New Artisanal Cider Rolls Out: Angry Orchard™ Hard Cider Now Available Across the US

CINCINNATI, April 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Angry Orchard Hard Cider is now available throughout the U.S., after cider drinkers recognized its artisanal quality and thirsted for more. The cider makers at Angry Orchard experimented for years, exploring apple varieties that would create the highest quality hard ciders.  Their search led to Europe's orchards, where apples ideal for cider have been cultivated for centuries, giving Angry Orchard ciders their distinctly crisp and refreshing taste. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120405/NE82663 ) 

"We have spent years crafting the perfect blend of carefully selected ingredients to create three signature, highest-quality ciders.  We're proud that the entire country can now taste the 'fruits of our labor,'" says David Sipes, Cider Maker for Angry Orchard.

Three gluten-free Angry Orchard varietals offer remarkably crisp, refreshing and distinct flavors for any palate:

• Crisp Apple (5.0% ABV), balances natural apple sweetness with a subtle dryness for a hard to resist crisp and refreshing, fruit-forward taste
• Apple Ginger (5.0% ABV), combines the ideal blend of fresh Nigerian ginger and apples for a sweet, yet slightly tart taste, distinct ginger aroma and warm finish; and for those looking for a traditional European cider
• Traditional Dry (5.5% ABV), made in the style of English draft ciders, imparts bittersweet and slightly spicy flavors with a bright apple aroma. Its dry body makes mouths pucker and look forward to another sip

Blending Italian culinary apples from the Alpine foothills with French bittersweet apples from Normandy, Angry Orchard cider makers have crafted the perfect flavor profiles through a lengthy fermentation process, including wood-aging for optimal complexity and balance.  Unlike ordinary apples, bittersweet apples are described as "angry" because of the tart and tannic characteristics they impart.  Culinary apples produce a fruit with a juicy, ripe apple character that, when combined with the bittersweet apples, results in an exceptional blend that contributes to the complex flavor profile of each Angry Orchard cider style.

The apple crop is harvested at the peak of flavor and ripeness.  Because every crop has its own personality, Angry Orchard cider makers taste every batch of juice, blending varieties to achieve the signature Angry Orchard flavor.

"The apples in Angry Orchard are not ordinary apples that you would buy in the grocery store," Sipes explains.  "Our cider apples are grown specifically for cider-making to ensure only the best quality apples make it into every barrel of Angry Orchard."

According to research from SymphonyIRI, hard cider sales grew 27 percent in 2011, making cider one of the fastest-growing alcoholic beverage categories in the U.S.  Angry Orchard was released earlier this year in New England, Colorado, Maryland and New York.  As a result of the overwhelmingly positive response, it is hitting shelves nationwide this month. Angry Orchard Crisp Apple is already the best-selling cider package in the northeast states where it is available.

Angry Orchard Hard Cider is available in 6-packs for a suggested retail price of $8.99, and on draft in restaurants and in pubs throughout the U.S.  To find where Angry Orchard is served near you, visit our "cider finder" at www.angryorchard.com/find-angry-orchard/.

Cider lovers can explore the orchard online at www.AngryOrchard.com, like us at www.Facebook.com/AngryOrchard, and follow us at www.twitter.com/AngryOrchard. 

About Angry Orchard:

Angry Orchard Cider Company's cider makers have been experimenting with apple varieties and unique flavors to develop cider recipes for more than 15 years. Angry Orchard's hard cider line-up -- Crisp Apple, Apple Ginger and Traditional Dry -- are made from hand-picked European apples. The juice then goes through a lengthy fermentation process, including oak-aging for optimal complexity and balance, before it is bottled. For more information, please visit www.AngryOrchard.com or like us at www.Facebook.com/AngryOrchard.

SOURCE Angry Orchard Cider Company