US cider maker Angry Orchard has tapped into one of North America’s most popular seasonal flavours: maple.
Available until April, the new Angry Orchard tapped maple cider blends American culinary apples – including braeburn, granny smith and pink lady – with a hint of maple syrup from Vermont maple trees. The result, it said, is a ‘not-too-sweet’ cider with a bold apple flavour and an ABV of 5%.
The limited-edition offering follows previous seasonal launches including elderflower, and summer honey.
It will also take advantage of growing awareness of maple water as a beverage in its own rights, spurred on by brands such as Drink Maple and Happy Tree. The maple water used in Angry Orchard’s cider is tapped in late winter and lends a ‘rich flavour and natural sweetness’ to the final beverage.
Ryan Burk, head cider maker for Angry Orchard, said: “Like apples, not all maple syrup is created equal. The flavours can vary significantly from season to season and depending on production techniques. My team and I visited maple farmers from across the northeast to dive deeper into the qualities that make maple syrup unique, then took those findings back to our cider house to incorporate this natural sweetener into a dry cider we’d been working on. Ultimately, we found a nice combination with Angry Orchard tapped maple.”
The brand’s seasonal experimentation also led to another new limited-release cider: Angry Orchard spiced apple combines a fresh apple taste with lively seasonal spices, much like a classic baked apple pie.
It will also be available until April as part of a limited-edition sampler variety pack – also including the tapped maple flavour – that will retail with a suggested price of between $8.99 and $9.99 for a pack of six bottles, or between $15.99 and $18.99 for a pack of 12.
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