Angry Orchard Hard Cider launches in Canada

Best-selling American hard cider hits shelves in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, with the rest of the country to follow later this summer

TORONTO, June 23, 2014 /CNW/ - The cider makers at Angry Orchard today announced that Angry Orchard Crisp Apple hard cider is now available in Canada, just in time for summer patio and BBQ season. Since its U.S. national debut in 2012, Angry Orchard has become the number one selling cider brand in America¹. Hard cider is one of the fastest growing beverage categories in Canada, and with this growing popularity, Angry Orchard is eager to introduce its hard ciders as a high-quality, refreshing alternative to beer and wine. Angry Orchard is now available in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta and will roll out to the rest of Canada later this summer.

The cider makers at Angry Orchard have experimented with different apple varieties and fermentation methods for more than 15 years, looking to perfect the craft of cider making. The cider makers discovered that Italian culinary apples and French bittersweet apples were best suited for the flavour profile of Angry Orchard Crisp Apple. In Normandy and Bretagne, France, farmers have been growing cider apples specific to cider making for hundreds of years. Unlike ordinary apples, these bittersweet apples impart certain tannins, acidity and flavours lending body, mouthfeel and complexity to the cider. The culinary apples from Italy have a juicy, ripe apple character that, when combined with the bittersweet apples, results in an exceptional blend that contributes to the complex flavour profile of each Angry Orchard cider style.

"We have spent years crafting the perfect blend of carefully selected ingredients to create the highest-quality Angry Orchard ciders. We're proud Canada can now taste the 'fruits of our labour' and believe that Angry Orchard will satisfy drinkers looking to discover a crisp and refreshing beverage with a complex but balanced flavour profile," says David Sipes, cider maker for Angry Orchard.

TASTING NOTES

Angry Orchard Crisp Apple hard cider

This crisp and refreshing gluten-free cider balances natural apple sweetness with a subtle dryness for a hard to resist crisp and refreshing, fruit-forward taste.

Because of the white wine yeast and tannic characteristics from the bittersweet apples, Angry Orchard Crisp Apple shows wine-like characteristics in line with fruit-forward wine styles like Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Vouvray or Voigner but with a lower alcohol content of 5% ABV. Angry Orchard Crisp Apple hard cider is also aged on oak for optimal complexity and balance.

Not only is Angry Orchard Crisp Apple cider enjoyable on its own, but it is also a surprisingly good mixology ingredient. Hayley Jensen, a mixologist and beer sommelier at Taproom No. 307 in New York City and engaged by Angry Orchard for her expertise, has seen firsthand how Angry Orchard Crisp Apple has become a go-to beverage for drinkers and a popular mixology ingredient for shaking up classic recipes. Visit www.angryorchard.com to discover Angry Orchard cocktail recipes.

Angry Orchard hard ciders are gluten-free. Angry Orchard Crisp Apple is available year-round in 6-packs for a suggested retail price of $14.95 CAD (price varies by market). Angry Orchard Crisp Apple is also available on draft nationwide. Angry Orchard will be going to market through Beam Global Canada Inc.

About The Angry Orchard Cider Company
Angry Orchard Cider Company's cider makers have been experimenting with apple varieties and unique flavors to develop cider recipes for almost 20 years. Angry Orchard first experimented with a blend of Italian culinary apples from the foothills of the Alps and French bittersweet apples from Normandy for its original lineup including Crisp Apple, Apple Ginger, Traditional Dry, Iceman and Strawman. Year-round style Green Apple and seasonal ciders, Elderflower and Cinnful Apple, are made with apples from the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The apple juice goes through a lengthy fermentation process, with some ciders aged on oak for additional complexity and balance, before bottling.

About Beam Global Canada Inc.
As one of the world's leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Distribution partnerships in Canada include: Angry Orchard, Collective Arts Brewing, The Macallan and Highland Park Single Malt Scotches, The Famous Grouse, Brugal Rum and Bols Liqueurs.

http://www.beamsuntory.com / @BeamGlobal

About Collective Arts Brewing Ltd.
Collective Arts Brewing represents Angry Orchard hard ciders to Canada. Collective Arts Brewing is a grassroots beer company fusing the craft of brewing with the inspired talents of emerging and seasoned artists, musicians, photographers & filmmakers. Our brewery is dedicated to promote artists and raise creative consciousness through the sociability of craft beer.

www.collectiveartsbrewing.com / @CollectiveBrew

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¹ Angry Orchard is the #1 Cider Brand according to IRI, Total U.S. Multi-Outlet, last 13 weeks ending 6/1/2014

SOURCE: Collective Arts Brewing Ltd.

Linda Yahya, [email protected], 647.205.4081
Suzanne Pace, [email protected], 617.368.5198