Angry Orchard Launches Its First Hard Cider Made Exclusively with New York Apples, Available Nationwide

28 Jun 2016 --- Angry Orchard today announced the release of its new year-round specialty hard cider, Walden Hollow. This is the first cider from Angry Orchard to be made exclusively with apple varieties from New York State, including varieties from last year's harvest at the Angry Orchard in New York's Hudson Valley, and heirloom apples from other local orchards.

Last fall, Angry Orchard opened the Angry Orchard Innovation Cider House on a 100-year-old apple orchard in Walden, NY – the namesake for this new cider. The Innovation Cider House serves as a center for research and development where the cider makers are putting their own twist on traditional ciders and driving innovation, experimenting with new ingredients, processes and techniques.

"We're extremely proud of Walden Hollow as it's our first cider made with apples from our own backyard," said Ryan Burk, Angry Orchard's head cider maker. "The mild tannins and dryness of the cider capture the diversity, complexity and depth of character from the blend of New York State apples. It's cider like Walden Hollow that inspires us to continue to drive innovation and reimagine what American cider can be."

Walden Hollow is fermented over many months, resulting in full flavor and intense apple aroma due to the high acidity and mild tannins from New York State heirloom apples. These heirloom varieties include Golden Russet, Newtown Pippin and Northern Spy, all of which have deep ties to the Empire State, including their use in cider dating back hundreds of years. Walden Hollow will be released annually in the spring, and made using a blend of New York apple varieties selected by Angry Orchard's cider makers based on the previous year's harvest.