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Most consumers know Angry Orchard as a large commercial cider producer focused on mass-appeal products. This may conjure up some negative feelings from cider enthusiasts, but there is more than meets the eye. There is an orchard and cider house in the Hudson Valley that continues the areas long-standing cider-making traditions. This production space is used by cider makers Ryan Burk and Patrick Commane to produce classic, drier, and innovative ciders. This return-to-the-roots, smaller-craft producer mentality brings the brand full circle in the world of cider.
While you can get some of their original ciders at their taprooms, you will also be able to experience a few of the more complex ciders like Newtown Pippin, Understood in Motion collaboration ciders, Thick as Thieves, and Francenstein. Below is a deeper look into these ciders to give you a further walk into the orchard.
Newtown Pippin

This 6.8% ABV cider that we tried out of the bottle comes unfiltered and dry. This single varietal cider brings out the flavors and complexities of the humble Newtown Pippin apple. The cider is actually their first go at a single varietal and this does not disappoint. This cider is jumping on the tongue with bright acidic flavors and a bit of natural yeast fragrance. Perfect for someone breaking into single varietal ciders for the first time.
Understood in Motion Series

This 3 part cider collaboration series started with Eden Specialty Cider then E.Z. Orchard Cidre and finally with Tom Oliver out of his cider house in Ocle Pychard. These ciders are the pinnacle of collaboration and an opportunity to combine cider-making secrets from these producers. While you may not be able to get the first one at the cider house you can still get the second and third there. Below are some quick notes on each of those.
Understood in Motion 2 –7.2% ABV Cider made with Bittersweet Muscadet de Lense and Marie Menard from Oregon, and heirloom, acid-forward Gold Rush and Northern Spy from New York. This then underwent natural fermentation and a bright acidic and apple/yeast forward.
Understood in Motion 3 – Another 7.2% ABV cider is the first collaboration with Tom Oliver. The cider is fermented with wild yeast, mainly the Dabinette apple but Angry Orchard’s fermentation was in a calvados barrel and aged on lees. Olivers was ferment in stainless tanks and then aged on the lees. After a year these ciders were blended to make the delicious concoction.
Thick as Thieves

This cider is the second collaboration with Tom Oliver and it brings the farmhouse funk. This 6.7% ABV cider smells of farmhouse funk and yeast with a nice carbonation. There is a bit of haze in the bottle we had and a little bit of yeast left at the bottom. The flavor is tart, dry and brightly acidic with a tannic effect on the tongue to finish. I would suggest pairing with cheese or a charcuterie board at the acidity and dry flavors beg for these. There is a distinct European feel to this cider, which differs from the Motion 3.
Francenstein

This 7.6% ABV cider is another collaboration with the Barry Family cellar in the Finger Lakes. This cider-wine hybrid is a co fermentation of Northern Spy apples and Cabernet Franc grapes. This makes for an incredibly colored cider that is fruity, sparkling, hazy and dry. The perfect combination of cider and wine with a medium body and residual tart flavor that is very desirable. The flavors of the cider would appease any cider or wine drinker and brings out unique elements of each fruit.
As you can see from the collection above, Angry Orchard is doubling down on flavors, some for the commercial market and some for those who like a fancier cider. This creates a unique brand that deserves some attention.
If you want to check out the orchard visit their website at https://www.angryorchard.com/our-orchard/. To learn more about cider with lessons from the cider maker, visit https://www.angryorchard.com/cider-lessons. This should help you find the other side of the orchard, cheers!