Angry Orchard Variety 12PK

Angry Orchard Variety 12PK is a 12-pack of 12oz hard ciders featuring a curated mix of Angry Orchard's most popular styles, brewed in New York's Hudson Valley. This variety pack provides an accessible entry point into one of America's best-selling craft cider brands, letting drinkers sample multiple expressions side by side.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~5–5.5% (varies by style)  |  Origin: Hudson Valley, New York, USA  |  Style: Hard Cider Variety Pack  |  Producer: Angry Orchard Cider Company (Boston Beer Company)

Production & Heritage

Angry Orchard launched in 2012 under the Boston Beer Company umbrella, with its dedicated cider house and innovation center located in Walden, New York, in the heart of the Hudson Valley. The brand's cider makers source culinary and bittersweet apple varieties from both domestic orchards and traditional European growing regions in France and Italy. Each variety in the pack undergoes its own fermentation and blending process, resulting in distinct flavor profiles that range from dry and tart to sweet and fruit-forward. Head cider maker Ryan Burk oversees the program, drawing on traditional European cider-making techniques adapted for American palates.

Tasting Notes

Because this is a multi-style variety pack, the tasting experience spans a wide range. The following reflects the general profile across Angry Orchard's core lineup:

Aroma: Fresh-pressed apple dominates across all styles, with individual varieties introducing floral notes, ripe pear, and subtle berry or rose petal character. The bouquet stays clean and fruit-driven throughout the lineup.

Taste: The flagship Crisp Apple delivers bright, straightforward apple sweetness balanced by moderate acidity. The Rosé expression brings red-fruit character with hints of strawberry and hibiscus alongside its apple base. Other rotating varieties may introduce green apple tartness or soft pear flavors, but each maintains a refreshing, lightly sweet profile.

Finish: Finishes across the range tend to be clean and moderately short, with crisp acidity providing a dry close. Residual fruit sweetness lingers briefly without becoming cloying.

How to Drink Angry Orchard

All varieties in the pack drink best chilled to around 40–45°F, served straight from the bottle or poured into a pint glass. These ciders also work well in simple mixed drinks: try the Crisp Apple in an Apple Cider Mule with ginger beer and lime for a refreshing twist on the classic Moscow Mule; use the Rosé variety in a Cider Spritz topped with sparkling water and a splash of elderflower liqueur; or blend any variety into a Snakebite — a traditional half-cider, half-lager combination popular in British pubs.

Best For

• Hosting a backyard barbecue or outdoor gathering where guests have different taste preferences
• Introducing friends or family to hard cider with a range of styles in one purchase
• Stocking a cooler for game day with a crowd-pleasing, lower-ABV option
• Comparing Angry Orchard's core expressions side by side to find a personal favorite

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Angry Orchard taste like? Angry Orchard ciders are fruit-forward with a balance of apple sweetness and crisp acidity. Individual styles range from the clean, straightforward apple character of Crisp Apple to the berry-tinged, slightly floral notes of the Rosé.

How does Angry Orchard compare to Stella Artois Cidre? Angry Orchard tends to be sweeter and more fruit-forward, while Stella Artois Cidre leans drier and more European in style with a more subdued apple character. Both sit in a similar ABV range, but Angry Orchard's variety pack offers multiple flavor profiles in a single purchase.

Is Angry Orchard good for cider beginners? Yes — the variety pack is particularly well-suited for newcomers because it provides several distinct styles at an approachable ABV, making it easy to discover which cider profile you prefer without committing to a full pack of one variety.

Where is Angry Orchard made? Angry Orchard is produced by the Angry Orchard Cider Company, with its cider house and innovation center located in Walden, New York, in the Hudson Valley. The brand is owned by the Boston Beer Company, founded in 1984.

What foods pair well with Angry Orchard? Pulled pork or smoked ribs complement the apple sweetness nicely. Sharp cheddar cheese or Gruyère creates a classic cider-and-cheese pairing. Roasted chicken with herbs matches the crisp acidity. Apple-glazed pork chops echo the fruit notes. Light salads with goat cheese and walnuts pair well with the Rosé variety.

What sizes does Angry Orchard come in? The variety pack is available as a 12-pack of 12oz bottles. Individual Angry Orchard styles are also commonly sold in 6-packs of 12oz bottles and single-serve cans.

Is Angry Orchard worth the price? Angry Orchard positions as a mainstream craft cider at an accessible price point, and the variety pack delivers strong value by including multiple styles for comparative tasting. It sits competitively within the mass-market hard cider category.

Why Angry Orchard Variety 12PK?

The variety pack format is the most efficient way to explore Angry Orchard's range without buying multiple six-packs. Each style in the box is fermented and blended independently, so the flavor differences between expressions are genuine rather than cosmetic. With the cidery's Hudson Valley location providing direct access to New York's apple-growing heritage and Ryan Burk's experience applying Old World techniques, this pack represents one of the most widely available introductions to American craft cider. For gatherings where beer may feel too heavy and wine too formal, this pack fills a practical gap with crowd-friendly versatility.