Angry Orchard Unfiltered 6Pk

Angry Orchard Unfiltered 6-Pack is a hazy, unfiltered hard apple cider at 6% ABV, sold in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles. Produced by Angry Orchard — part of the Boston Beer Company — this expression skips the standard filtration process to deliver a fuller mouthfeel and a fresh, less sweet apple character rooted in traditional American cider-making.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6%  |  Origin: Walden, New York (USA)  |  Style: Unfiltered Hard Cider  |  Producer: Angry Orchard / Boston Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Angry Orchard operates its cider house and innovation center near Walden, New York, in the Hudson Valley, one of America's historic apple-growing regions. The brand is owned by the Boston Beer Company, the same parent behind Samuel Adams, with large-scale production handled at Boston Beer's Ohio facility. Angry Orchard Unfiltered is made with bittersweet apples — long considered the gold standard for serious cider making — and deliberately bypasses the filtration step used in the brand's flagship Crisp Apple. The result is a naturally hazy pour with retained apple solids that lend body, subtle tannins, and a more rustic character compared to the brand's cleaner, more polished expressions.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh-pressed apple juice dominates the nose, followed by light floral undertones and a faint honeyed sweetness. There is a raw, orchard-fresh quality that sets it apart from filtered ciders.

Taste: The entry is juicy and apple-forward with moderate sweetness that never becomes cloying. Mid-palate, a balanced tartness and gentle acidity emerge alongside hints of orange peel and soft bittersweet tannins. Faint spice notes appear toward the peak, adding dimension without complexity overload.

Finish: Medium in length with a crisp, slightly dry close and lingering fresh apple skin character. The residual tannin structure gives the finish more grip than a typical mass-market cider.

How to Drink Angry Orchard Unfiltered

Serve cold, ideally between 38–45°F, straight from the bottle or poured into a pint glass to appreciate the natural haze. It drinks well on its own as a sessionable alternative to beer or wine.

• Apple Cider Mule: The unfiltered body and tartness stand up to ginger beer and lime, producing a more textured mule than filtered ciders allow.
• Cider Shandy: Blend half-and-half with a wheat beer for a refreshing hybrid that plays off the hazy character of both components.
• Spiced Cider Sangria: Mix with sliced stone fruit, a cinnamon stick, and a splash of brandy — the unfiltered apple base adds body that keeps the drink from feeling watery.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and warm-weather gatherings where a lighter alternative to beer is welcome
• Introducing craft cider drinkers to a less sweet, more traditional style
• Pairing with charcuterie boards or casual appetizer spreads
• Stocking a mixed cooler alongside IPAs and seltzers for guests with varied tastes

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Angry Orchard Unfiltered taste like? It tastes like fresh-pressed apple juice with moderate tartness, light tannins, and restrained sweetness, finishing crisp and slightly dry rather than sugary.

How does Angry Orchard Unfiltered compare to Downeast Original Blend? Both are unfiltered, hazy ciders, but Downeast Original Blend tends to taste drier and more tart with a higher perceived acidity, while Angry Orchard Unfiltered retains slightly more residual sweetness and a softer tannic profile. Downeast is produced in smaller batches in Boston, Massachusetts, whereas Angry Orchard benefits from the larger-scale production resources of the Boston Beer Company.

Is Angry Orchard Unfiltered good for cider beginners? Yes — at 6% ABV with balanced sweetness and approachable apple flavors, it works as a gateway from the brand's sweeter Crisp Apple into more traditional, less filtered cider styles.

Where is Angry Orchard Unfiltered made? Angry Orchard is headquartered at its cider house near Walden, New York, in the Hudson Valley, though large-scale production takes place at Boston Beer Company's facility in Ohio.

What foods pair well with Angry Orchard Unfiltered? Sharp cheddar cheese complements the apple tartness; roasted pork tenderloin echoes the fruit sweetness; grilled chicken with herb rubs matches the cider's lighter body; soft pretzels with mustard play against its mild bitterness; and apple-based desserts like tarte tatin create a natural flavor bridge.

What sizes does Angry Orchard Unfiltered come in? The standard retail format is a six-pack of 12 oz bottles, widely available across the United States.

Is Angry Orchard Unfiltered worth the price? It positions as an accessible, everyday hard cider within the entry-level tier, delivering more character and body than the brand's flagship Crisp Apple at a comparable price point — solid value for drinkers exploring unfiltered styles.

Why Angry Orchard Unfiltered?

What separates this expression from the rest of the Angry Orchard lineup is the deliberate decision to leave the cider unfiltered, preserving apple solids that contribute real texture and a fuller mouthfeel rarely found at this price range. The use of bittersweet apple varieties — the backbone of European cider tradition — gives it a tannic structure that most mainstream American ciders lack entirely. At 6% ABV with dialed-back sweetness, it occupies a space between the easy-drinking simplicity of mass-market ciders and the more challenging, bone-dry farmhouse styles. For anyone ready to move beyond sweet, filtered cider without jumping straight to the deep end, this is the logical next step.