You take a sip, and there it is, the taste of a freshly sliced apple. In your hand is an Angry Orchard bottle. Despite its intimidating name, Angry Orchard is a hard cider company that is loved by many. In fact, Angry Orchard is one of America’s favorite brands when it comes to cider. They offer a variety of products.
Some Angry Orchard varieties are vegan, while others are not vegan as they are sweetened with honey, an animal-derived ingredient. Their non-vegan ciders include Crisp Apple, Crisp Apple Unfiltered, and Easy Apple. The vegan Angry Orchard varieties include Green Apple, Rosé, Pear, Peach Mango, and Strawberry. The best vegan alternative to Angry Orchard is Ace Cider.
In this article, we will discuss what hard cider is, its history, how it’s made, and its health benefits and risks. We will also discuss the Angry Orchard brand along with the ingredients and the nutritional information of its ciders. In addition, we will take a look at other vegan-friendly alternatives to Angry Orchard. Let’s dig in!
Contents
The History of Hard Cider
Though some might think of it as a relatively new drink, cider dates back millennia. For thousands of years, apples have been pressed for juice and left to ferment.
Historians agree that as early as 1300 B.C., apple trees grew along the banks of the Nile River. No evidence indicates that they were used for cider. In 55 B.C., when the Romans arrived in England, it was reported that a cider-like beverage was made from apples. It didn’t take long for cider to gain popularity. Soon enough, this boozy beverage spread throughout the Roman Empire and across Europe and became widely popular around the 9th century. Around the 13th century, the word “cider” was established in the English language.
Since the cider is boozy, it was a safer to drink than the water or milk available at the time. Americans have a long and rich history with cider too. It was the beverage of choice from the first English settlers till the late 1800s. Cider was greatly abandoned after Prohibition.
The rise in popularity of craft beverages has led to the comeback of hard cider. Today, cider holds one of the fastest-growing sectors within the craft beverage industry.
What is Hard Cider?
The world of ciders is rather large. The types include apple cider, apple cider vinegar, dry cider, and hard cider. People often confuse apple cider and hard cider. Simply put, hard cider is an alcoholic drink, while apple cider is not.
Hard cider is apple juice that is fermented and often tailored to achieve the best properties. This boozy drink typically has a range of 4-6% alcohol by volume. Its popularity in the United States has increased dramatically in the last few years.
Though storing it in cool temperatures is not necessary, drinking hard cider at a cool temperature is ideal. Hard ciders are often enjoyed the same way one would enjoy a glass of white wine.
How Cider is Made
Cider is obtained from the pressing of apples followed by the fermentation process.
- Hard cider production starts with the harvesting of apples, which typically occurs in the fall.
- Angry Orchard tests its fruits for sugar acidity and tannin in New York at harvest time. Angry Orchard then sorts their apples and makes sure they are in good shape.
- The next steps of production involve washing and grinding the fruits. The grinding occurs in a large mill which yields an apple mash. This mash is then pressed to extract juice from the pulp. The cider is expelled from the pomace and pumped into a cooling tank.
- The cider is then fermented. Fermentation could be done naturally, or by adding various fermentation-assisting products. The cider is left to ferment for a month or more in a large, sealed bulk tank, or in individual bottles.
- When the cider is ready to be filled, filtration is done again. Angry Orchard has an unfiltered cider that has a fuller mouthfeel, hazy appearance, and a less sweet, fresh apple taste. Finally, the cider is pumped into the appropriate packaging and made ready for consumers.
Health Benefits and Risks of Hard Cider
Hard cider has some health benefits. Because it is made by fermenting fruits like apples, cider contains vitamin C and other antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonoids.
When drinking hard cider, you should be aware of the sugar content. Cider is often high in sugar since apples are naturally full of it. The sugar content of hard cider varies depending on the fermentation process. Slower fermentation yields sweeter ciders.
When compared to beer, hard ciders have a greater number of calories and carbohydrate content. Since hard ciders contain alcohol, make sure to drink responsibly if you are of age.
Angry Orchard Nutritional Information
Angry Orchard has a variety of products. Hard ciders are built on a few ingredients, with slight variations between flavors. Since alcoholic beverages aren’t regulated by the FDA, but a different federal agency, nutritional labeling isn’t required. This leads to the ingredient lists of alcoholic companies, such as Angry Orchard, to be vague.
Angry Orchard Hard Cider, Apple Crisp
Crisp Apple is made from traditional cider apples. It has a blend of sweetness and bright acidity, which gives the taste of fresh apples.
Ingredients:
- Hard Cider
- Water
- Cane Sugar
- Apple Juice from Concentrate
- Malic Acid
- Honey
- Natural Flavor
- Carbon Dioxide
- Sulfites
Nutritional Information (per 12 fl oz):
- Calories: 190 Kcal
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Sugar: 21g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Calcium: 20mg
- Iron: 0mg
Angry Orchard Hard Cider, Peach Mango
Peach Mango Hard Cider incorporates the fresh apple flavor with the ripe, vibrant flavors from peaches and mangos.
Ingredients:
- Hard Cider
- Water
- Cane Sugar
- Apple Juice Prom Concentrate
- Malic Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Peaches
- Mangos
- Carbon Dioxide
- Sulfites
Nutritional Information (per 12 fl oz):
- Calories: 160 Kcal
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Potassium: 200mg
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Sugar: 13g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Calcium: 12.3mg
- Iron: 0mg
Angry Orchard Hard Cider, Strawberry
The Strawberry Cider incorporates the fresh apple flavor with the ripe, vibrant flavors from strawberries.
Ingredients:
- Hard Cider
- Water
- Cane Sugar
- Natural Flavors
- Apple Juice from Concentrate
- Citric Acid
- Strawberries
- Carbon Dioxide
- Sulfites
Nutritional Information (per 12 fl oz):
- Calories: 165 Kcal
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Potassium: 217.5mg
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Sugar: 14.3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Calcium: 22.5mg
- Iron: 0mg
Angry Orchard, Green Apple
Green Apple has a bright, fresh apple aroma, with hints of honeydew melon and kiwi. This cider is slightly tart with balanced sweetness, similar to a fresh green apple.
Ingredients:
- Hard Cider
- Water
- Cane Sugar
- Apple Juice from Concentrate
- Malic Acid
- Natural Flavor
- Carbon Dioxide
- Sulfites
Nutritional Information (per 12 fl oz):
- Calories: 208Kcal
- Total Fat: 0 g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Carbohydrates: 30.6g
- Sugar: 21.5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Calcium 30mg
- Iron: 0mg
Vegan Alternatives to Angry Orchard
There are several vegan alternatives to Angry Orchard. You can find hundreds of hard cider companies in the market. The global cider market is expected to continue growing, allowing room for more and more alternatives. Here are some vegan alternatives to Angry Orchards’ hard ciders:
Ace Cider, Mango
Ingredients:
- Fermented Apple Juice
- Mango Juice
- Malic Acid
- Sulfite (Preservative)
Nutritional Information (per 12 fl oz):
- Calories: 140 Kcal
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Potassium: 0mg
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Sugar: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Calcium: 0mg
- Iron: 0mg
Common Cider Hard Apple Cider, Blood Orange Tangerine
Ingredients:
- Hard Apple Cider
- Blood Orange Juice
- Tangerine Juice
- Cane Sugar
- Natural Flavorings
- Spices
Nutritional Information (per 12 fl oz):
- Calories: 150 Kcal
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Potassium: 0mg
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Sugar: 8g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Calcium: 150mg
- Iron: 0.7mg
Woodchuck Hard Cider, Raspberry
Ingredients:
- Hard Cider
- Natural & Artificial Flavors
- Sulfites
- Sorbate
- Lightly Carbonated
Nutritional Information (per 12 fl oz):
- Calories: 170 Kcal
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Potassium: 0mg
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Sugar: 22g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Calcium: 0mg
- Iron: 0mg
Final Thoughts
While most of Angry Orchards’ products are vegan-friendly, some of their ciders should be avoided by those following a vegan diet.
If you do not like Angry Orchard or would prefer other vegan ciders, there are plenty of hard cider alternatives that are vegan-friendly.
Related Questions
Is Angry Orchard gluten-free?
Angry Orchard is proudly gluten-free. Unlike some alcoholic beverages which deceivingly have gluten such as beer, Angry Orchard doesn’t. It is made without wheat or any other ingredients that contain gluten. They also manufacture the cider using gluten-free equipment to ensure that no cross-contamination will occur.
Are there any other allergens in Angry Orchard?
For those who avoid sulfite, none of Angry Orchards’ ciders are compatible. All their ciders contain sulfite. Angry Orchards’ current products don’t contain milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, or soy.
Is Angry Orchard low FODMAP?
Many people with irritable bowel syndrome and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth follow a low FODMAP diet. Although not tested by Monash, hard ciders are likely to be high FODMAP since they are made from fermented apple juice. So, no, Angry Orchard is likely not to be low FODMAP.
How can I know the shelf life of the Angry Orchard Cider?
Cider doesn’t go bad. For optimal freshness, Angry Orchard should be consumed in about a year after production. With time, the flavor profile of the cider might change a bit.