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: SelvaRey Coconut Rum
SelvaRey Coconut Rum was released June 2021. It joins the previously reviewed SelvaRey White, and SelvaRey Chocolate Rum. Brand owner Bruno Mars also launched SelvaRey Owner’s Reserve made with a blend rums aged from 15 to 25 years. SelvaRey rum is made at Las Cabras Distillery in Panama. Master Distiller Don Poncho grew up cutting sugarcane in Cuba and quickly rose through the ranks at Havana Club. While on a mission from the Cuban government to help the Panamanian rum industry he fell in love with a local women. He left Cuba and with Carlos Esquivel built a distillery in the Panamanian jungle in a warehouse originally built as a sugar mill in 1919. The rum base is made from cane sugar grown in Pese Panama. The cane sugar juice is collected and cooked to separate the crystalized raw sugar from the molasses which is cooked to a grade A molasses standard. The molasses is fermented with a proprietary strain of wild pineapple yeast and after distilling, the rum is aged for 2 years in American white oak barrels. Coconut essence is infused before bottling at 60 proof. 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: Venture Vodka
Venture Vodka was one of two spirits crafted when Marlin & Barrel Distillery first opened their doors in a 4500 square foot former warehouse, March 2015 in Fernanda Beach on Amelia Island Florida. The other was Marlin & Barrel Light Rum. The distillery was founded and is owned by Roger and Heather Morenc. They have since moved to a 13,000 square foot location where they continue to expand their spirit list that now includes bourbon, whiskey, several rums, vodka’s, gin’s, and liqueurs. Venture Vodka is made from Florida molasses. The bottle we are tasting comes from batch 75. 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: Skatter Brain Dark Cherry Vanilla Whiskey
Skatter Brain Dark Cherry Vanilla Whiskey was recently released. It is sold at Total Wine & More stores throughout the US. It is considered one of their Spirit Direct spirits. Skatter Brain Dark Cherry Vanilla joins the previously released and reviewed Skatter Brain Peanut Butter Whiskey. Both are made from a Canadian Whiskey base with natural flavors and caramel color. The aroma leads with maraschino cherry. Additional time brings out vanilla notes. 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: Koloa Kauai Gold Rum
Koloa Kauai Gold is one of 8 rum varieties crafted by Koloa Rum Company in Kalaheo Kauai. The others include Kauai White, Dark, Spice, Coconut, Coffee, Cacao, & Reserve 12 Barrel Select Aged Hawaiian Rum. The first batch of Koloa Kauai Rum was distilled in 2009. Hawaii’s first sugar plantation was established on Kauai in 1835 in Koloa Town. Koloa Kauai Gold Rum is crafted from pure Hawaiian Tall Cane sugar cane, and rainwater from Mount Wai Ale Ale. The spirit is distilled twice in a vintage 1210 gallon copper pot still with a copper column & condenser made in Kentucky in 1947. Caramelized sugar is blended for color before bottling unaged. 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