Review: Fundays Hard Seltzer
Fundays Hard Seltzer was recently released and is currently arriving at Target stores throughout the US. It is produced by Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company in Houston Texas. Buffalo Bayou also makes their own, Buff Brew Hard Seltzer. Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. was founded in 2011 by Rassul Zarinfar and Ryan Robertson. They opened their brewery in an abandoned warehouse once used to store boats. Since then they have brewed over 100 different beers including Wake N Bake, Crush City IPA, Morning Wood, Hoppy Copper, Legalize IPA, Great White Buffalo, and Lighten Up. Fundays Hard Seltzer is sold in a 12 can “Mixtape” four flavor variety pack with unique names and flavor combinations. Those include Yard Games, with Lemon Lime and Pomelo, Fresh Picked, with raspberry lemon, and blackberry, Skinny Dip with Passion Fruit, Guava, and Dragon Fruit, and Garden Party with Honeysuckle, and Orange Blossom. Read more 
Review: Two Trees Peanut Butter Whiskey
Two Trees Peanut Butter Whiskey is one of nine flavored whiskeys made at Two Trees Distilling in Fletcher North Carolina. The other flavors include Sea Salted Caramel, Candy Apple, Scorched Brown Sugar, Carolina Peach, Michigan Cherry, Cinnamon Spice, Golden Honey, and Crisp Apple. Chad Slagle and Keith Mort created a proprietary process that mirrors and accelerates the natural process that occurs when whiskey is aged in wooden barrels. The physical changes in the liquid that typically take years to achieve, they can accomplish in a single working day. While no alcohol is distilled in their 23,000 square foot distillery, they toast and char every bit of wood used. Read more
Review: Coors Seltzer Orange Cream Pop
Coors Seltzer Orange Cream Pop is a Limited Edition Summer Variety available now in 12 packs. The flavor was inspired by the Orange Creamsicle. The Cream pop was invented in 1905 by Frank Epperson when he was 11. I say cream pop because Breyer Good Humor have trademarked Creamsicle. Frank would later start the Popsicle Brand. Molson Coors has partnered with Change the Course and will donate $1 for every 12 pack of Coors Seltzer sold, with a goal of cleaning and restoring 1 billion gallons of river water each year. Orange Cream Pop should help stimulate Coors hard seltzer sales. While Coors Light is the second best selling beer in the US, Coors Seltzer isn’t even the best selling Molson Coors branded hard seltzer. That honor goes to Vizzy. By selling Coors Seltzer Orange Cream Pop in a one flavor 12 can variety pack Coors runs the risk that some people may be hesitant to purchase. Most hard seltzer is sold in variety packs, and some hard seltzer’s flavor reality, does not live up to the flavor concept. Read more
Review: Bud Light Seltzer Retro Summer
Bud Light Seltzer Retro Summer was just released in a tie dyed themed 3 flavor 12 can variety pack. Bud Light Seltzer Frozen Icicles are coming soon and will be packaged with the same three flavors and also contain 5% alcohol. Not only is Bud Light releasing new hard seltzer varieties at an incredible rate, but several Anheuser Busch owned breweries are producing their own hard seltzers. I think a hard seltzer fan could celebrate the Forth of July by drinking one A-B owned hard seltzer per day, every day, until Thanksgiving and never drink the same A-B owned seltzer twice. The three flavors Cherry Limeade, Blue Raspberry, and Summer Ice all bring up thoughts of frozen slushies or snow cones. Blue Raspberry was created in Cincinnati in 1958 by Gold Medal, a company that wanting to differentiate their raspberry flavored snow cones with blue color, as their Cherry, Strawberry, and Watermelon flavors were already red. Cherry Limeade is most associated with Sonic and their Cherry Limeade. By the way Sonic just released a hard seltzer and one of their flavors is also Cherry Limeade. Finally Bud Light Summer Ice, even has ice in it’s name. Each 12 ounce slim can contains the usual cold fermented cane sugar, natural flavors, and malted rice found in every Bud Light Seltzer. Stevia leaf extract typically found in Hard Seltzer lemonades is added to all three flavors, and food coloring is blended in two of the three varieties of Bud Light Seltzer Retro Summer. Read more
Review: Shiner Straight Shooter Hard Seltzer
Shiner Straight Shooter Hard Seltzer was released by Spoetzl Brewery August 2020. The Sproezl Brewery is located between Houston and San Antonio Texas. Shiner Bock was the first beer produced at this brewery in 1913, and it is still their best selling beer. They also craft several fruit flavored beers including Ruby Redbird, Sea Salt & Lime, Strawberry Blonde, and Peach Wheat so it should surprise no one that they now produce a hard seltzer. Straight Shooter is available in a four flavor 12 can variety pack with flavors that include Peach, Raspberry, Grapefruit, and Lemonade. Those who like lemonade hard seltzer will be happy to hear they also produce a four flavor 12 can lemonade hard seltzer variety pack. Straight Shooter starts with the standard ingredients found in most hard seltzers including filtered carbonated water, alcohol from cane sugar, and natural flavors. Each flavor variety of Shiner Straight Shooter also includes cane sugar and stevia leaf extract in their hard seltzers. These are common ingredients found in most lemonade hard seltzer brands, and hint at a sweeter tasting hard seltzer. Read more
Review: Malibu Watermelon
Malibu Watermelon was released April 2021. It is one of ten varieties of Malibu Rum. Malibu hopes to duplicate the success they enjoyed last year with the release of Malibu Strawberry Rum, and Malibu Splash. Malibu Splash is a 5% alcohol sparkling malt beverage sold in 12 ounce cans. These cans are sold in individual flavor 4 packs and 4 flavor 8 can variety packs. Malibu Watermelon starts with a rum base made in Barbados at West Indies Distillery from molasses created with Caribbean cane sugar and pure water. A proprietary yeast is used to ferment prior to distillation. The rum is shipped to Canada where it is blended with watermelon liqueur and bottled at 42 proof. Read more
Review: Hell’s Seltzer
Hell’s Seltzer was just released by celebrity chef and star of Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsey. Gordon worked with Brew Pipeline and Lift Bridge Brewing Company for several months developing the flavors. Lift Bridge also make their own hard seltzer. Brew Pipeline is the parent company of several breweries including Surly Brewing Company, Sun King Brewery, DC Brau, and Hi-Wire Brewing Company. Each recipe of Hell’s Seltzer is inspired by popular menu items from Gordon Ramsay restaurants. Hell’s Seltzer is made from a dextrose sugar alcohol base and each 12 ounce can weighs in with 5.6% alcohol and 120 calories. Gordan Ramsay, the creative team behind the brand, the colorful packaging design, and flavor blends, all piqued my interest in this brand. Read more
Review: Hussong’s Silver Tequila
Hussong’s Silver Tequila was recently released. It is one of four tequila expressions crafted at Destiladora del Valle de Tequila. Hussong’s tequila had been produced at several other distilleries in the past. Hussong’s is named for Hussong’s Cantina which opened in 1892 in Ensenada Mexico. They claim to be home of the Original Margarita. Hussong’s Cantina also has a location in Las Vegas. Hussong’s Silver Tequila is made from Highland and Lowland grown agave. Fifty percent of the trimmed agave hearts are slow steam roasted in century old stone walled brick ovens for 45 hours. The second half is cooked in stainless steel autoclaves for 35 hours. The cooled agave is shredded, releasing the juice. The juice enters an oxygenation machine to enhance its smoothness. Natural yeast is added to the agave juice and fermented for 50 hours. After a slow double distillation, the spirit is chill filtered down to -2 degrees for 12 hours, then transferred to a cooling tank to bring it back to room temperature before hand bottling in clay jugs. Read more
Review: White Claw Hard Seltzer Iced Tea
White Claw Hard Seltzer Iced Tea was released March 2021. It is the third in our Memorial Day roundup of hard seltzer iced tea brands. White Claw currently offers three 12 can variety packs, White Claw Surge, their higher octane 8% hard seltzer, and Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer. At one time they also sold 2 flavors of a 70 calorie White Claw Hard Seltzer. White Claw Hard Seltzer Iced Tea is crafted using a unique Brewpure Process, sustainably sourced brewed black tea extract, purified carbonated water, alcohol from cane sugar, and natural flavor specific juice concentrate. It is sold in a four flavor 12 can variety pack with three cans each of Peach, Raspberry, Lemon, and Mango. Each 12 ounce can weighs in with 5% alcohol, and 100 calories. Read more
Review: Truly Iced Tea Hard Seltzer
Truly Iced Tea Hard Seltzer was released January 2021. Truly was the first hard seltzer brewed with real tea. This should come as no surprise since Twisted Tea, also produced by Boston Beer Company ended 2020 with a 90% market share of the hard tea category. Arnold Palmer Spiked, owned by MillerCoors was a distant second. After eight months and 250 iterations Truly selected Lemon, Strawberry, Peach, and Raspberry as their first four flavored iced tea hard seltzer varieties. Each 12 ounce slim can is made with filtered carbonated water, alcohol, natural flavors, citric acid, honey, brewed black tea, sodium citrate, and stevia sweetener. Read more