Skip to main content

Angry Orchard Releases Easy Apple, A Surprisingly Sessionable Summer Cider

If you’re drinking this summer, chances are it will be outside. If it isn’t outside, now is the time to find ways to make sure you are day drinking outside. Seriously. Find a place that you can bring the adorable dog that you adopted to be your best buddy (and help you attract ladies any time you two step foot outside together), throw a six-pack in the cooler, and go go go.

Now that we’re back on the same page (getting drunk outside + adorable dog = best time ever), it’s time to talk what you’ll be drinking when you go out. If you’re thinking beers, Double IPAs and other heavy beers are out—who wants to feel like the Michelin Man wobbling around in 90-degree heat with a porter sloshing around in his stomach? No, you need something lighter. Something you can pound down more than one or two of, since day drinking is, after all, an all-day sport.

Recommended Videos

This summer, Angry Orchard is attempting to give you a new option to up your day-drinking game with their latest release, Easy Apple. The cider comes in at a sessionable 4.2% ABV and was designed to not be as sweet as their previous offerings (getting thirsty because of sugar overload falls just behind salt overload in terribleness). In addition, Easy Apple is unfiltered a style craft cider drinkers are already very familiar with.

On the nose you’ll get tartness from the yeast and on the palate Easy Apple tastes like, well, apples (considering two apples go into every bottle of cider, they nailed this one). The finish is dry, though, which when the cider is chilled, is pretty refreshing.

Next time you’re out this summer with nothing to do but day-drink and you’re tired of the taste of hops, you might want to try Easy Apple. No guarantees that it’ll help you land a summer girl, but it won’t hurt to try.

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
Chocolate-covered espresso beans: The ultimate combination of sweet and bitter
A coffee lover's perfect snack
chocolate espresso

Chocolate and coffee go together like peanut butter and jelly or wine and cheese. It just makes sense. Despite these commonly known food pairings, many chocolate and coffee lovers have forgotten the ultimate snack: chocolate-covered espresso beans. Many of us get stuck in our food "hyper fixations," as I call them, where we tend to gravitate toward the same foods or snacks until they're replaced with a new option.

As it turns out, this snack is just as delicious as I remembered them. No matter how long it's been since you've snacked on them, consider this your reminder to fall in love with chocolate covered espresso beans all over again.
The appeal of chocolate covered espresso beans

Read more
Bottomless portafilter vs. regular: Which one makes better espresso?
What makes each portafilter different?
espresso filter

One thing I love about brewing espresso is that it can be adjusted and adapted for any skill level. Whether you're a coffee nerd or a barista who wants to perfect every part of the brewing process, you can brew espresso. Regardless of your skill level, you need to learn about one of the most critical components of an espresso maker: the portafilter. You can't brew espresso without it -- unless you're using a capsule-style system like a Nespresso Veruto.

There are two types of portafilters that you can use with your espresso maker, yet neither is better than the other. Both the bottomless portafilter and a regular, spouted portafilter do the trick to brew delicious espresso. With this in mind, the winner of the bottomless portafilter vs. regular debate comes down to your preferences and how deeply invested you are in the art of brewing espresso. Here's what to know about each type of espresso filter.
Bottomless portafilter vs. regular

Read more
This is how to make beef tips worthy of the Kentucky Derby
Chef Robert Lopez spills the tea on how to make slow-cooked beef tips
Horses racing in the Kentucky Derby

When it comes to the Kentucky Derby, the spectacle isn’t just on the racetrack. The annual event is synonymous with Southern tradition, elegance, and indulgence, which makes it the perfect backdrop for a curated, high-end dining experience. Chef Robert Lopez, Senior Executive Chef at Levy Restaurants and Head Chef at Churchill Downs, has crafted a Derby-inspired menu that blends tradition with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to capture the essence of this legendary horse racing event.

Lopez is known for his attention to detail and deep respect for classic Southern flavors, and he has carefully and thoughtfully selected dishes like the Bluegrass Fields Salad and drinks like the mint julep that evoke both comfort and refinement. You’re in for a treat, as we had the pleasure of speaking with the chef and picking his brain on how he selected these recipes for this year's menu. One of the most popular dishes that he has on there are the slow-cooked beef tips, and we were eager to learn not only how to make beef tips, but also how to do them the Kentucky Derby way.

Read more