Johnny Appleseed Hard Apple Cider Set to Take A Bite Out of the Cider Category

20 Mar 2014 --- Johnny Appleseed, a new, refreshingly sweet and intense hard apple cider with a crisp apple bite, will arrive on store shelves nationwide April 7. Inspired by the legendary adventurer and storyteller, Johnny Appleseed Hard Apple Cider was created for anyone with a thirst for adventure and a story to share.

Like its explorer namesake, Johnny Appleseed Hard Apple Cider was created for — and by — those who believe life is about the journey, not the destination. More than 750 consumers (men and women 21-34 years old) from the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom helped to co-design the brand, from taste profile to packaging.

In development since 2011, Johnny Appleseed Hard Apple Cider is the first wholly new brand from Anheuser-Busch in eight years, and arrives at the perfect time for the fast-growing cider category.

“Cider is hotter than ever right now, and Johnny Appleseed is an exciting new entry to the category” said Adam Oakley, Vice President of High-End at Anheuser-Busch. “We have something very special here – the perfect balance of sweetness and intensity with a refreshing crisp apple bite. It’s unlike any other hard cider on the market.”

With an ABV of 5.5%, Johnny Appleseed is a refreshing hard apple cider best enjoyed on the rocks in a highball glass to bring out the full, crisp apple taste. Crafted in Baldwinsville, New York, it is made with apple juice sourced from apples in the U.S. and fine orchards around the globe, as well as cider yeast and other natural ingredients.

Johnny Appleseed Hard Apple Cider will be available in 12-ounce glass bottles with a twist-off cap in six-packs and 12-packs, and sold individually in 16oz. and 25oz. cans. Draught distribution will be available starting this summer.