Review: Vizzy Hard Seltzer
Vizzy Hard Seltzer was just released. This is Molson-Coors second nationally produced hard seltzer. Henry’s Hard Sparkling Water was their first. Like most hard seltzers Vizzy is made from a fermented cane sugar base. What sets Vizzy apart is the addition of acerola cherry, an antioxidant rich super fruit. Acerola cherry is grown in California, Texas, Florida, Central and South America and contains roughly 30 times more vitamin C per cup than an orange. Each 12 oz. can of Vizzy contains 18 mg of vitamin C. That’s 20% of the recommended daily requirement. Like White Claw, Vizzy contains real fruit juice concentrate in each flavor variety. Vizzy is available in four flavors including Pineapple Mango, Blueberry Pomegranate, Black Cherry Lime, and Strawberry Kiwi. It is sold in a 4 flavor 12 can variety pack and individual flavor 6 packs. So how does it taste? Read more 
Review: Corona Hard Seltzer
Corona Hard Seltzer was just released. This is completely different from Corona Refresca. Refresca is a malt beverage with 195 calories that was launched with three flavors, Guava Lime, Passionfruit Lime, and Coconut Lime. Corona Refresca is more comparable to the Bud Light Lime-A-Rita line. Like Bud Light, Corona has decided to use their very successful brand name to help launch their new line of hard seltzer. This may have been a great decision under normal circumstances, but with the Coronavirus stealing the headlines these days the Corona name isn’t seen by many as a positive. Today we are reviewing their first four flavors which includes Cherry, Mango, Tropical Lime, and Blackberry Lime. Corona Hard Seltzers are made in Mexico by Compania Cervecera de Coahuila. Like most hard seltzers the alcohol base is made from sugar. Natural flavors and carbonated water are blended with the alcohol. Each variety weighs in at 90 calories with an alcohol content of 4.5%. Read more
Review: White Claw Flavor Collection No. 2
White Claw Flavor Collection No. 2 was just released. The collection includes three new flavors and the previous solo artist Mango. New to White Claw are Lemon, Tangerine, and Watermelon. Twelve can variety packs account for 63% of Hard Seltzer sales so its always best to release these flavors in groups of four. White Claw can be forgiven because they already had a lonely Mango flavor. These are White Claws first new flavors in 16 months but when you control over 50% of the Hard Seltzer market, its important you wait until you have the formula dialed down so not to damage the brand you have done so well creating, and building. Like the other White Claw flavors these new flavors are made with not just natural flavors but also fruit juice concentrate specific to each flavor variety. This is unique to White Claw and it may help explain why they are the market leader. So how do these new flavors measure up? Read more
Review: Truly Hard Seltzer Berry Mix Pack
Truly Hard Seltzer Berry Mix Pack is sold in a four flavor variety, twelve can pack. Those flavors include Wild Berry, Raspberry Lime, Blueberry & Acai, and Black Cherry. Truly along with White Claw continue to dominate the hard seltzer market. At one time they owned a combined 85% market share. While competition has grown and intensified it’s safe to say Truly and White Claw continue to dominate the Hard Seltzer market. If there is a prize to be awarded for most flavor varieties, Truly wins hands down, they currently offer 13. Truly also has not been afraid to change their flavors, formulas, or name, they were originally branded as Truly Spiked and Sparkling. While some may subscribe to the, “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” strategy, Truly has decided to break it on their own, and build a better mouse trap. Read more
Review: Truly Hard Seltzer Tropical Mix Pack
Truly Hard Seltzer Tropical Mix Pack is one of three, four flavor twelve can variety packs currently produced by Truly. The other packs are a Berry mix, and a Citrus mix. Truly Tropical includes three cans each of Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Mango, and Watermelon & Kiwi. The previously released Truly Tropical featured Pomegranate which has been replaced with Watermelon & Kiwi. Truly also updated the flavor profile and finish of all of their hard seltzers. Those Truly flavors now number 13 with Truly Rose in individual packs. They also recently released Truly Hard Seltzer Lemonade Seltzer flavors. Each 12 ounce can of Truly weighs in at 5% alcohol with 100 calories and 1 G of sugar. Read more
Review: Henry’s Hard Sparkling Water Tropical Variety Pack
At Launch, March 2017, Best Tasting Spirits reviewed Henry’s Hard Sparkling Lemon Lime and Passion Fruit. Since then Henry’s has changed their recipe and added several flavors. Henry’s is now sold in cans. The previous Henry’s was sold in glass bottles. Henry’s Tropical Variety Pack includes 2 cans each of Pineapple, Passion Fruit, and Peach Mango flavors. Most Hard seltzer variety packs come in 12 packs with four flavor varieties. While the previous versions weighed in at 93 calories the reformulated Henry’s is a lean 88 calories, with 4.2% alcohol, and zero sugar. Read more
Review: Omission Hard Seltzer
Omission Hard Seltzer was launched October 2019. It is produced at Omission Brewing Company in Portland Oregon. The Omission brewery was founded in 2012 and they currently produce four beers, Omission Lager, Pale Ale, IPA, and Ultimate Light. Omission is part of Craft Beer Alliance a group of breweries that was originally formed with the merger of Red Hook Ale and Widmer Brother in 2008. In 2010 Anheuser-Busch acquired about a third of the company. Since then CBA has added Kona Brewing Company, Cisco Brewers, Wynwood Brewing, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Omission, and Square Mile Cider Company. November 2019, Anheuser-Busch InBev acquired the entire company. Omission Hard Seltzer is currently available in four flavors including Lime, Grapefruit, Orange Twist, and Pomegranate-Blueberry-Acai. Omission Hard Seltzer is made with just four ingredients carbonated filtered water, alcohol from organic cane sugar, hops, and natural fruit flavor. Read more
Review: Truly Hard Seltzer Citrus Mix Pack
Truly Hard Seltzer Citrus Mix Pack is one of three, four flavor 12 can mix packs produced by this division of Boston Beer Works. They also just released a 12 can pack of four new Truly Lemonade flavors. Boston Beer Works is best known for crafting Samuel Adams Beer, but they also produce Dogfish Head Beer, Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard, Wild Leaf, and Tura, a line of adult kombucha. Truly Hard Seltzer was launched May 2016 with the release of four flavors, Colima Lime, Grapefruit Pomelo, Pomegranate, and Sicilian Blood Orange. While none of those flavors are still produced, the Truly Hard Seltzer Citrus Mix pack does include a Lime, Grapefruit, and Orange flavor. Sorry Pomegranate, Lemon has replaced you in this 12 pack. In November, Truly revamped all 13 flavors bringing a more fruit forward aroma, and eliminating any bitterness or aftertaste. The slim cans still read, with a hint of Lemon, Lime, Orange, or Grapefruit, so I’m not expecting a flavor explosion. On to the tasting. Read more
Review: White Claw Hard Seltzer
White Claw Hard Seltzer was launched in 2016 by Mark Anthony Brands, the company behind Mikes Hard Lemonade, Cayman Jack, and MXA Cocktail. Back then I reviewed their first three flavors, Black Cherry, Ruby Grapefruit, and Natural Lime. Since then they have added Raspberry, Mango, and an Unflavored White Claw. In the nearly four years that have passed, Hard Seltzers led by White Claw have shown they are not just a passing fad, like hard soda, or wine coolers. White Claw alone sold $1.5 billion of product last year. Like their competitors, White Claw is available in four flavor twelve packs and also individual flavor packs. With five flavors currently available, Mango is only sold in individual flavor packs. Don’t worry White Claw will soon be releasing Watermelon, Lemon, and Tangerine flavors. No doubt Mango will join them in their next four flavor twelve can variety pack. With over a 50% market share what sets White Claw apart from their competition. All share similar numbers in calorie count, alcohol content, and total carbs? Product availability, timing, and flavor are all factors. A look at White Claws ingredients, shows they are the only hard seltzer that includes natural fruit concentrates in each flavor. So how do they taste?
Review: Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water Berry Mix Pack
Wild Basin just released 3 new flavors in their Boozy Sparkling Water line. These three flavors are Blueberry Mango, Yumberry, and Strawberry Coconut. Three cans of each are combined with 3 cans of their previously released Black Raspberry to make up their new Berry Mix 12 pack. The Oskar Blues Brewery best known for producing Dale’s Pale Ale, the beer that made drinking beer in cans cool, launched the Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water line in December of 2018. They launched with four flavors, Classic Lime, Cucumber Peach, Lemon Agave Hibiscus, and Melon Basil. All eight flavor are produced in Longmont Colorado and weigh in with 100 calories, 0 Grams of sugar, and 1 Carb. All are made with water, alcohol from cane sugar, natural flavors, cane sugar, citric acid and carbon dioxide. $1 from the sale of each case of Wild Basin goes to Can’d Aid Foundation to support river and beach clean ups around the country. As of this posting they have donated nearly $200,000. Read more