Launching Monday, nationwide: Angry Orchard hard ciders from Sam Adams parent co.

Angry Orchard Crisp Apple and Angry Orchard Apple Ginger go nationwide on Monday. The hard ciders are made by The Boston Beer Company, parent of Samuel Adams. Today at the 4th annual Myrtle Beach Beer Fest, Katie Healy, Boston Beer rep for Coastal South Carolina, showed me the six-pack packaging for Angry Orchard ciders. I tried both. I think the Crisp Apple presents a serious challenge to Woodchuck Amber, and I liked the touch of ginger in the Apple Ginger.

Hard Cider for health and diet

Check this out:

Woodchuck Dark & Dry:  180 calories ... 16 grams of sugar ... 5 percent alcohol by volume

Hardcore Premium Cider:  180 calories ... 14 grams of sugar ... 5.5 percent alcohol by volume

Hornsby's Amber Draft:  170 calories ... 9 grams of sugar ... 6 percent alcohol by volume