Review: Clear Coast Fresh Hard Seltzer Summer Variety Pack
Clear Coast Fresh Hard Seltzer recently introduced a Summer Variety Pack. The flavors include Pineapple Papaya, Strawberry Kiwi, and Orange Passion. Clear Coast was first launched by Perrin Brewing Company in Comstock Park Michigan December 2018. Clear Coast was inspired by the coastline of Michigan, the worlds longest fresh water coastline. Their first three flavors were Mango Guava, Mixed Berry, and Watermelon Lime. Clear Coast has since released a Fall Variety pack that includes Cran-Raspberry, Dark Cherry, and Grape Pomegranate. Perrin Brewing company opened in 2012 and was later acquired by Oskar Blues March 2015. They are now part of Canarchy Craft Brewing Company, a craft beer cooperative founded in 2008 by Dan Foreman, son of Reebok Founder Paul Fireman. Their stable of breweries include Perrin Brewing Company, Oskar Blues Brewery, Cigar City Brewing, Squatters Pub Brewery, Utah Brewers, Wasatch Brew Pub, Deep Ellum Brewing, and Three Weavers Brewing Company. Canarchy also produces Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water at Oskar Blues Brewery. Clear Creek is brewed from a malt base. Natural flavors are added. Read more 
Review: Barefoot Hard Seltzer
Barefoot Wine is the top selling wine brand in the US. Last years sales topped $668 million. Not bad for a brand first created in Davis Bynum’s garage with the launch of Barefoot Bynum Burgundy in 1965. Barefoot is now owned by E&J Gallo the nations top selling wine producer. February 2020 E&J released Barefoot Hard Seltzer. This should not be confused with Barefoot Spritzers, their line of canned wine spritzers that was launched May 2016. This is not E&J Gallo’s first Hard Seltzer as they also produce High Noon Sun Sips, a vodka based hard seltzer. Barefoot Hard Seltzer is available in four flavors that are sold in individual flavor four can packs, or a 12 can variety packs. The flavor lineup includes Peach Nectarine, Strawberry Guava, Pineapple Passion Fruit, and Cherry Cranberry. Barefoot Hard Seltzer is made with sparkling water, grape wine and natural flavors. Each 8.4 oz. can weighs in at 70 calories, with 5 carbs, 2 sugar grams, and 4% alcohol. Read more
Review: Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer Variety Pack
Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer was launched November 2016 with the release of three flavors. Cranberry Lime, Watermelon, and Orange Mango. The current Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer lineup includes 8 different flavors. Watermelon, and Orange Mango are no longer produced. Like Truly, White Claw, and Bon & Viv, Smirnoff has tweaked their formula and flavor lineup since their initial launch. Their Variety 12 pack includes 3 cans each of Cranberry Lime, Pina Colada, Berry Lemonade, and Raspberry Rose. Smirnoff also sells 4 Ways to Rose, a variety 12 pack with 3 cans each of Pink Apple Rose, Strawberry Rose, White Peach Rose, and Raspberry Rose. Based on the success of Smirnoff Red White and Blue Seltzer I’m going to predict it will soon replace Raspberry Rose in this variety pack. Smirnoff Seltzer is brewed as a premium malt beverage. Natural flavors are added. Each can weighs in at 90 calories per 12 oz. serving with 4.5% alcohol, 1 carb., and Zero sugar. Read more
Review: Natural Light Seltzer
Natural Light Seltzer was first released August 2019. Their product lineup currently consist of three flavors. Catalina Lime, Aloha Beaches, and House Rules. To say A-B is all in on Hard Seltzer is an understatement as they also produce Bud Light Hard Seltzer, Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer, and Kona Spiked Island Seltzer. Priced significantly lower than the competition, Natural Light Seltzer is hoping to ride the same value priced wave Natural Light Beer has navigated for years. Natty Light was the 8th best selling beer in the US in 2019. Natural Light was actually Anheuser- Busch’s first light beer when it was released in 1977. Bud Light was launched in 1982. Natural Light Seltzer is made from a malt beverage base. Natural flavors are added before canning at 6% alcohol with 133 calories per 12 oz. serving and 4 carbs. Natty seltzer is sold in 12 and 24 can packs and also a 25 oz, single serve can. Read more
Review: Sup Hard Seltzer
Sup Hard Seltzer claims to be the Worlds first Organic Hard Seltzer. It is currently available is four flavors including Black Cherry, Peach, Lemon, and Cucumber. Their complete ingredient list reads Filtered Mineral Water, Organic Alcohol, Organic Fruit Extracts, Organic Monk Fruit, and Stevia Leaf Extracts. For the record Monk Fruit is a small round fruit native to Southern China. Monk Fruit extract like Stevia is 150-200 times sweeter than sugar. The process starts when they ferment organic cane sugar with Champagne yeast. Mineral water and organic flavors from real fruit are blended with the cane alcohol. CO2 is added before canning. While Charlestown MA is noted as the home of Sup Hard Seltzer it is actually brewed and packaged by Milwaukee Brewing Company in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Each 12 Oz. can of Sup weighs in at 95 calories with 0 grams of sugar and 5% Alcohol. Read more
Review: Smirnoff Red White and Blue Seltzer
Smirnoff Red White and Blue Seltzer is a Limited Edition release that joins a Smirnoff Spiked Seltzer lineup that already includes Cranberry Lime, Berry Lemonade, Pina Colada, Raspberry Rose, Strawberry Rose, White Peach Rose, and Pink Apple Rose. This is not Smirnoff’s first Red White and Blue beverage. They introduced Smirnoff Red White and Blue Vodka May 2016, and followed that up with Smirnoff Ice Red White and Blue. Red White and Blue first became a flavor variety in 1955 with the release of the Original Bomb Pop a three colored frozen ice treat made with Cherry, Lime, and Blue Raspberry flavor. Popsicle Brands came out with their own version they named Firecracker. Firecracker was made with Cherry, Lemon, and Blue Raspberry flavors. Unlike most Hard Seltzers which start with a cane sugar alcohol base Smirnoff is brewed as a premium malt beverage. Natural flavors are added before filling each slim 12 oz, can that changes colors when it is cold. Smirnoff Red White and Blue Seltzer weighs in at 90 calories with 0 grams of sugar, 1 carb., and 4.5% alcohol. Currently it is only available in it’s own six or twelve pack. I’m curious to see which direction Smirnoff takes the citrus flavor. Will it be team Bomb Pop Lime, or team Popsicle Firecracker Lemon. Read more
Review: High Noon Sun Sips Variety Pack
High Noon Sun Sips is a line of canned Vodka and Soda that was launched by E&J Gallo in 2019. They had previously produced a straight vodka and a couple of fruit juice infused vodka’s under the High Noon label. So what is High Noon Sun Sips a canned cocktail or a hard seltzer. I would call it a canned cocktail but Hard Seltzer sales grew 226% last year. Canned cocktails only grew 83%. The E&J Marketing Department decided to go with Hard Seltzer. High Noon currently produces six flavors, four are featured in their variety pack. Those four include Grapefruit, Pineapple, Black Cherry, and Watermelon. Lime and Peach are sold in their own six packs. High Noon starts with a 5 times distilled vodka made from Midwest grown corn. Real juice, sparkling water, and natural flavors are blended. Each 12 oz. can weighs in at 100 calories with 4.5% alcohol. Read more
Review: Henry’s Hard Sparkling Water Fruit Fusion Variety Pack
Henry’s Hard Sparkling Water is currently available in two variety packs. The previously reviewed Henry’s Tropical, and this one, Henry’s Fruit Fusion. Henry’s is one of Miller-Coors two hard seltzer brands. The other is Vizzy. A third, Coors Hard Seltzer is set to launch in July with 4 flavors, Black Cherry, Lemon Lime, Mango, and Grapefruit. Unlike most of today’s hard seltzer’s that are made from a cane sugar, or corn syrup alcohol base, Henry’s is made from a malt beverage alcohol base. Natural flavors are added. Each can of Henry’s weighs in at 88 calories with 4.2% alcohol and 0 Sugar grams. Read more
Review: Bon Viv Spiked Seltzer Blends Variety Pack
Bon Viv Spiked Seltzer Blends Variety Pack is one of two 12 can four flavor variety packs sold by this Anheuser Busch owned brand. Not only did Nick Shields create the first hard seltzer when he introduced Spiked Seltzer in 2013, but it was also AB’s entry into the hard seltzer market when they acquired the brand in 2016. For the record AB now controls four hard seltzer brands including Bud Light Seltzer, Kona Spiked Island Seltzer, and Natural Light Seltzer. Bon Viv is made from purified water, cold fermented corn syrup, champagne yeast, natural flavors, sodium citrate, and malted rice. Read more
Review: Bon Viv Spiked Seltzer Classic Variety Pack
Bon Viv Spiked Seltzer Classic Variety Pack includes 3 cans each of Black Cherry, Grapefruit, Mango, and Cranberry Spiked Seltzer. They also produce a Mixed Blend 12 can Variety Pack. While Bon Viv is not the best selling adult seltzer, they are responsible for creating the worlds first hard seltzer. It started in 2012 when Nick Shields began formulating five gallon batches in his garage in Westport Ct. He made over 100 small batches before perfecting his formula. With longtime friend and business partner Dave Homes they brought Spiked Seltzer to market in 2013. Anheuser Busch acquired Boathouse Beverage, the parent company of Spiked Seltzer in 2016. Since then almost everything has changed at least once. This includes the name, alcohol content, calorie count, flavors, formula, and packaging. They did keep a couple of things including brand creator Nick Shields, the trident carrying mermaid, and the Spiked Seltzer description. Bon Viv is made from Purified Water, Cold-Fermented Corn Syrup, Champaign Yeast, Natural Flavors, Sodium Citrate, and Malted Rice. Read more