Blakes Straw Lemonade Cider 6Pk

Blake's Straw Lemonade Cider 6Pk is a semi-sweet hard cider blending strawberry and lemonade with a five-apple cider base at 6.5% ABV, sold in a six-pack of 12 oz cans. Produced on a third-generation apple farm in Armada, Michigan, this expression has earned a 3.7 out of 5 rating on Untappd from over 6,000 reviews, making it one of Blake's most popular seasonal-style offerings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  Origin: Armada, Michigan, USA  |  Style: Fruit Cider / Shandy-Style  |  Producer: Blake's Hard Cider Co.

Production & Heritage

Blake's Hard Cider Co. operates as an independent, family-owned cidery on a third-generation apple farm in Armada, Michigan. They grow, pick, and press their own apples on-site, building each cider around their proprietary five-apple blend. For Straw Lemonade, that base is combined with lemonade concentrate, real strawberry, and Michigan beet sugar — a locally sourced sweetener that rounds out the tartness without pushing the cider into cloying territory. The result is a fruit-forward cider that stays rooted in genuine apple character rather than relying on artificial flavoring.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh-squeezed lemon zest leads, followed by ripe strawberry and a subtle undercurrent of orchard apple. A faint sweetness floats underneath without becoming syrupy.

Taste: The entry is bright and citrus-driven, with bold, tart lemon hitting first. Mid-palate, ripe strawberry sweetness emerges and balances the acidity, while the apple cider base provides body and a light tannic grip. The Michigan beet sugar adds a smooth, clean sweetness that integrates naturally.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering lemon tartness and a whisper of strawberry. The finish is crisp and dry enough to invite another sip without feeling heavy.

How to Drink Straw Lemonade Cider

Serve ice-cold, straight from the can or poured over ice for maximum refreshment — this cider is built for warm-weather drinking. It also works as a ready-made cocktail component: use it as a top-off in a Cider Shandy mixed with wheat beer for a layered citrus experience; combine with vodka and fresh mint for a Strawberry Lemonade Mule variation; or pour over crushed ice with a splash of elderflower liqueur for a light Cider Spritz that amplifies the floral strawberry notes.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues and outdoor gatherings where easy-drinking refreshment is essential
• Introducing craft cider to friends who typically reach for flavored seltzers or fruit beers
• Summer cooler packs alongside other Michigan craft beverages
• A sessionable alternative to heavier cocktails at a pool party or picnic

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Straw Lemonade Cider taste like? Blake's Straw Lemonade Cider delivers bold, tart lemon up front followed by ripe strawberry sweetness, all layered over a smooth apple cider base. The overall profile is semi-sweet, citrus-forward, and refreshingly crisp.

How does Blake's Straw Lemonade compare to Angry Orchard? Blake's uses apples grown and pressed on their own Michigan farm, giving the cider a more orchard-authentic apple backbone than many nationally distributed brands. Angry Orchard's core lineup tends toward straightforward apple sweetness, while Straw Lemonade layers in real strawberry and lemon for a more complex, tart fruit profile.

Is Straw Lemonade Cider good for beginners? Absolutely — its familiar strawberry-lemonade flavor profile and approachable 6.5% ABV make it an easy entry point for anyone new to hard cider or transitioning from flavored seltzers and fruit beers.

Where is Straw Lemonade Cider made? Blake's Straw Lemonade Cider is produced at Blake's Hard Cider Co. in Armada, Michigan, a small town in Macomb County about 45 miles north of Detroit. The cidery sits on the same third-generation apple farm where the fruit is grown and pressed.

What foods pair well with Straw Lemonade Cider? Grilled chicken or shrimp skewers benefit from the cider's citrus acidity. A mixed berry salad with goat cheese echoes the strawberry notes. Fish tacos with a lime crema match the tartness well. Light charcuterie boards with mild cheeses like brie complement the semi-sweet profile without competing.

What sizes does Straw Lemonade Cider come in? The standard format is a six-pack of 12 oz cans, which is the most widely available packaging for this expression.

Is Straw Lemonade Cider worth the price? Blake's Straw Lemonade positions as a craft cider at an accessible price tier, competing directly with other premium six-pack ciders. The use of farm-grown apples, real fruit, and Michigan beet sugar rather than artificial ingredients gives it a quality edge over mass-market alternatives at a similar cost.

Why Straw Lemonade Cider?

What separates Blake's from much of the hard cider market is provenance — this is one of the few nationally available ciders made from apples grown, picked, and pressed on the producer's own farm. The Straw Lemonade expression leverages that authentic apple base and layers real strawberry and lemonade concentrate on top, sweetened with Michigan beet sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup. With over 6,000 Untappd ratings averaging 3.7 out of 5, it has built a genuine following among fruit cider drinkers. For anyone seeking a sessionable, fruit-forward cider with real agricultural roots, this six-pack delivers substance behind the flavor.