Woodchuck Variety 12Pk

Woodchuck Variety 12Pk is a hard cider sampler featuring multiple styles from Vermont Hard Cider Company, with ABV ranging from 4.2% to 6.0% across twelve 12 oz bottles. As the original American hard cider brand — founded in 1991 and credited with launching the American Cider Revolution — Woodchuck brings more than three decades of cider-making expertise into a single mixed pack. The brand has earned recognition from the Beverage Testing Institute and the Good Food Awards for its commitment to locally sourced apples.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.2%–6.0% (varies by style)  |  Origin: Middlebury, Vermont, USA  |  Style: Hard Cider Variety Pack  |  Producer: Vermont Hard Cider Company, LLC

Production & Heritage

Vermont Hard Cider Company was born in a two-car garage in Middlebury, Vermont, in 1991, when its flagship Amber cider became one of the first commercially produced hard ciders in the United States. By 2011, Woodchuck had captured roughly 47% of the American hard cider market, making it the top-selling brand in the country. Production follows a meticulous process: apples are washed, sorted, crushed, and pressed before the juice is clarified and inoculated with champagne yeast for fermentation, resulting in a cleaner, drier character than many mass-market ciders. The original Amber recipe remains unchanged from that first hand-filled bottle.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Across the variety pack, expect a range from fresh-cut orchard apple and honeyed sweetness in the Amber to sharp green apple aromatics in the Granny Smith. The fruit-forward selections introduce ripe pear and stone fruit notes that round out the set.

Taste: The Amber leads with a rich, sweet apple character where the alcohol is well-integrated and nearly hidden. Granny Smith shifts the palate toward tart, crisp acidity and light effervescence. The Pearsecco brings a softer, subtly sweet mid-palate with gentle pear flavors, while the Blueberry expression layers dark berry sweetness over the cider's apple base. Each style is clean and not overly sweet, with a backbone of natural apple tartness.

Finish: Finishes across the pack tend toward the dry and refreshing side, a hallmark of champagne yeast fermentation. The Amber lingers longest with a warm apple sweetness, while the Granny Smith and Pearsecco fade to a crisp, thirst-quenching close.

How to Drink Woodchuck Cider

Each style in the variety pack is best served chilled at 38–42°F, straight from the bottle or poured into a tulip glass to concentrate the aromatics. The Amber works beautifully in a Cider Mule, replacing vodka with cider alongside ginger beer and lime for a lower-ABV twist. Granny Smith is a natural fit in a Cider Mimosa, mixed with sparkling wine for a brunch-friendly sipper with extra tartness. The Blueberry expression makes an excellent base for a Cider Sangria, combined with fresh fruit, a splash of brandy, and a cinnamon stick to complement its berry notes.

Best For

• Introducing a craft-beer drinker to the hard cider category
• Stocking a summer barbecue or outdoor gathering with variety
• Gifting a friend who enjoys fruit-forward, gluten-free beverages
• Side-by-side tasting sessions to discover your preferred cider style

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Woodchuck Variety Pack taste like? The pack spans a range from the rich, sweet apple character of Amber to the tart, light crispness of Granny Smith, with pear and blueberry styles adding fruity variety. All share a clean, not-overly-sweet profile thanks to champagne yeast fermentation.

How does Woodchuck compare to Redd's Apple Ale? Woodchuck is a true fermented hard cider made from pressed apple juice, while Redd's Apple Ale is technically a flavored malt beverage brewed from grain with apple flavoring added. Consumers consistently note Woodchuck delivers a more authentic, complex apple flavor as a result of its all-juice fermentation process.

Is Woodchuck good for cider beginners? The variety pack is an ideal starting point because it lets newcomers sample distinctly different styles — sweet, tart, fruity, and dry — in one purchase, making it easy to identify personal preferences without committing to a full 12-pack of a single flavor.

Where is Woodchuck made? Woodchuck is produced by Vermont Hard Cider Company, LLC, in Middlebury, Vermont, a town in the heart of New England's apple-growing region. The cidery has operated from this location since its founding in 1991.

What foods pair well with Woodchuck cider? The Amber pairs well with sharp cheddar cheese and roasted pork, where its sweetness offsets savory richness. Granny Smith complements lighter dishes like grilled chicken salad or fish tacos, as its tartness acts as a palate cleanser. The Blueberry cider stands up nicely alongside dark chocolate desserts or a charcuterie board with dried fruits.

What sizes does Woodchuck Variety Pack come in? The standard configuration is a 12-pack of 12 oz bottles, though Woodchuck also offers individual 6-packs of specific flavors and has released specialty variety packs such as the Woodchuck 100 Variety Pack featuring lower-calorie options.

Is Woodchuck Variety Pack worth the price? Woodchuck positions solidly in the mid-range value tier for craft hard cider, and the variety format adds extra value by offering four distinct styles for the price of a single 12-pack. For the quality of a heritage cidery with over 30 years of production history, it represents a strong entry point into American craft cider.

Why Woodchuck?

Woodchuck holds a singular place in American cider history as the brand that ignited the modern craft cider movement in 1991, and its flagship Amber recipe has never changed. The champagne yeast fermentation sets it apart from flavored malt beverages and mass-market competitors, delivering genuine apple character with a clean, dry edge. At its peak, the brand commanded nearly half of the entire U.S. hard cider market — a testament to both recipe quality and consumer loyalty. The variety pack distills that legacy into a single box, making it one of the most efficient ways to explore what American hard cider can be.