Walden New York Innovation Cider House, since November 18

Cider Description: This cider was born of friendship among two Northeast cider makers, as well as a shared commitment to raising awareness of the American cider industry. With Understood in Motion 01, we worked with our friends at Eden Specialty Ciders (VT) to combine techniques and favorite ingredients to develop something completely new, while paying homage to the American cider making tradition.

This cider is made from a carefully selected blend of heirloom apples from Vermont, including Ananas Reinette and D’Arcy, resulting in a still, semi-dry cider with balanced acidity and low tannin, aged in Calvados barrels for 6 months.

It recently won Gold in the Cider/Mead/ Perry at the FoBAB Competition.

Price: n/a (retails for $25)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: I read about it online.

First Impression: Light pumpkin amber hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells rich, of brown sugar, honey, and baked apples.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. Moderate tartness and acidity. Low tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of baked apple, brown sugar, honey, lemon, and grapefruit. Moderate length finish. Moderate to high apple flavor. Moderate sessionability. Moderate flavor intensity. Moderate complexity. Low oak influence.

My Opinion: I really enjoyed it. I was expecting more tannins and less citrus, but it worked. It tasted like a high acidity citrusy cider mixed with some rich ice cider. I actually enjoyed it even more the second day. Because it is still, it didn’t have carbonation to go flat. The acidity also seemed to calm down a bit, bringing out more richness.

Most Similar to: This reminded me of Eden’s Semi-Dry cider (which also mixes ice cider into dry cider), as well as Slyboro Old Sin.

Closing Notes: I feel privileged to have got a bottle of this limited release cider! Special thanks to Diana Mask at Angry Orchard for hooking me up. These two cideries would have been my last guess for a collaboration match up, but I can see how it benefits them both. Angry Orchard is trying to improve their image from just a mass market sweet simple cider maker. Eden is a small artisan cidery startup without the budget for marketing campaigns or nationwide cider releases. I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

Have you tried Angry Orchard & Eden Specialty Ciders Collaboration – Understood in Motion: 01? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Easy Apple

August 30, 2016August 29, 2016 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Easy Apple, hard cider, sessionable, tasting notes

Review of Angry Orchard’s Easy Apple, their newest release, added to their core ciders. It is marketed as a less sweet and easy drinking (low ABV) cider.

Cider: Easy Apple
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 4.2%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider made from dessert & cider apple varieties

Availability: Currently (since early Aug) year round in RI, WA, OR, ID, MT, and AK, and it will be in variety packs Aug-Dec 2016.

Cider Description: Angry Orchard Easy Apple is a less sweet, refreshing and easy-to-drink hard cider. It is unfiltered with an apple-forward taste, slightly hazy appearance and a refreshingly dry finish. It never weighs you down, making it the perfect drink choice for those long, relaxing days.

Apple Varieties: Dessert (Braeburn, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Gala) and French Bittersweet (Dabinett, Harry Master Jersey, Frequin Rouge, and Bisquet)

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

Price: n/a (but retails for $8.99-$9.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Slightly hazy amber orange hue. Still (no carbonation). Smells of apple juice with a hint of sharp apples and citrus.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet to semi-dry. Medium bodied. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. Hints of tannins. No bitterness, sourness, or funk. Notes of apple juice, citrus (orange), honey, and honeycomb. Hints of richer tannic cider apple flavor. Quick finish. High sessionability. Moderate to high apple flavor. Low complexity. Low flavor intensity.

My Opinion: Better than I expected–I actually enjoyed this. It was very easy to drink and refreshing. It was very simple, but had hints of complexity (I would have liked to see a higher percentage of cider apples). While it remains on the sweet size, it isn’t too sweet for me (ie. I could actually drink more than one of these). Too bad these drier (superior in my opinion) varieties don’t make it to restaurants and bars and such like their flagship Crisp Apple does. However, I’m not all that pleased with the ingredient list (its definitely commercial).

Most Similar to: 2 Towns Out Cider, One Tree Crisp Apple, and Downeast Original, which are apple-forward and less filtered. Easy Apple also reminds me a bit of Angry Orchard’s Traditional Dry variety, which I think they discontinued, which was a similar sweetness level and seemed to have hints of cider apple flavor. The honeycomb notes reminded me of Long Drop Vanilla Honey.

Closing Notes: This was surprisingly tasty. Angry Orchard is definitely trying to keep up with changing expectations in the cider market, and they remain the market leader by far.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Easy Apple? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Walden Hollow

July 11, 2016July 9, 2016 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, Ciderhouse Collection, hard cider, New York, Walden Hollow, wild fermented

Review of Angry Orchard’s newest Ciderhouse Collection selection, Walden Hollow, named for their cidery headquarters and orchard in Walden New York. It is made exclusively from apples grown in New York state, including some from Angry Orchard’s own 60 acre orchard. I’ve previously tried a number of ciders from them; see here.

Cider: Walden Hollow
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Cincinnati OH
ABV: 8.0%
How Supplied: 750ml corked bottles
Style: American commercial cider made from New York state dessert & heirloom apple varieties, wild yeast fermentation

Availability: year round, wide release, limited availability, with plans to release a new batch each Spring

Cider Description: Walden Hollow is an annual vintage cider made with our cider maker’s choice of heirloom New York state apples varieties, including apples from the Angry Orchard in Walden, NY. The 2016 edition is a mildly tannic, off dry cider with intense apple aroma and notes of butterscotch and almond. The cider makers wanted to capture the essence of wild fermentation, but without the funkiness or sour qualities sometimes associated with the process.

With Walden Hollow, Angry Orchard’s cider makers fermented the cider with wild yeast to evoke earthy, farmhouse qualities that complement the cider’s clean finish. This cider has a bright aroma of fresh peeled apple skins, a rich full body, medium sweetness in taste with tartness characteristic of New York State.

Their Ciderhouse Collection also includes Iceman, The Muse, and Strawman.

Apple Varieties: Rome, Jonathan, Macintosh, Rhode Island Greening, Golden Russet, Newtown Pippin, and Northern Spy

Interestingly enough the press release they sent only mentioned the heirloom apple varieties (“apple varieties include…”), but their website also listed the dessert apple varieties.

Price: n/a (retails for $14.99-$17.99)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: n/a

First Impression: Bright medium straw yellow. Still (no carbonation). Smells sour, of citrus, honey, and floral.

Tasting Notes: Dry to semi-dry. Light to medium bodied. Mild sourness, funk, bitterness, and tannins. Moderate to high tartness and acidity. Mouth-puckering sourness and tartness, but the sourness is only at the front of the palate, not the back like a true sour cider (farmhouse-style or Sidra). Notes of lemon, grapefruit, honey, vinegar, hay, floral, and mineral. Moderate length finish. Low to moderate apple flavor. Low sessionability.

My Opinion: I don’t really appreciate this style of cider (sourness and funk isn’t my cup of tea), but those who like this style will probably enjoy it.

Most Similar to: This seems to be a less intense (less sour) version of traditional farmhouse-style cider (like from Millstone Cellars) or Spanish Sidra.

Closing Notes: I’m glad I got to try this cider. Angry Orchard really branched out with it…I’m curious how it will be received by their typical customers.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Walden Hollow? What did you think?

Angry Orchard – Orchard’s Edge – Knotty Pear

March 8, 2016March 8, 2016 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, cider, cider review, cider tasting, hard cider, Knotty Pear, oak, pear

Review of Knotty Pear, one of two new releases from Angry Orchard, part of their new Orchard’s Edge series, an “innovative line of ciders developed at the orchard”. The series also includes The Old Fashioned, which I reviewed here. This is their latest release since Stone Dry, part of their Core selection, which I reviewed here.

Cider: Orchard’s Edge Knotty Pear
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples with pear juice & cardamom, oak aged

Availability: Year round, nationwide, released in late February

Cider Description: Knotty Pear’s main ingredient is juice from American apples, and also features pear juice, which adds a new dimension to the cider, creating a pleasantly dry flavor. Cardamom imparts a slight spicy flavor. With subtle notes of citrus and mint. This cider and showcases fresh acidity, lasting tannin, and a pleasantly dry finish from oak aging.

Apple Varieties: Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith

Pear Varieties: Bartlett, Doyenne de Comice, Bosc, D’Anjou

Ingredients: Hard cider, water, cane sugar, pear juice from concentrate, malic acid, natural flavor, cardamom, carbon dioxide, sulfites

Price: n/a (suggested retail of $10.99-$11.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: Angry Orchard sent me two bottles of Knotty Pear and two bottles of The Old Fashioned (and my favorite, large quantities of bubble wrap!). Oddly enough this was a couple weeks after I started seeing info about these online from folks trying it. Things do take awhile to get to me in Seattle all the way from the East coast though.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Nearly still. Smells mild, of sweet apples & pears with a hint of herbal spice.

Tasting Notes: Semi-sweet. Low tartness. Low to moderate acidity. No sourness, bitterness, tannins, or funk. Medium bodied. Notes of sweet baked apples & pears, spice, citrus, and mint. Moderate length finish. Very low oak influence. Moderate apple flavor. Moderate sessionability.

My Opinion: The cardamom in this one is interesting. It adds some complexity, but I’m not really a fan of the base pear cider, which is a bit fake/syrupy tasting.

Most Similar to: The slight mint notes remind me of Jester & Judge Columbia Belle, although the flavor besides apple with that one is peach, not pear. The base pear cider is rather similar to most commercial pear ciders I’ve had.

Closing Notes: I think Angry Orchard is making an attempt at stepping up their game. However, I’ll take them more seriously when the ingredient list doesn’t include water, sugar, and natural flavor. I liked their The Old Fashioned better than this one.

Have you tried Angry Orchard Knotty Pear? What did you think?

Angry Orchard – Orchard’s Edge – The Old Fashioned

March 7, 2016March 8, 2016 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, bourbon, Cherry, cider, cider review, hard cider, oak, Old Fashioned, orange, Orchard's Edge

Review of The Old Fashioned, one of two new releases from Angry Orchard, part of their new Orchard’s Edge series, an “innovative line of ciders developed at the orchard”. It is modeled after the Old Fashioned cocktail, which often includes whiskey, water, bitters, sugar, and muddled cherries & oranges. The series also includes Knotty Pear, which I reviewed here. This is their latest release since Stone Dry, part of their Core selection, which I reviewed here.

Cider: Orchard’s Edge The Old Fashioned
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 6.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
Style: American commercial cider from dessert apples aged with charred bourbon barrel staves, dried cherries, and orange peel

Availability: Year round, nationwide, released in late February

Cider Description: The Old Fashioned is made with a blend of American apples and is aged on oak with dried tart cherries, California grown navel orange peel, and charred bourbon barrel staves, offering citrus and cherry aromas with a bright apple flavor and slight vanilla notes. It has lasting tannins and a full, round mouthfeel.

Apple Varieties: Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith

Ingredients: Hard cider, water, cane sugar, orange peel, malic acid, cherries, natural flavor, carbon dioxide, and sulfites

Price: n/a (suggested retail of $10.99-$11.99 / six pack)
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: Angry Orchard sent me two bottles of Old Fashioned and two bottles of Knotty Pear (and my favorite, large quantities of bubble wrap!). Oddly enough this was a couple weeks after I started seeing info about these online from folks trying it. Things do take awhile to get to me in Seattle all the way from the East coast though.

First Impression: Medium straw yellow. Still (no carbonation). Smells acidic, slightly sour, with hints of oak and orange.

Tasting Notes: On the sweeter side of semi-dry. Medium bodied. It starts with acidity and finishes with fruitiness (although not specifically cherry), citrus, oak, and honey. Moderate acidity. Mild tartness. No bitterness, sourness, funk, or tannins (the sourness I smelled didn’t continue into the flavor). Moderate length finish with slight warming and hints of bourbon. Moderate apple flavor. Mild oak influence.

My Opinion: Although it is far from craft cider, this is one of my current favorite commercial ciders, along with the new Woodchuck Barrel Aged Cherry. It has a bit of complexity, isn’t crazy sweet, and isn’t too “fake” tasting either. Definitely a better option than their Crisp Apple and even Stone Dry (although I think their Traditional Dry is pretty ok). Unfortunately I only ever see Crisp Apple when going out, which I won’t pay for as I think it tastes like alcoholic apple juice and I don’t get $4-$6 enjoyment out of a bottle.

Most Similar to: The citrus and oak notes remind me of ciders such as Schilling King’s Shilling and Crispin 15 Men, both of which were also fuller bodied.

Have you tried Angry Orchard The Old Fashioned? What did you think?

Angry Orchard Stone Dry

September 29, 2015September 27, 2015 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, bittersweet, cider, cider review, cider sample, cider tasting, hard cider, hard cider review, Stone Dry

Review of Angry Orchard’s newest variety, Stone Dry. It is their driest Core selection, and described as a twist on English cider.

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 this for free. The only consideration I knowingly made was pushing this up in my cider review cue, considering it is a new release and the info may be helpful for folks deciding to purchase it. I love free stuff, especially cider! Want your cider or cider-related product reviewed here? Contact me.

They send me two bottles, a fact sheet, a note from head cider maker Ryan Burk, and a large quantity of bubble wrap (not pictured).

Cider: Stone Dry
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Walden NY (their new R&D facility)
Cider Production Locations: Cincinnati OH & Breingsville PA
ABV: 5.5%
How Supplied: six pack of 12oz bottles
(will also have limited draft availability to start, nationwide in 2016)

Ingredient List: Hard cider, water, sugar, apple juice concentrate, carbon dioxide, malic acid and sulfites to preserve freshness

Availability: year round, wide release, launched 09/24/2015 (part of their Core collection)

Fact Sheet from Angry Orchard: For more than two decades, the cider makers at Angry Orchard have been experimenting with ingredients from all over the world and tinkering with recipes to perfect the craft of cider making in the U.S. In the UK – where cider is 15% of the beer segment, as opposed to around 1% in the U.S. – traditional English dry ciders have been around for centuries and are a cultural mainstay. These styles are known for their use of traditional bittersweet apple varieties and showcasing naturally occurring tannins that create a drying effect on the palate.

Angry Orchard Stone Dry – the driest cider in Angry Orchard’s core collection – is an American interpretation of the traditional English dry cider style. It offers a bright apple aroma, juicy flavor, and a clean dry finish, showcasing an intricate balance between the sweetness and acidity of culinary apples and the tannins of traditional cider making apples. The traditional apples chosen by the cider makers are European bittersweet varieties like Dabinett, Binet Rouge, and Harry Masters Jersey, which contribute to the high tannic character and dry finish. The result is a refreshing, slightly puckering cider with a drying finish, most often felt on the middle of your tongue and the front part of your mouth.

While most of the juice from apples in the cider is fermented, Angry Orchard’s cider makers add a bit of non-fermented bittersweet apple juice into the cider during the post-fermentation stage to help achieve this cider’s balanced, dry taste. This results in Stone Dry’s fuller tannic mouthfeel as well as perceived dryness and robust bittersweet aromatic notes – much like a very ripe apple.

As the palates of American cider drinkers have continued to grow in sophistication and evolve with the increasing popularity of hard cider here, Angry Orchard has developed a broad range of cider styles for drinkers to try and to showcase what American cider can be, including the newest year-round offering.

Angry Orchard Stone Dry pairs well with a wide variety of foods, from porcine plates to seafood dishes. This take on a traditional European dry style cider is an excellent accompaniment to charcuterie, including cured meats and aged cheeses, and is a great introduction to fall foods and heartier dishes or stews with root vegetables. It can also be used as an ingredient in recipes, such as mussels steamed in Angry Orchard Stone Dry cider.

Price: retails for $7.50 a six pack in my area, although Angry Orchard’s fact sheet said $8.99-10.99
Where Bought: n/a
Where Drank: home
How Found: on my doorstep

First Impression: Amber hue with very little carbonation. They got quite a bit of color out of this one. Dry “cheap” apple scent….I just didn’t pick up much nose to this one.

Opinion: Semi-dry. Mild bitterness, tannins, astringency, and acidity. Simple flavor. Almost watered down tasting. I get a bit of that bittersweet apple flavor, but this doesn’t remind me of English style cider at all (which to me often have a really rich flavor). Quick finish. Definitely more drinkable than their other varieties I’ve had (which is most of them), but I’m not impressed. More flavor would definitely be nice. Its unfortunate they use apple juice concentrate (and water & sugar oddly enough!). It tastes like they were trying to eek some tannins out of dessert apples, although they note the use of bittersweet apples.

I find it interesting their description indicates more a drying flavor (which I’d call astringency) than dryness (lack of sweetness). I actually through their fact sheet was kinda funny, coming from the biggest commercial cidermaker in the U.S. It seems they are trying to reconnect with craft cidermaking, between releasing this variety and moving into an R&D facility with a 60 acre orchard earlier this year (article). They have plans to open a tasting room there in the fall for their small batch creations.

Comparison to Woodchuck Gumption: It seems this may be Angry Orchard’s response to Woodchuck’s latest hit, Gumption (in addition to responding to requests for a drier cider in general). So, I thought a comparison was in order. Note that I didn’t however have a bottle of Gumption available (I may have to get one for a side by side test with my second bottle of Stone Dry), so I went by memory and notes. They both incorporate bittersweet apples and aim to make a drier cider for their core collection. Stone Dry comes across as significantly drier than Gumption (even more so than the 7 vs. 13 grams of sugar per 12 oz would indicate). Where it gets interesting is the calories, 150 for Stone Dry vs. 220 for Gumption (for equivalent ABV). I found Gumption to be more flavorful and more rich in general. Stone Dry includes concentrate (and water & sugar) where Gumption doesn’t. However, Gumption is listed to have “natural flavor”. Gumption gets my vote as far as likability, although for someone that wants the driest easily found commercial cider available, Stone Dry may be a good choice. The driest commercial cider I’ve ever seen by the way is Ace Joker, which only has an impressive 3 grams of sugar per 12 oz, but it isn’t quite as readily available (I have a bottle of Joker at home to try).

Closing Notes: Not bad. Definitely drinkable. If a bar had this and no other cider, I’d buy it. I won’t on the other hand pay for Angry Orchard’s Crisp Apple variety, which is too syrupy for my liking. Stone Dry is an above average commercial offering, but I wouldn’t in any way say this is a craft cider (neither would I describe Woodchuck as craft though).

Have you tried Angry Orchard Stone Dry? What did you think?

Angry Orchard The Muse

September 25, 2015September 20, 2015 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, barrel aged, cider, Cider House Collection, cider review, hard cider, hard cider review, Iceman, Strawman, The Muse

Review of Angry Orchard’s The Muse, part of their Cider House Collection (along with Iceman and Strawman). I had forgotten about this bottle, as for some reason it was in with our champagne & white wine, instead of with my ciders. So, especially since I didn’t know how long ago I bought it, I thought I’d better drink this one!

Cider: The Muse
Cidery: Angry Orchard
Cidery Location: Cincinnati OH
ABV: 7.7%
How Supplied: 750ml corked & caged champagne bottle

Availability: wide release, year round

Description from Angry Orchard: Our Cider House Collection includes rare and innovative ciders, harvested from our cider makers’ passion and creativity. To bring you these new distinct styles, we experimented with juice blends, wood aging, fermentation techniques, and other traditional processes learned from 15 years of cider making exploration and craftsmanship.

Inspired by the festive nature of slightly sweet demi-sec champagnes and sparkling wines, The Muse is a bubbly, effervescent cider made from traditional culinary and bittersweet apples and aged on French oak. The cider is sweet upfront with a juicy apple aroma and bright acidity, and slightly drying on the finish with a lingering sweet apple note. The French oak adds a subtle wood impression, imparting notes of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and hints of vanilla. 7.7% ABV.

Price: ~$15
Where Bought: Costco? Its pretty widely available though, even at the supermarkets near me.
Where Drank: home
How Found: Browsing. I’ve had The Muse and Iceman probably a few times each.

First Impression: Darker amber. High foam & carbonation. Cooked apple scent.

Opinion: Sweet to very sweet. Tastes like a sparkling ice wine. High carbonation. Moderate acidity. Medium bodied. Effervescent mouthfeel. No noticeable bitterness, tartness, or astringency. I don’t pick up any barrel influence or the spices that are mentioned in the description. I do however pick up some bittersweet apple, cooked apple, and vanilla notes. There are some poor syrupy and juice-like qualities to this cider. Longer length finish. Slightly less sweet than Iceman. In contrast, Iceman has a higher ABV, some discernible barrel influence, and less carbonation.

Most Similar to: Angry Orchard’s Iceman. Check out this post I did with mini reviews of all the Angry Orchard ciders I’ve tried.

Closing Notes: This cider is pretty good, but I think much better can be had for the money. Also, I’d really rather support a local craft cidery. This is however a good introduction to a more craft-like cider product for those with limited cider availability and for those whose palates like a sweet cider. I have tended towards drier ciders lately and this one is a bit too sweet now for me.

Have you tried Angry Orchard The Muse? What did you think?

Hard Cider News Edition 1

July 12, 2015July 12, 2015 cidersays news Angry Orchard, awards, best cider, chemistry, cider, cider bars, cider styles, hard cider, infographic, links, news, wine, Woodchuck

Here are some recent hard cider news/articles/links I found interesting:

Cider Bars are Taking Root (New York Times)
Cider bars, what to expect, who frequents them

How Not Wanting to Waste Apples Led to a Successful Hard Cider Business (Yahoo News)
Profile on Reverend Nat’s Cider (Nat West)

Woodchuck Hard Cider Launches First US Advertising Campaign (PR News Wire)
Titled “Why Woodchuck”, it showcases Woodchuck as America’s original & authentic hard cidery.

Can a Brit Find Good Cider in America? (BBC News)
Profiles some of the (major) differences between British and U.S. cider and the current U.S. cider boom.

Ciders give America’s Favorite Fruits a Chance to Sparkle (Wisconsin Gazette)
Includes profiles on several U.S. cideries.

Angry Orchard Breaks Ground on Cidery in Walden (Westfair Communications)
Plans to make the new facility in New York their home for cider research, with a cidery for small batch experimentation.

Drink This Now: Hard Cider That is as Sophisticated as Wine (Bloomberg)
Cider growth, cider bars, and five modern American cider recommendations

Freshly Pressed: Winners of the Pacific Northwest Cider Awards Announced (Northwest Cider)
42 winners from 140 entries. As special congrats to one of my favorites, Spire Mountain, for going 3/3.

Taste Test: 20 of America’s Best Artisinal (Alcoholic) Ciders (Eater)
Recommendations by category/dryness. Includes one of my favorites, Rev Nat’s Revival (although unlike most of Rev Nat’s varieties I don’t pick up any similarities to beer). Several other PNW cideries were also included: Traditions Ciderworks, 2 Towns, and Snowdrift.

Cider Styles Primer (North American Brewers Association)
Discussion of various cider styles, including draft, Farmhouse, New England, French, English, Perry, and Specialty.

The Chemistry of Cider (Compound Chem)
An interesting infographic about the chemistry of fermenting hard cider, including acids, tannins, aromas, and sweeteners.

Angry Orchard Crisp Apple, Traditional Dry, Elderflower, Summer Honey, Iceman, & The Muse

July 1, 2015July 12, 2015 cidersays Angry Orchard, review Angry Orchard, apple, apple cider, cider, cider review, Crisp Apple, Elderflower, hard apple cider, hard cider, hard cider review, Iceman, review, Summer Honey, The Muse, Traditional Dry

This is a mini review of the Angry Orchard ciders I’ve tried. To be honest, I’m not a big of a fan of Angry Orchard…I much prefer Woodchuck in general. Unfortunately, Angry Orchard is all there is to be had at many restaurants & bars, and is what you see at just about every grocery & liquor store. As of last year, Angry Orchard had a 56.8% market share in the hard cider category (compared to 10.5% for Woodchuck, the second most popular brand), despite only being released nationwide in 2012. Before Angry Orchard, Woodchuck was the market leader.

Crisp Apple: This is their most popular variety, and found everywhere. It is quite sweet…I think moreso than Woodchuck Amber. The flavor to me is a bit syrupy and fake tasting. I won’t drink it unless its free!

Traditional Dry: I like this variety much better then Crisp Apple, and still wouldn’t call it dry, or even semi-sweet. Without so much sweetness a bit more true apple flavor comes through. Unfortunately this one isn’t found in restaurants & bars like Crisp Apple is.

Elderflower: This was their summer release in 2014 (this year it is Summer Honey). It was actually quite good & unique. I would almost call this dry, but not quite. It has an herbal/floral flavor. Woodchuck Oopsy Daisy is the most similar, which I think I slightly prefer.

Summer Honey: This is their summer release this year. I wasn’t a fan. Again, the syrupy flavor, except this time, honey. I didn’t pick up any floral notes as were described. Its not quite as sweet as their Crisp Apple though. Thankfully I only bought a single bottle.

Iceman: This is part of their Cider House Collection, and runs around $15 for a large 750ml bottle, 10% ABV. It is a barrel aged ice cider (made from fermenting frozen apple juice concentrate). I think even for ice cider it is a bit too sweet, a small glass after dinner is pretty tasty. The flavor is quite good, with a mellow oakiness and some vanilla. The bottle is also quite pretty (hey, that is what people notice!). However, I think consumers can do better for the price, as there are a number of good craft ciders available for less money. For folks who don’t have much craft cider availability in their area, and want to try something different, this could be a good choice though.

The Muse: This is part of their Cider House Collection, and runs around $15 for a large 750ml bottle, 7.7% ABV. It is reminiscent of sweet sparking wine (highly carbonated). Again, very sweet, but not quite as much as Iceman. It is also barrel aged, but I don’t really taste it. Apparently it has spices in it, but I also don’t pick that up. I like it though, even if I can’t really identify the flavors. As my cider palate has matured to like slightly less sweet ciders, I prefer this slightly more than Iceman for some reason (maybe the bubbles?). Again though, I think better can be had for the money…plus I prefer to support local cideries instead of Angry Orchard wherever possible, which is owned by the Boston Beer Company.

Angry Orchard’s other varieties (which I haven’t tried):

Apple Ginger (regular release; here is a review from Fermentedly Challenged)
Green Apple (regular release; here is a review from Drink Hacker)
Cinnfull Apple (cinnamon spiced cider available August-March; here is a review from Through the Drinking Glass)
Hop’n Mad Apple (hopped; regular release; their newest cider besides Summer Honey; here is a review from Along Came a Cider)
Strawman (Cider House Collection; runs around $15 for 750ml and 10% ABV; a dry barrel aged Farmhouse-style cider; here is a review from Cider Sage and here is a review from Bad Rider Reviews)

Cider Says Weekly Preview

June 29, 2015July 12, 2015 cidersays preview Ace, Angry Orchard, anthem, atlas, cider, Crispin, eaglemount, hard cider, liberty, nv cider, Woodchuck, worley's

What posts to expect in the upcoming week at Cider Says:

Monday: Woodchuck Oopsy Daisy cider review
Tuesday: Cider at Seattle International Beerfest (July 10-12)
Wednesday: Angry Orchard mini cider reviews (Crisp Apple, Traditional Dry, Elderflower, Summer Honey, Iceman, & The Muse)
Thursday: Ace Pineapple cider review
Friday/Saturday: mystery new cider review
- I’m still deciding what to try first, as (unfortunately for my bank account) I bought 9! new ciders over the weekend and still have 7 remaining: Eaglemount Quince, NV Cider Half Past Prudent, Worley’s Premium Vintage, Atlas Hard Apple Cider, Liberty Manchurian Crabapple, Anthem Traditional, and Crispin Browns Lane Imported English Cider.

Stay tuned, and remember to follow by e-mail (sidebar on right, or at bottom of page on mobile devices) or follow on WordPress (top left bar) to be notified of new posts here at Cider Says. Have a great week!

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