The flavors are natural and the seltzer is refreshing, bright, and gently sweetened. If you're tired of drinking vodka cranberries, try some of the offerings from the best rated hard seltzer brands. The flavors are basic—black cherry, lime, mango, raspberry, and ruby grapefruit—yet very well done and nicely balanced with the sparkle. You can thank us later. Sound Craft keeps it simple and that's a good thing. 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. Orange, grapefruit, lemon, and lime are each distinguishable on the nose, while the palate is bright, refreshing, and really well balanced. This time, I've been compiling some opinions on the alcoholic seltzers trend that have come to Australia in a frenzy since White Claw hit our shores. 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. The ingredient list also includes "real fruit juice," sparkling water, and natural flavors. What Are Fever-Tree Tonic Waters and Sodas? The overall profile is tart, juicy, and refreshingly fruity. © 2014 - 2020 VinePair Inc. — Made In NYC, Next Round Live: What's Happening in the Drinks Industry Now, 30. Both fruits are nicely balanced on the palate, however, and arrive in a bright, fresh guise. In the year that’s passed since VinePair’s first annual hard seltzer roundup, much has changed within the category. 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. An icon in its own right, White Claw remains the leading option when it comes to black cherry-flavored hard seltzer. Arctic Summer Spiked Pineapple Pomelo, 26. The aromas are pleasantly intense while the palate is light and refreshing without lacking flavor. The aromas and flavors are highly concentrated and true to the fresh ingredients. The palate is nuanced and layered. All are naturally flavored and boast a pleasant sparkle. Press was designed to be a session seltzer (4 percent ABV) and one that can be paired with food. The best standalone cranberry option on the market, this is a wonderful representation of the tart red fruit. The palate is lively, approachable, and refreshingly tart. Pouring a cloudy lemon color, this drink’s aromas recall the mix of fresh berries you might sprinkle granola over and serve with yoghurt for breakfast. Arguably even tastier than the cocktail itself, there’s nothing to say about this hard seltzer other than it’s incredibly clean. In its natural form, dragonfruit delivers a tropical mix of pear, kiwi, and citrus fruit. Strawberry and guava riff off each other really nicely on this hard seltzer’s inviting nose. Earlier this year, Bud Light got in on the hard seltzer game (its parent company Anheuser Busch also produces hard seltzers from Bon & Viv and Natural Light) with … Drink extra-chilled, or pour over ice to take some of the heat off that chili. Its aromas are expressive and inviting, while the palate is straight-up classic seltzer: clean and crisp, with just a kiss of watermelon. The palate tastes like Fanta Orange without the sweetness — but that’s a good thing. Here are the 30 best hard seltzers you can buy right now, tasted and ranked. 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. Its color even looks like raspberry, and everything is well integrated and balanced on the palate. It’s a really authentic orange aroma, with hints of peel, pith, and flesh. 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. Sparkle not your thing? Intensely aromatic, a spray of orange jumps out of the can as soon as you crack it open. Our final ranking is based on a tasting of more than 130 different offerings. Simply an alcoholic, flavoured sparkling water. One of the most well-known hard seltzer brands, White Claw is made with a blend of seltzer water, our gluten-free alcohol base, and a hint of fruit flavor. Mixed with pink apple, raspberry, strawberry, or white peach, you get a taste of sparkling rosé wine in a lighter, more convenient form. Everything You Need to Know About the Trendy Drink, The 10 Best Canned Cocktails to Drink in 2021, The 8 Best Flavored Syrups for Beverages in 2021, 11 Refreshingly Sweet Watermelon Cocktails, 15 Fabulous and Fresh Blueberry Cocktails. Most seltzers opt for the slim can, but SeekOut goes with the traditional beer can style. There’s a decent body to it as well, offering a tasty spiked beverage that packs more punch than the average hard seltzer. Made with real vodka (rather than fermented malt), there’s an added concentration of flavor and heavier mouthfeel on the palate. The lemon is candied, like a lemon drizzle cake; the hibiscus adds a sweet floral seasoning; and the agave lends spice undertones. Get our free book when you sign up for our newsletter. 2. Henry's Hard Soda has been one of the top hard soda brands for several years, but their venture into the hard seltzer realm has received mixed reviews. With this hard seltzer, Minnesota-based Lift Bridge Brewery serves the ideal mix of fresh wild berries many other brands try to achieve, but fail to completely deliver. The raspberries come through tart and fresh on the nose, evoking memories of plucking fresh berries from a bush. 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. This seltzer is crisp, clean, and highly expressive. The distribution is limited, but it's one to check out when you see it. It’s a simple offering, but at the same time a huge achievement: Nothing tastes artificial, there are no bitter malty notes, and everything is wonderfully balanced. Sold in bottles and cans, you may find it in your local beer case. This seltzer delivers some funky kombucha notes, but it’s delicious. It's made with coconut water, fermented malted barley extract, sugar, and natural flavors. Crisp, refreshing, sparkling, and gently flavored, hard seltzers offer a convenient alternative to soda mixed drinks. Smirnoff entering the hard seltzer market should not surprise anyone. 1. These cans are so popular, there have been shortages—it even outsold Budweiser during the 2019 summer season. Need a dose of this? It's definitely different than White Claw and many people find that they prefer one or the other. Originally called "Spiked Seltzer," it was created in response to vodka-soda drinks. Truly is like drinking flavored club soda that's not too sweet. This seltzer has an attractive light purple hue. It's safe to say that White Claw is responsible for bringing hard seltzer to everyone's attention. Monday Night Brewing Narwater Blueberry Raspberry, 4. While not all options will be available nationwide, we wanted to provide the most accurate, in-depth exploration of products on the market. Its aromas mix cocktail cherries, almond essence, and rose petals. With all the options, there's sure to be a spiked seltzer that's perfect for everyone's taste, whether you're drinking them straight or using them as cocktail mixers. The chili is lively on the nose, so be careful not to inhale its aromas too hard! If you’re looking for something that’s true to the subtle flavors of real fruit (versus concentrated natural flavorings), you’ll love this. "Pure" is their unflavored seltzer. Serving an attractive cloudy-pear pour, this hard seltzer features an enticing mix of fresh citrus fruits. Is Hard Selter Actually Healthy? The floral note continues onto the palate, adding a delicate touch of complexity. 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. For gin lovers, there's cucumber-juniper, which is simply impressive. 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. But here's the thing — Henry's is just not that good. The palate is fruity and crisp, with persisting berry notes. 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. “Seltzer is a huge trend that has impacted the beer industry in the past year, and we don’t see that stopping anytime soon,” says Ann Legan, VP brand marketing Corona. Our favourite is the Blood Orange Chilli flavour, that offers a little bite, in more ways than one. Sometimes you just want a straightforward vodka soda with no added flavors. With 5% Alc/Vol and 1 standard drink per serve, Sips Hard Seltzer keeps you fresh and vibing whether you’re hanging the laundry or hanging out with your mates. We decided to find out which are the best hard seltzer brands on store shelves. So, chances are these cans of hard seltzer are pretty good, even if one flavor is a little off. The fruit flavors are well balanced on the palate, too, but arrive as a subtle seasoning to the lively seltzer water. The aromas are zesty, and even hint at an expression of citrus oils. 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. The palate is more reserved, but still tastes unmistakably of tart raspberry with just a spray of blueberry. 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. Slap of fresh citrus fruits, most refreshing hard seltzers on sale, this is no diet... Are basic—black cherry, pineapple, and natural flavors and sugar cane s definitely something should... 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