Redd's Hard Variety 12Pk Cans

Redd's Hard Variety 12Pk Cans is a mixed twelve-pack of fruit-flavored malt beverages brewed at 5% ABV in 12 oz cans. Built around the flagship Redd's Apple Ale — a flavored malt beverage that has positioned itself as one of the top competitors to traditional hard ciders — this variety pack lets drinkers explore the full Redd's fruit lineup in a single purchase.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.0%  |  Origin: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA  |  Style: Flavored Malt Beverage  |  Brewery: Miller Brewing Co. (Molson Coors)

Production & Heritage

Redd's is produced by Miller Brewing Co., part of the Molson Coors family, with brewing operations historically tied to the Albany, Georgia facility. Unlike true hard ciders that ferment apple juice directly, Redd's starts with a malted barley base — technically making it a flavored malt beverage rather than a cider. The recipe incorporates water, corn syrup (used as a fermentable sugar during brewing only), barley malt, hop extract, and natural fruit flavoring, with citric acid contributing tartness and caramel color adding visual depth. The apple expression that anchors this variety pack has drawn frequent comparisons to hard cider for its fruit-forward character despite its beer-style brewing process.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The apple variety leads with bright green apple and a faint suggestion of malt sweetness underneath. Across the fruit variants, expect corresponding fresh fruit aromas with a mild cereal grain backdrop.

Taste: The flagship apple ale opens with a pronounced, sweet-tart apple flavor on the entry. Mid-palate, low malt character and minimal hop bitterness allow the fruit to dominate. The other fruit expressions in the pack follow a similar template — bold, sweet fruit upfront with a light malt underpinning that keeps each sip from tipping into pure juice territory.

Finish: Clean and moderately crisp with a brief, slightly bitter malt note that anchors the sweetness. The finish is short and refreshing, designed for easy, session-style drinking.

How to Drink Redd's Hard Variety

Serve all varieties well chilled, ideally straight from the can or poured over ice. These are sessionable, warm-weather drinks meant to be enjoyed cold and casual. A Redd's Shandy works by mixing the apple ale with lemonade for added citrus brightness. Try the apple variant in an Apple Mule — combined with ginger beer and a squeeze of lime for spicy contrast. Any of the fruit varieties can substitute into a Beer-Mosa alongside orange juice for a low-ABV brunch option.

Best For

• Hosting a backyard barbecue or cookout where guests have varied flavor preferences
• Introducing non-beer drinkers to malt beverages through approachable fruit flavors
• Stocking a cooler for tailgating or outdoor sporting events
• Sampling the Redd's range before committing to a full pack of one flavor

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Redd's Hard taste like? The core apple flavor is crisp and sweet-tart with prominent green apple character and low malt bitterness, finishing clean and refreshing. The additional fruit varieties follow a similar sweet, fruit-forward profile with a light malt base.

How does Redd's compare to Angry Orchard? Redd's Apple Ale is frequently described as the closest-tasting alternative to Angry Orchard and has been cited as Angry Orchard's biggest competitor as of 2021. The key technical difference is that Redd's is a flavored malt beverage brewed from barley, while Angry Orchard is a true hard cider fermented from apple juice.

Is Redd's good for beginners? Redd's is an accessible entry point for anyone who finds traditional beer too bitter or hop-forward, since its fruit sweetness and low bitterness make it approachable for casual and first-time malt beverage drinkers. The variety pack format is especially useful for finding a preferred flavor.

Where is Redd's made? Redd's is brewed by Miller Brewing Co., headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, under the Molson Coors umbrella. Production has been associated with the MillerCoors brewing facility in Albany, Georgia.

What foods pair well with Redd's Hard? Grilled pork chops or pulled pork benefit from the apple ale's sweet-tart contrast. Spicy chicken wings are tempered by the residual sweetness. A fresh spinach and goat cheese salad complements the fruit-forward profile. Cheddar cheese pairs naturally with apple flavors, and fruit-based desserts like berry cobbler echo the variety pack's fruited character.

What sizes does Redd's Hard Variety come in? This variety pack contains twelve 12 oz cans, and individual Redd's flavors are commonly available in six-pack and twelve-pack can formats as well as single-serve options.

Is the Redd's Variety Pack worth the price? Redd's positions squarely in the entry-level flavored malt beverage tier, priced comparably to mainstream hard ciders and flavored beer packs. The variety format adds value by offering multiple flavors for sampling in a single purchase.

Why Redd's Hard Variety?

The variety pack format is the most practical way to experience the Redd's lineup without buying individual six-packs of each flavor. At its core, the brand occupies a unique space — technically a flavored malt beverage brewed from barley, yet delivering a drinking experience close enough to hard cider that it competes directly with Angry Orchard. With a 5% ABV and clean, fruit-driven flavor profiles, the pack is built for approachable, high-volume occasions where drinkability matters more than complexity. For anyone drawn to fruit-forward alternatives to traditional beer, this twelve-pack covers meaningful ground at an accessible price point.