Review: Brooklyn Hard Seltzer
Brooklyn Hard Seltzer was released by Brooklyn Brewery July 2021. Brooklyn Brewery was started with a dream to return brewing to Brooklyn New York. At on time 10% of the beer brewed in America was brewed in Brooklyn. Steve Hindy and Tom Potter founded the company in 1987. Originally all of the beer was contract brewed by Matt Brewing Company. Matt is probably best known by the Saranac Beer they brew. In 1996 Steve and Tom purchased a former Matzo factory in Williamsburg Brooklyn and converted it to their brewery. Today they produce several beers including the following year round beers, Brooklyn Lager, Bel Air Sour, The Stonewall Inn IPA, Pulp Art Hazy IPA, Special Effects IPA, East IPA, Shackmeister Ale, and Brown Ale. Japanese Brewery Kirin acquired a 24.5% stake in the company October 2016. Brooklyn Hard Seltzer is made from a dextrose alcohol base with natural fruit and other natural flavors. Read more 
Review: Funky Buddah Original Hard Seltzer Variety Pack
The Original Funky Buddah Hard Seltzer Variety pack was launched October 2020. Ryan Sentz and his brother KC opened Funky Buddah Brewery in 2013. In 2017 Constellation Brands acquired the brewery. Constellation Brands also owns Corona, Modelo, and Pacifico. Funky Buddah released a Tropical Hard Seltzer Variety pack March 2021, but it is currently only available in Florida. Funky Buddah Hard Seltzer is made from a cane sugar and blue agave alcohol base. Water, natural flavors, citric acid, and carbon dioxide complete the ingredient list. Read more
Review: Odd Side Hard Seltzer
Odd Side Hard Seltzer is crafted by Odd Side Ales in Grand Haven Michigan. Founder and Owner Chris Michner started brewing beer inside the historic Story & Clark Piano Factory in 2010. They now brew their beer and hard seltzer, and soon they will distill spirits in a new 44,000 square foot facility. The old piano factory now serves as their taproom. Head Brewer Eric Janson launched their Elevate Brand of 7% Hard Seltzer in the fall of 2019. In 2020 they changed their formula and now produce a 5% hard seltzer with 110 calories, 0 sugar and 0 carbs. Since then they have created 36 different flavor varieties. That’s more than Truly or White Claw. Odd Side is made from a dextrose alcohol base and natural flavors. Odd Side does not make a variety pack of flavors, opting only to sell their hard seltzer in single flavor six packs. Today we are sampling and reviewing 4 of these flavors. Read more
Review: Vizzy Watermelon Hard Seltzer
First there was Hard Lemonade Seltzer. Iced Tea Hard Seltzer followed. Truly and Vive produce a Punch flavored hard seltzer. Now Vizzy will launch a complete line of Watermelon hard seltzer. Their 12 can variety packs will soon be landing on your favorite liquor stores shelves. I tip my hat to Molson Coors for attempting this product launch, as watermelon is a hard flavor to produce without tasting like Jolly Rancher Watermelon candy. Like the 8 standard Vizzy Hard Seltzers and the 4 Vizzy Lemonade Hard Seltzers, Vizzy Watermelon Hard Seltzer is made with antioxidant Vitamin C from dried acerola cherry juice. The 17 mg of vitamin C in each 12 ounce can amounts to 20% of your recommended daily vitamin C requirement. Unlike the other Vizzy flavors each can of Vizzy Watermelon contains watermelon juice concentrate and sea salt. Since I like to take credit for correct guesses I must also admit when I’m wrong. I had predicted Apple would be the next flavor featured in its own 12 can hard seltzer variety pack. Now I’m wondering if Pineapple or Coconut could beat Apple. Let me know your thoughts and guesses. I will credit the first correct guesser by posting their name when I post that hard seltzer review. Read more
Review: Hi-Current Hard Seltzer
Southern Tier Brewing Company launched Hi-Current Hard Seltzer March 2020. It joins the previously released Southern Tier Cider Words Hard Cider, Southern Tier Canned Cocktails, and Southern Tier Spirits. Southern Tier Brewing Company was founded in 2002 in Lakewood New York by Phin DeMink, Sara DeMink, and Allen Skip Yahn. They began crafting beer with equipment from the old Saddleback Brewing Co. in Pittsfield Massachusetts. They currently craft 8 year round beers including Southern Tier Nu Haze, IPA, 2XIPA, Lake Shore Fog, 8 Days a Week, Live Session, 2X Stout, & Phin & Matt’s Extraordinary Ale. They also craft several specialty and seasonal beers include Southern Tier Pumpkin Imperial Ale. In 2016 Souther Tier merged with Victory Brewing of Pennsylvania. The jointly owned company is called Artisanal Brewing Ventures. Hi-Current is currently available in a four flavor 12 can variety pack. Each flavor is made from an ingredient list that includes purified water, carbon dioxide, alcohol from sugar, and natural flavors. Monk Fruit is added as a sweetener. Read more
Review: Alaskan Hard Seltzer Mixed Pack
Alaskan Mango Peach and Mixed Berry Hard Seltzer join the previously released and reviewed Alaskan Lemon Lime and Cherry Grapefruit Hard Seltzer. All four are featured in the recently released Alaskan Hard Seltzer Mixed Pack. Marcy and Geoff Larson opened Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau Alaska in 1986. Today Alaskan is the 22nd largest craft brewery in the US. Not bad when you consider the size of the Alaskan market and the distance their beer needs to travel to reach the other 49 states. They current craft 8 year round beers including Alaskan Amber, White, Kolsch, Icy Bay IPA, Freeride Pale Ale, SMaSH Galaxy, Husky IPA, and Hopothermia. Alaskan Hard seltzer is brewed from fermented dextrose and Sitka spruce tips. Filtered carbonated water, and natural flavors, complete the ingredient list. Read more
Review: 4 Hands Hard Seltzer
4 Hands Hard Seltzer is crafted at 4 Hands Brewing Company located blocks from downtown St Louis in the LaSalle Park neighborhood. The brewery was founded in 2011 by Kevin Lemp. The brewery is named for the hands of Lemp, one each from Kevin, his wife, and their two children. If you have traveled through St. Louis and seen the shuttered Lemp Brewery located across from the Flagship Anheuser-Busch Brewery you may wonder if Kevin Lemp is part of their family. He’s not. All 4 Hands beers are brewed 30 barrel at a time in their 20,000 square foot brewery. Their year round selections include City Wide American Pale Ale, City Wide Pils, State Wide Hazy Pale Ale, Cast Iron Oatmeal Brown, Divided Sky Rye IPA, Full Life Lager, Incarnation Ripple White Ale, Scale of Complexity, and Single Speed. 4 Hands Hard Seltzers are made with an alcohol base made from fermented sugar. Natural flavors are added. 4 Hands Hard Seltzer is currently available in a 3 flavor 12 can variety pack. Pineapple Mango, Apricot Almond, and Blackberry Pomegranate have replaced 4 Hands previous Contact High Hard Seltzer line that included Tangerine, Pineapple, and Blueberry Lemonade flavors. Read more
Review: Arctic Chill Daytripper Variety Pack
Arctic Chill Daytripper Variety pack is one of two mixed 12 packs of hard seltzer crafted by Bay Brewing Company and Polar Seltzer. The brand originally known as Arctic Summer, changed its name to Arctic Chill August 2020. The alcohol base is made from 100% cane sugar at Harpoon Brewery’s facility in Boston. It is transported to Polar Seltzers facility in Worcester Massachusetts where Polar Seltzer, natural flavors, and essences are blended. Dennis Crowley created the process to produce Polar Seltzer in 1882. Today his family still owns and operates Polar Seltzer. Polar is not the only seltzer brand to entry the adult seltzer market. Topo Chico and Sparkling Ice brands also have a hard seltzer brand. Is LaCroix next? Read more
Review: Three Birds Tropical Hard Seltzer Variety Pack
Three Birds Tropical Hard Seltzer is produced by Levecke Corporation in Mira Loma California. Levecke is a fourth generation family run producer of beer, wine, and spirits. They not only produce their own brands but produce brand for some of the nations biggest retailers incuding Costco, Total Wine and More and Kroger. Three Birds is sold exclusively at Total Wine and More stores. It joins the previously reviewed Three Birds Original variety pack they launched last year. The Three Birds Lemonade Hard Seltzer variety pack was also recently released. Each 12 ounce slim can is made from a wine alcohol base with purified carbonated water, and citric acid. Specific flavor ingredients will be listed below. Read more
Review: Mighty Swell Tropical Variety Pack
Mighty Swell Tropical Variety Pack was released March 2021. It joins the previously reviewed Mighty Swell Original variety pack. This four flavor 12 can variety pack includes 3 new flavors, Blood Orange, Mango Raspberry, and Pineapple. along with a reformulated Grapefruit flavor. The Mighty Swell brand was launched 2016 and since then the brand has been reformulated several times. Mighty Swell was created by three men very familiar with building a successful beverage brand. Sean Cusack Co-Founder of Waterloo Water, David Barnes Co-Founder of Waterloo Water and Founder of Treaty Oak Distilling, and Clayton Christopher Founder of Sweet Leaf Tea and Co-Founder of Deep Eddy Vodka. Mighty Swell is currently made from a cane sugar alcohol base. The ingredient list now includes 2.5% White Grape juice. Read more