Skip to main content

Tap into Maple Syrup Season with Angry Orchard Tapped Maple

Naturally-sweet maple syrup is used to balance a dry cider in this new seasonal release.

Angry Orchard cider makers are literally “tapping” into the flavors of the season with the release of two new ciders, Tapped Maple and Spiced Apple.

Maple trees in Vermont are tapped in late winter to extract the highly-anticipated maple syrup. The Angry Orchard brewers in the nearby Hudson Valley of New York were inspired to honor syrup season by incorporating the flavors into their cider recipes.

Angry Orchard Tapped Maple
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Like apples, not all maple syrup is created equal. The flavors can vary significantly from season to season and depending on production techniques,” said Ryan Burk, Head Cider Maker at Angry Orchard. “My team and I visited maple farmers from across the Northeast to dive deeper into the qualities that make maple syrup unique, then took those findings back to our Cider House to incorporate this natural sweetener into a dry cider we’d been working on. Ultimately, we found a nice combination with Tapped Maple.”

The base cider for Tapped Maple is made from culinary apple juice from the Pacific Northwest region including Braeburn, Fuji, Granny Smith, Gala and Pink Lady apples. These apples are high in acidity, yielding a fairly dry base cider. But the addition of naturally sweet maple syrup provides a balance, along with a strong maple aroma and full, round mouthfeel. If you’re looking for a taste contrast, Angry Orchard recommends pairing Tapped Maple with dishes like fried chicken or pork tacos. Or try the cider as a complement to sweeter tastes like banana pudding.

As the cider makers were experimenting with various seasonal tastes, they also developed another new limited release cider for their Angry Orchard’s Winter Orchard Sampler Variety Pack – the Angry Orchard Spiced Apple.

The recipe for Spiced Apple yields a flavor reminiscent of baked apple pie, with the taste of fresh apple infused with seasonal spices.

Tapped Maple is available in 6-packs nationwide through April 2017. Spiced Apple is available as a limited release in the Winter Orchard Sampler Variety Pack through April 2017.

Topics
Lee Heidel
Lee Heidel is the managing editor of Brew/Drink/Run, a website and podcast that promotes brewing your own beer, consuming the…
Espresso martini, hot toddy, and more: These 6 apres-ski drinks perfectly cap a day on the slopes
A warm drink after a frigid day just hits different
Friend enjoying après ski in a ski lodge

When the sun dips below the horizon and your day on the slopes comes to an end, there's nothing quite like the ritual of enjoying apres-ski drinks to warm up and unwind. Whether you're nestled in a cozy mountain ski lodge or savoring the crisp alpine air, these wintery sips add an extra layer of magic to your winter adventures.

If you're looking for ways to spruce up your downtime on the slopes, let's explore six delightful apres-ski drinks that have become cherished traditions for winter sports enthusiasts. From the aromatic mulled wine to the rich espresso martini, we'll dive into the origins and appeal of each drink. So, grab a seat by the fire, and let's embark on a journey through the world of treasured ski lodge winter beverages.

Read more
How to make a French 75, a great cocktail you’re (probably) overlooking
The French 75 sounds cool, is cool, and tastes wonderful
Boozy Bubbly Lemon French 75 Cocktail with Champagne

In the hierarchy of classic cocktails, the French 75 doesn't get the respect it deserves. While boozier drinks like the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and margarita get all the press, the French 75 cocktail is one of the easiest, freshest, most refreshing mixed drinks ever conceived and belongs more in the limelight. Even when it comes to gin-based drinks, it seems to often get overlooked in favor of gin and tonics, gin gimlets, and other drinks. This leaves us scratching our proverbial heads because it's such a great drink. In the simplest terms, the French 75 ingredients are gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. That's it. The sparkling wine is the main ingredient, making it an effervescent, delicious, sweet, citrus-filled experience. What's not to love?

The French 75 Recipe
Ingredients

Read more
The surprising ways vodka can actually be good for you
Vodka: Could your favorite spirit somehow also be the key to good health?
Liquor bottles on a bar shelf

The weekend is a great time to break out the top-shelf vodka and relax with a vodka cocktail. It’s when people choose to leave their worries behind and celebrate the week finally being over. However, there is much more to vodka than having a good time with your friends after a long, tiring week. Actually, there are quite a few health benefits of vodka most people don't even consider.

While vodka (like any type of alcohol) isn't necessarily healthy, there are some benefits to the spirit. Just make sure you don't use them to justify excessive drinking. Keep reading to find out about the various vodka health benefits.

Read more