Right Bee Semi-Sweet 6Pk

Right Bee Semi-Sweet 6Pk is a 6% ABV craft cider made with fresh-pressed American-grown apples and a touch of rooftop honey, sold in a six-pack format. Produced at Chicago’s first urban cidery, this expression stands apart through its use of honey harvested from beehives kept on the cidery’s own roof, lending subtle floral complexity to a clean, approachable semi-sweet profile.
Quick Facts: ABV: 6%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Semi-Sweet Cider  |  Cidery: Right Bee Cider
Production & Heritage
Right Bee Cider holds the distinction of being Chicago’s first urban cidery, founded and operated by a husband-and-wife team in the city’s Hermosa neighborhood on the northwest side. The cidery occupies space in the historic old Schwinn bicycle building, a fitting home for a brand rooted in local character. The Semi-Sweet is fermented from fresh-pressed American-grown apples using champagne-style yeast, producing a dry base cider to which a measured amount of honey from the cidery’s own rooftop beehives is added, contributing the balanced sweetness that defines this expression.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Clean apple blossom and orchard fruit rise first, followed by a delicate thread of wildflower honey. There is a faint yeasty freshness underneath, reminiscent of the champagne-style fermentation.
Taste: The entry is crisp and light, with tart apple character leading the way. At mid-palate, gentle honeyed sweetness emerges without becoming cloying, balancing the natural acidity of the pressed apples. The overall impression is refreshing and sessionable, leaning semi-dry despite the semi-sweet designation.
Finish: The finish is clean and relatively short, with lingering notes of apple skin and a faint floral sweetness. There is no residual heaviness, making it easy to reach for another glass.
How to Drink Right Bee Semi-Sweet
This cider drinks best chilled straight from the container or poured over ice on a warm day. Its light body and moderate sweetness also make it a versatile mixer. A Cider Shandy — blending it half-and-half with a wheat beer — plays up the honeyed quality nicely. A Cider Mule with ginger beer and fresh lime lets the apple tartness shine against spice. For a brunch-friendly option, use it in a Cider Mimosa in place of champagne, where its effervescence and subtle honey note pair naturally with orange juice.
Best For
Backyard cookouts and warm-weather gatherings where sessionability matters
Introducing craft cider to friends who typically drink beer
Supporting a Chicago-made, small-batch local producer
Stocking a weekend cooler with a gluten-free alternative to beer
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Right Bee Semi-Sweet taste like? It delivers a crisp, fresh-pressed apple flavor balanced by gentle sweetness from rooftop honey, landing closer to semi-dry than overtly sweet. The champagne-yeast fermentation keeps it light and refreshing with clean acidity.
How does Right Bee Semi-Sweet compare to Angry Orchard Crisp Apple? Angry Orchard Crisp Apple is a nationally distributed cider at 5% ABV with a noticeably sweeter, more fruit-forward profile, while Right Bee Semi-Sweet sits at 6% ABV and uses real honey from the cidery’s own rooftop hives to achieve a more nuanced, less sugary sweetness. Right Bee is a small-batch, Chicago-produced cider, whereas Angry Orchard is made by the Boston Beer Company at a much larger scale.
Is Right Bee Semi-Sweet good for cider beginners? Yes — its approachable sweetness, low 6% ABV, and clean apple flavor make it an excellent entry point for anyone new to craft cider without overwhelming the palate.
Where is Right Bee Semi-Sweet made? Right Bee Semi-Sweet is produced at Right Bee Cider in the Hermosa neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side, housed in the historic former Schwinn bicycle factory building.
What foods pair well with Right Bee Semi-Sweet? Grilled pork chops benefit from the cider’s apple-honey sweetness cutting through rich, smoky flavors. Sharp cheddar cheese creates a classic contrast of tangy and sweet. A spinach salad with goat cheese and walnuts complements the floral honey notes. Pulled chicken tacos with slaw work well against the cider’s crisp acidity. Apple-based desserts like a rustic tart echo and amplify the core fruit character.
What sizes does Right Bee Semi-Sweet come in? This product is sold as a six-pack, which is the standard retail format for Right Bee Semi-Sweet.
Is Right Bee Semi-Sweet worth the price? Right Bee Semi-Sweet positions as a craft-tier cider from a small, independent, husband-and-wife-operated cidery using fresh-pressed apples and their own rooftop honey — details that justify a modest premium over mass-market cider brands for drinkers who value provenance and local production.
Why Right Bee Semi-Sweet?
What separates this cider from the crowded semi-sweet category is the genuine connection between ingredient and maker. The honey does not come from an anonymous supplier — it comes from beehives the owners maintain on the roof of their own cidery, a detail that influences the flavor and reflects a level of hands-on production rarely seen at any scale. As Chicago’s first urban cidery, Right Bee carries a pioneering role in the city’s craft beverage landscape. For drinkers seeking a locally made, thoughtfully produced cider with real character behind the label, the Semi-Sweet six-pack delivers substance beyond its sessionable 6% ABV.