Both fruits are nicely balanced on the palate, however, and arrive in a bright, fresh guise. Ideal for those who carry a bottle of Tabasco wherever they travel, this is one spicy seltzer. Don't expect the company's vodka in Smirnoff Sparkling Seltzers—they're malt beverages and they're rather good, especially if you like a bolder fruit. These cans are so popular, there have been shortages—it even outsold Budweiser during the 2019 summer season. Spiked seltzers are definitely trending at the moment, but it's more than just a passing fad. Search This seltzer delivers some funky kombucha notes, but it’s delicious. While many brands build their formulas on a brewed-malt foundation, others have introduced wine- and spirits-based products. Australia’s very own truly local and independent Hard Seltzer brand. Polar Seltzer is known for its non-alcoholic sparkling waters, but the brand recently entered the hard-seltzer market with Arctic Summer. If you're tired of drinking vodka cranberries, try some of the offerings from the best rated hard seltzer brands. 2. From the people behind Two Beers Brewing and Seattle Cider Co., the drink ferments organic fruit juice to create thirst-quenching beverages that are a joy to sip on. Press Seltzer. Smirnoff offers some unique naturally-flavored options: cranberry-lime, lemonade, and piña colada. It's definitely different than White Claw and many people find that they prefer one or the other. Made with water from the St. Vrain River, it's a Rocky Mountain delight that will catch your attention—if not the bright cans, then with the fresh flavors. Press was designed to be a session seltzer (4 percent ABV) and one that can be paired with food. It's safe to say that White Claw is responsible for bringing hard seltzer to everyone's attention. Although Fellr wasn’t the first hard seltzer to hit the Australian market, it’s one of the most recognisable (arguably just behind White Claw) and is firmly established as a favourite amongst drinkers. The palate is lively, approachable, and refreshingly tart. If you're looking for a convenient way to replace that vodka and soda, it's a great option. In its natural form, dragonfruit delivers a tropical mix of pear, kiwi, and citrus fruit. With a broad range of companies — from craft breweries to alcohol conglomerates — vying for a slice of the lucrative pie, there are dozens of new brands, each with its own interpretation of what constitutes the perfect, lightly flavored, gently sparkling alcoholic beverage. Truly is like drinking flavored club soda that's not too sweet. You can thank us later. They have around 100 calories and 2 grams of carbs per 12-ounce can, though they have less sugar (from zero to 2 to 5 grams). They have a striking natural flavor, perfect when you want some oomph in your seltzer. They're remarkably refreshing and flavors like raspberry-Meyer lemon and pineapple-passionfruit seltzers are perfect for summer. In the year that’s passed since VinePair’s first annual hard seltzer roundup, much has changed within the category. Fellr. At first you may wonder exactly what makes this a Mojito, as the berries take prominent center stage on the nose. The aromas are zesty, and even hint at an expression of citrus oils. Its base is "beer made from cane sugar" and includes natural flavors and sugar cane. SeekOut Hard Seltzer. Grapefruit is a fan favorite and they also offer black cherry, pineapple, and watermelon. It’s the leading brand of hard seltzer in the US, and Americans have been guzzling down so much of the stuff lately that the brand has struggled to keep up with demand. There’s a decent body to it as well, offering a tasty spiked beverage that packs more punch than the average hard seltzer. This seltzer pours a striking pink rosé color with vibrant effervescence. This seltzer has appealed to both wine and beer drinkers. An icon in its own right, White Claw remains the leading option when it comes to black cherry-flavored hard seltzer. The flavors range from simple fruits to intriguing combinations and the carbonation levels vary greatly. Originally called "Spiked Seltzer," it was created in response to vodka-soda drinks. The brand was created by two Sydney blokes, Andy Skora and Will Morgan, who left their day jobs at the top of this year to tackle the pre-mix category hard. 1. While the beverage may appeal to a younger generation of consumers, it also reaches across multiple demographics and ages nationwide. Monday Night Brewing Narwater Blueberry Raspberry, 4. Combining watermelon and ginger, this hard seltzer comes straight out of left field but works surprisingly well. High Noon is a flavored seltzer blended with vodka—not malt liquor. Contact the ‘seltzer hotline’ (@sipshardseltzer) to become a stockist, a friend or fan of. The current hard seltzer boom traces its origins back to 2013 when Nick Shields, a manager for a small beer brand, and his business partner, Dave Holmes, created SpikedSeltzer. The palate continues in similar fashion, with a good concentration of fruit flavor and full-bodied mouthfeel. Los Angeles-based Pulp Culture offers an intriguing range of kombucha-esque spiked seltzers. Strawberry and guava riff off each other really nicely on this hard seltzer’s inviting nose. For those who enjoy crushing Cosmos, this is the seltzer for you. Some examples resemble hard kombucha, while others toe the line of ready-to-drink cocktails. But here's the thing — Henry's is just not that good. All are naturally flavored and boast a pleasant sparkle. Willie’s Superbrew Mango & Passionfruit, 12 Things You Should Know About Laphroaig, Britain’s Dark Mild Beer Style Is Making a Craft Comeback, Less Is More: Why Small-Format Wine Bottles Are Trending, 10 Things You Should Know About Cîroc Vodka, Charting the Effects of the Judgment of Paris in Napa, The 30 Best Hard Seltzers of 2020 | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/buy-this-booze/30-best-hard-seltzers-2020/, wbs_cat Beer, wbs_type Flavored Malt Beverage, wbs_type Hard Seltzer, wbs_brand Arctic Summer, wbs_brand Barefoot, wbs_brand Bluemarble, wbs_brand Bon & Viv, wbs_brand Brizzy, wbs_brand Bud Light, wbs_brand Bud Light Hard Seltzer, wbs_brand Canteen Spirits, wbs_brand Ficks, wbs_brand High Noon, wbs_brand Kona Brewing Company, wbs_brand Lift Bridge Brewery, wbs_brand Monday Night Brewing, wbs_brand Omission, wbs_brand Pompette, wbs_brand PRESS, wbs_brand Pulp Culture, wbs_brand SeekOut Seltzer, wbs_brand Smirnoff, wbs_brand Truly Hard Seltzer, wbs_brand Two Roads Brewing Company, wbs_brand Vive Hard Seltzer, wbs_brand White Claw, wbs_brand Wild Basin, wbs_brand Willie\'s Superbrew, buy this booze, hard seltzer, spiked seltzer, 12 Things You Should Know About Laphroaig | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/articles/laphroaig-10-scotch-guide/, wbs_cat Spirit, wbs_type Scotch, wbs_brand Laphroaig, history, need to know, scotch. Orange, grapefruit, lemon, and lime are each distinguishable on the nose, while the palate is bright, refreshing, and really well balanced. The ingredient list also includes "real fruit juice," sparkling water, and natural flavors. Mixed with pink apple, raspberry, strawberry, or white peach, you get a taste of sparkling rosé wine in a lighter, more convenient form. Sparkle not your thing? There’s no bitter hint of malt and not the faintest burn of alcohol. It will no doubt be a familiar pairing for fans of Hendrick’s gin, and you could definitely spike this with a splash of the spirit for some extra punch. The distribution is limited, but it's one to check out when you see it. This seltzer has an attractive light purple hue. Is Hard Selter Actually Healthy? One of the biggest hard seltzer brands in the US, Press Seltzer has a bunch of great options, but be warned, they come with a kick. Following a tasting of over 130 offerings, here are the 30 best hard seltzer brands you can buy, tasted and ranked. The palate is nuanced and layered. Its aromas are expressive and inviting, while the palate is straight-up classic seltzer: clean and crisp, with just a kiss of watermelon. By October, the combined sales of both brands had exceeded the $2.5 billion valuation some market analysts were predicting for the entire hard seltzer category by the end of 2021. It's made with coconut water, fermented malted barley extract, sugar, and natural flavors. This one is more Jolly Rancher than cough syrup on the nose (thankfully), and is vibrant and punchy on the palate, with just the right amount of sweetness. Creating great tasting cocktails at home is easy once you have some recipes. This beverage arrives in a 750-milliliter bottle, making it an interesting outlier in the hard seltzer world. The combination is a winner, with the herbs adding a refreshing finish to the vibrant berry flavors. The raspberries come through tart and fresh on the nose, evoking memories of plucking fresh berries from a bush. Unlike the majority, High Noon is made with vodka. But there’s more to spiked seltzers than cold, hard, impressive sales stats. In the end, VinePair defined the category using the calorie- and carb-conscious formula that’s made hard seltzers so successful. In 2016 the burgeoning hard seltzer category moved up a gear with the launch of the category’s two biggest players: White Claw and Truly. Hard seltzers are primarily malt beverages—some are fermented from fruit juice, others have an actual vodka base. It starts (relatively) sweet, transitions to tart and astringent, and finishes fruity. Our final ranking is based on a tasting of more than 130 different offerings. SeekOut Real Hard Seltzer Cucumber & Juniper, 23. Anyone who loves to explore flavors will appreciate the blend of fruits with herbs or spices: blackberry-hibiscus, pomegranate-ginger, lime-lemongrass, and grapefruit-cardamom. In 2019 alone, U.S. drinkers bought more hard seltzer by volume than vodka, purchasing a barely believable 2.1 billion 355-milliliter cans, according to global data firm IWSR. Simply an alcoholic, flavoured sparkling water. Crafted with quality ingredients, White Claw® Hard Seltzer 70 is made from a blend of seltzer water, our gluten-free alcohol base, and a hint of fruit flavor. If you’re looking for something that’s true to the subtle flavors of real fruit (versus concentrated natural flavorings), you’ll love this. The best offering from Smirnoff’s extensive lineup, this hard seltzer smells like a glass of lemonade garnished with a handful of fresh berries. The Weekender pack features the pineapple-pomelo, ruby-red grapefruit, raspberry-lime, and black-cherry flavors. Registered dietitians and nutritionists weigh in on the pros and cons of hard seltzers like White Claw and Truly Spiked & Sparkling. Bon & Viv offers an unflavored seltzer, grapefruit, prickly pear, and cranberry. Intensely aromatic, a spray of orange jumps out of the can as soon as you crack it open. Craft brewers of all sizes have also canned their takes on hard seltzer. It’s vibrant on the nose and eye-clenchingly astringent on the palate — just like the real thing. Truly Hard Seltzer, White Claw Hard Seltzer, Pura Still, Bon and Viv Spiked Seltzer, Wild Basin Seltzer, Press Hard Seltzer and Henrys Hard Seltzer are all some of our favorites. See the best hard seltzers for 2020 now! Arctic Summer Spiked Pineapple Pomelo, 26. A vibrant mix of citrus fruit on the nose, this is no boozy diet Sprite. The flavors are natural and the seltzer is refreshing, bright, and gently sweetened. The spice is notable on the palate, too, and jives nicely with the blood orange flavors. The aromas are pleasantly intense while the palate is light and refreshing without lacking flavor. Standing head and shoulders above the many raspberry hard seltzers on sale, this example delivers the fruit in its freshest, juiciest form. It’s definitely a hard seltzer we felt good about sipping. This hard seltzer captures the subtle, pleasant aromas of freshly picked blackberries. All are "crafted to remove gluten.". The flavor combos bring herbs into the mix with pear elderflower, clementine hibiscus, and black cherry rosemary and they're all quite sippable. Hard seltzer, spiked seltzer or hard sparkling alcohol water is a type of highball drink containing carbonated water, alcohol, and often fruit flavoring. No sugar, no carbs, no sweeteners, no-nonsense, and an utterly delicious taste in Raspberry or Lime. "Pure" is their unflavored seltzer. Drink extra-chilled, or pour over ice to take some of the heat off that chili. 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