--- title: "Angry Orchard Crisp Apple: Tasting Notes and Recommended Pairings" description: "Angry Orchard went national in the US in 2012 with Crisp Apple among its three core ciders, and now runs a cidery on a 24-hectare orchard in New York." url: https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/angry-orchard-crisp-apple-tasting-notes-and-recommended-pairings/ date: 2026-10-11 modified: 2026-10-11 author: "Carlos Uhart M." image: https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Botella-y-copa-de-sidra-Angry-Orchard.jpg categories: ["Opinion"] tags: ["Cider", "Opinion", "Samuel Adams", "Tasting Notes", "United States"] type: post lang: en --- # Angry Orchard Crisp Apple: Tasting Notes and Recommended Pairings Angry Orchard Crisp Apple is the flagship cider of Angry Orchard, the brand from Boston Beer Company, the brewer of Samuel Adams, which became the best-selling cider in the United States in 2013 and by 2021 accounted for about half of the category’s sales in that country. ![Angry Orchard Crisp Apple](https://www.thebeertimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Botella-y-copa-de-sidra-Angry-Orchard.jpg)*Angry Orchard Crisp Apple* Angry Orchard launched nationwide in the United States in 2012, with Crisp Apple as one of its three core ciders, and today it has its own cidery on an orchard of about 24 hectares near Walden, in New York’s Hudson Valley. Contenido - [General Information](#General_Information) - [Tasting Notes and Impressions](#Tasting_Notes_and_Impressions) - [1. Appearance](#1_Appearance) - [2. Aroma](#2_Aroma) - [3. Flavor](#3_Flavor) - [4. Mouthfeel](#4_Mouthfeel) - [5. Overall Impression](#5_Overall_Impression) - [Suggested Pairings](#Suggested_Pairings) - [1. Main Courses](#1_Main_Courses) - [2. Cheeses](#2_Cheeses) - [3. Vegetarian Dishes](#3_Vegetarian_Dishes) - [4. Desserts](#4_Desserts) - [Frequently asked questions (FAQ)](#Frequently_asked_questions_FAQ) - [1. What do drinkers think of Angry Orchard Crisp Apple?](#1_What_do_drinkers_think_of_Angry_Orchard_Crisp_Apple) - [2. Is Angry Orchard Crisp Apple sweet or dry?](#2_Is_Angry_Orchard_Crisp_Apple_sweet_or_dry) - [3. How much alcohol does it have, and is it gluten-free?](#3_How_much_alcohol_does_it_have_and_is_it_gluten-free) - [4. Who makes Angry Orchard?](#4_Who_makes_Angry_Orchard) - [5. At what temperature should Angry Orchard Crisp Apple be served?](#5_At_what_temperature_should_Angry_Orchard_Crisp_Apple_be_served) - [Recommended](#Recommended) ## General Information **Name:** Angry Orchard Crisp Apple **Producer:** [Angry Orchard (Boston Beer Company)](https://www.angryorchard.com/) **Origin:** United States **Style:** Common Cider **ABV:** 5% **Sweetness:** Semi-sweet **Calories:** Not declared **Apples:** Culinary and cider apples **Glassware:** Pint or balloon glass ## Tasting Notes and Impressions Crisp Apple is a semi-sweet, easy-drinking cider with juicy apple, more sweet than fresh, even though the word crisp in its name promises a lively, refreshing cider. Its profile recalls apple juice, with a slightly tart finish. ### 1. Appearance Between straw yellow and pale gold, clean and bright, with fine bubbles and just a thin layer of white foam that dissolves right away. ### 2. Aroma The nose brings fresh, juicy apple, with a faint spicy touch reminiscent of cinnamon. ### 3. Flavor The entry is sweet with ripe apple, very close to freshly pressed apple juice. Mid-palate a light acidity balances some of the sugar, and the finish leaves a slightly tart aftertaste, though without dryness or a particularly lively acidity. ### 4. Mouthfeel Light, smooth body, with fine bubbles that lighten the sweetness and no alcohol heat, going down easily. ### 5. Overall Impression Crisp Apple is an approachable cider, sweet and frankly apple-forward, with no ambition beyond refreshing. To a palate used to dry ciders it comes across as sweet and not very complex, but it works as an everyday cider, easy to drink and refreshing. ## Suggested Pairings Its sweetness and light acidity make it a natural companion to casual American food and to rich or mildly spicy dishes. ### 1. Main Courses Barbecue pork ribs or chicken wings in a mild sauce find a good counterpoint in this cider, because its sweetness goes with the glaze and its bubbles cleanse the fat between bites. ### 2. Cheeses A mild cheddar or a young goat cheese works well, since its gentle flavor does not compete with the sweetness of the cider and the cider’s light acidity refreshes the creaminess. ### 3. Vegetarian Dishes An apple, walnut and blue cheese salad or a spiced roasted squash brings out the fruit of the cider and its faint spicy touch. ### 4. Desserts An apple pie with cinnamon or an autumn fruit crumble is its natural territory, as long as the dessert is not sweeter than the cider itself. ## Frequently asked questions (FAQ) ### 1. What do drinkers think of Angry Orchard Crisp Apple? On Untappd it has more than 175,000 ratings, with an average of 3.54 out of 5. Those who drink it describe it as a juicy apple cider, similar to apple juice, with a slightly tart finish and a hint of cinnamon, and several find it too sweet while a few find it less fresh and lively than the word [crisp](https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/what-does-crisp-mean-beer/) in its name promises. ### 2. Is Angry Orchard Crisp Apple sweet or dry? The brand presents it as a balance between the sweetness and acidity of culinary apples and the dryness of traditional cider apples. On Untappd it is listed in the sweet cider category, and opinions go both ways, because some find it too sweet and others describe it as not too sweet, with a slightly tart finish. ### 3. How much alcohol does it have, and is it gluten-free? It is 5% alcohol and, according to the brand, gluten-free. It is sold in 12-ounce bottles and in 12, 16 and 24-ounce cans. ### 4. Who makes Angry Orchard? It is a brand of Boston Beer Company, the brewer of Samuel Adams. It launched across the United States in 2012, overtook Woodchuck as the country’s best-selling cider in 2013 and has its own cidery near Walden, New York. ### 5. At what temperature should Angry Orchard Crisp Apple be served? The brand does not give a temperature on its product sheet. We recommend serving it at 4 to 6 °C, in a pint or a balloon glass, so it stays fresh without the cold muting the apple aroma. ## Recommended - [Strongbow Original Dry, Tasting Notes and Recommended Pairings](https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/strongbow-original-dry-tasting-notes-and-recommended-pairings/) - [What Is Cider? History, Production, Varieties and Main Characteristics](https://www.thebeertimes.com/en/what-is-cider-history-production-varieties-characteristics/)