Review: Bud Light Seltzer
Bud Light Seltzer was just released. Anheuser Busch invested $100 million in developing and launching the brand. This is not A-B’s first hard seltzer brand as they currently also produce Natty Light Seltzer. They also acquired SpikedSeltzer and renamed the brand Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer. Why such a big investment? Hard Seltzer sales are expected to exceed $2.5 billion in 2021. If you watched the NFL Playoffs this weekend I’m sure you saw one of their commercials. I believe this, and the Bud Light name, shows A-B is betting big, a significant portion of the hard seltzer growth will come from men. While the initial thought was one would have to turn in their man card if they were seen sipping a hard seltzer, more and more men are openly imbibing in hard seltzers. The same thought initially applied to light beer. Bud Light Seltzer is being introduced with four flavor variants including Mango, Black Cherry, Lemon Lime, and Strawberry. Each is made with natural carbonated sparkling water, cold fermented cane sugar, natural flavors, cane sugar, citric acid, sodium citrate, malted rice. Yes you did read malted rice. Bud Light Beer is also brewed with malted rice. All four Bud Light Seltzers are made with a 5 step filtration process for a clean crisp taste. Prior to sampling Bud Light Seltzer’s, two things became apparent. Its been two years since I reviewed a hard seltzer so I needed to review other hard seltzers to contrast the flavors. Those reviews will follow in the coming weeks. Secondly I needed to score Hard seltzers on a different scale. Instead of a point and medal scale we have decided on an A-F scale. Read more 
Review: SpikedSeltzer Indian River Grapefruit
SpikedSeltzer Indian River Grapefruit is one of four hard seltzer flavors created in 2012 by Nick Shields in his Westport CT garage. Partnering with Dave Holmes the two launched SpikedSeltzer in 2013 creating the Hard Seltzer product category. Indian River Grapefruit is named for the Indian River Citrus District, a narrow strip of land on the East Coast of Florida stretching about 200 miles from Daytona Beach to West Palm Beach. 75% of Florida’s grapefruit crop is grown here. SpikedSeltzer Indian River Grapefruit is made from purified water and natural ingredients. Natural flavors are then infused. Read more
Review: SpikedSeltzer West Indies Lime
SpikedSeltzer West Indies Lime is one of four hard seltzer flavors first produced in five gallon batches in founder Nick Shields garage. Nick’s Great Great Grandfather was Rudolph Haffenreffer who founded Haffenreffer Brewery in 1870. Now owned by Anhueser Busch the other SpikedSeltzer flavors include Velencia Orange, Cape Cod Cranberry, and Indian River Grapefruit. West Indies Limes are also known as Mexican limes and Key limes. Spiked Seltzer West Indies Lime is made exclusively from purified water and natural ingredients. Natural lime flavor derived from cold pressed citrus essence is then infused. Read more
Review: SpikedSeltzer Cape Cod Cranberry
SpikedSeltzer Cape Cod Cranberry is one of four hard seltzer flavors first created in 2012 by Nick Shields who began formulating five gallon batches out of his garage in Westport Ct. When SpikedSeltzer was released in 2013 the Hard Seltzer category was launched. Since then at least five other brands have followed with their own hard seltzer. While SpikedSeltzer was the worlds first hard seltzer, distribution has been limited. That is about to end. September 2016 Anheuser Busch took a break from acquiring craft breweries, and acquired Boathouse Beverages, the parent company of SpikedSeltzer. SpikedSeltzer is made exclusively from purified water and natural ingredients. The fresh flavors infused are derived from cold pressed citrus essence from a variety of flavors. Read more
Review: SpikedSeltzer Valencia Orange
SpikedSeltzer Valencia Orange is one of four hard seltzer flavors that were first created in 2012 by Nick Shields who began formulating five gallon batches out of his garage in Westport CT. Nick and his longtime friend and business partner Dave Holmes brought SpikedSeltzer to market in 2013, creating the Hard Seltzer category. SpikedSeltzer Valencia Orange is made from purified water, cold fermented dextrose, crystalline fructose, and natural orange flavor infused and derived from cold pressed citrus essence. The other SpikedSeltzer flavors include Cape Cod Cranberry, Indian River Grapefruit, and West Indies Lime. In September 2016 Anheuser Busch acquired Boathouse Beverages the parent company of SpikedSeltzer. SpikedSeltzer has been contract brewed by North American Breweries and Blues City Brewery, and distribution has been limited, but production is gradually shifting to the Baldwinsville Brewery in New York and SpikedSeltzer will soon be available Nationwide. Read more
Review: Henrys Hard Sparkling Lemon Lime
Henrys Hard Sparkling Lemon Lime was just released. If you are thinking this sounds like another hard seltzer, you would be right. After creating four hard soda flavors, MillerCoors has moved on to introduce two hard seltzers. While their Passion Fruit flavor showed a little originality, Lemon Lime is more of a safe bet, as there are already four lime or lemon lime hard seltzers on store shelves today. Those include Truly Spiked and Sparkling Colima Lime, White Claw Natural Lime, Nauti Seltzer Lemon Lime, and Spiked Seltzer West Indies Lime. With sugar sweetened soft drink sales falling flat, and flavored sparkling water sales bubbling over, it’s no surprised so many brewers are now in this space. Henrys Hard Sparkling Lemon Lime is brewed as a malt beverage with natural flavors added. Read more
Review: Henrys Hard Sparkling Passion Fruit
Henrys Hard Sparkling Passion Fruit is one of two hard sparkling water flavors just released by MillerCoors. The other flavor is Lemon Lime. By my count this is the seventh hard seltzer brand. Miller Coors is no stranger to creating malt beverages, as they already have a successful line of Hard Soda, Hard Cider, Hard Iced Tea, Hard Apple Ale, and oh yes they do a pretty good job brewing beer too. They are not alone, as this is the same path others including Anheuser Busch, Boston Beer Company, Smirnoff, and Mark Anthony Brands, the makers of Mikes Hard Lemonade have taken. For those not familiar with passion fruit it is most commonly used as a fruit juice or jam. The Passion fruit is native to South America from Brazil to Argentina and it is currently grown in Florida and California. If you have been to Hawaii you may know passion fruit as lilikoi. Henrys Hard Sparkling Passion Fruit is made with natural flavors and it weighs in at 93 calories. Read more
Review: Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Cranberry Lime Seltzer
Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Cranberry Lime Seltzer is one of three hard seltzer flavors they launched the line with November 2016. The other flavors include Watermelon, and Orange Mango. The classic Cape Cod cocktail, made with vodka and cranberry juice, and garnished with a lime slice may be the inspiration for this seltzer. This is not Smirnoff’s first cranberry lime flavored malt beverage. At one time they produced Smirnoff Ice Cranberry Lime Splash. Smirnoff Cranberry Lime is brewed as a premium malt beverage. Natural fruit flavors are infused with no sugar or artificial sweeteners added. Read more
Review: Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Orange Mango Seltzer
Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Orange Mango Seltzer is one of three hard seltzer flavors they launched the line with November 2016. The other flavors include Watermelon, and Cranberry Lime. With at least 6 other companies already brewing spiked seltzer, Smirnoff may be a little late to the party, but with a very popular line of malt beverages already on the market, finding shelf space in liquors store won’t be an issue. The three flavors they have created also aren’t repeating the same hard seltzer flavors already on the market. Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Orange Mango Seltzer is brewed as a premium malt beverage. Natural fruit flavors are infused with no sugar or artificial sweeteners added. Read more
Review: Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Watermelon Seltzer
Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Watermelon Seltzer is one of three hard seltzers Smirnoff launched November 2016. Hard seltzer has attracted a lot of attention from the big boys of the malt beverage world in 2016. Boston Beer Company the makers of Sam Adams Beer, Coney Island Hard Soda, and Angry Orchard Hard Cider launching Truly Spiked Sparkling. Mark Anthony Brands the maker of Mikes Hard introduced White Claw Hard Seltzer. Anheuser Busch also acquired the Spiked Seltzer brand. Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Watermelon Seltzer is brewed as a premium malt beverage with natural fruit flavors infused. No sugar or artificial sweeteners are added, and it is crafted to remove gluten. Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Watermelon Seltzer is sold in 6 packs of 12 ounce cans, and it is also available as part of their 12 pack variety pack. Read more