CINCINNATI -- This spring, the Angry Orchard Cider Co. is releasing a new year-round Cider House Collection specialty cider, The Muse. Inspired by slightly sweet demi-sec champagnes and sparkling wines, the cider makers at Angry Orchard experimented with select apple blends, wood-aging and fermentation methods to create this specialty release.
The Muse is an effervescent, fruit-forward cider perfect for celebratory occasions or as an unconventional alternative to white wine.
“For The Muse, we drew upon our nearly 20 years of experimentation with apple blends, wood aging and fermentation techniques to develop a specialty sparkling cider,” said David Sipes, cider maker for Angry Orchard. “Ultimately, we chose to use a blend of apples from the Alto Adige region of Italy and from Normandy and Bretagne, France, and to age the cider on French oak staves in order to create an effervescent, fruit-forward cider akin to slightly sweet demi-sec champagnes and sparkling wines.”
The Muse has a distinct, juicy apple aroma and is slightly sweet upfront, balanced by a bright acidity, and finishes slightly dry with a lingering flavor of sweet, fresh apples. The newest addition to the Cider House Collection is aged on French oak staves, which adds a subtle wood impression and imparts notes of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and hints of vanilla.
With the addition of The Muse, the Cider House Collection expands its portfolio to three specialty ciders, including Iceman and Strawman, all offered year-round in a 750-ml., corked-caged bottle. Muse’s alcohol content is 7.7% alcohol by volume.
The Angry Orchard Cider House Collection is now available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $14.99-$17.99 per bottle (price varies by market).
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