New Ciders From Angry Orchard And Crispin Cider Company

Angry Orchard has introduced the latest addition to its line of seasonal releases: a honey-sweetened cider aptly named Summer Honey, available now through August. After experimenting with a variety of honey, the development team chose wildflower honey for its subtle taste and floral aroma.

Bright and clean without being overly sweet, Summer Honey is a welcome reprieve from the heavy, stout-y beers we drank all winter in an effort to keep warm. Made with American culinary apples from Washington State, this "fruit-forward" cider was created to be an ideal companion to all your favorite summer foods: barbecue, pulled pork, and macaroni and cheese, to name a few.

Next, from the Crispin Cider Company, is the limited-release Venus Reigns, the company's first pear barrel-aged cider, made from Colfax, California, golden pear wine that was aged for 26 months in red wine casks. Venus Reigns is richer than Summer Honey, and has hints of dried fruit and dark cherries. Compared to Summer Honey's 5 percent alcohol by volume, Venus Reigns offers 6.9 percent.

Summer Honey will be available through the summer, but the small-batch Venus Reigns is only available for a limited time.