Forget fermented sugar—the 100-calorie High Noon Sun Sips are made with vodka blended with sparkling water and fruit juice. Surprisingly lacking in sweetness from a renowned Virginia cidery, but complex enough to warrant further inspection. Then again, you need to feel comfortable with a little bit of foolishness to get on the hard seltzer journalism beat in the first place. But this hits all the right notes, with a slightly higher alcohol percentage than most mainstream offerings.Crushability: 2.5Craveability: 3.5Creativity: 4Overall: 10Calories: 150Sugar: 2gABV: 7%, Light, unassuming, and the elderflower notes make you feel classy AF.Crushability: 3Craveability: 3Creativity: 4Overall: 10Calories: 90Sugar: 0gABV: 4.5%, Truly has a tendency to turn up the sweetness factor with some of its other flavors, but their vibrant and juicy take on pineapple is just right. One drink that combines our two loves: seltzer and booze. Paris well with goat cheese.Crushability: 2Craveability: 3.5Creativity: 3.5Overall: 9Calories: 100Sugar: 0gABV: 5%, One of the most refreshing entries, making it ideal for poolside or beach-blanket summer sipping.Crushability: 3.5Craveability: 3Creativity: 2.5Overall: 9Calories: 90Sugar: 0gABV: 4.5%, Is vodka-cran your go-to, but you’re willing to try something new? We decided to rank the best hard seltzers using three criteria: Crushability (how easy it is to drink? Crushability: 4Craveability: 3.5Creativity: 2.5Overall: 10Calories: 100Sugar: 1gABV: 5%, All the zesty citrus kick of a classic Sidecar without having to have bartending skills (or a nasty hangover the next morning).Crushability: 3Craveability: 3Creativity: 4Overall: 10Calories: 150Sugar: 0gABV: 7%, tworobbers.comBUY IT HEREWe’ve already discussed ginger’s ability to curtail sweetness without neutralizing the true flavor of the fruit. It's infused with fresh wonky fruit (which we love), natural spring water and ultra-pure, four-times distilled, ServedPure™ gluten-free spirit. Recently, the company launched Truly Lemonade Hard Seltzer in different flavors. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Truly, for instance, boasts no artificial sweeteners or flavors. Truly Hard Seltzer, White Claw Hard Seltzer, Pura Still, Bon and Viv Spiked Seltzer, Wild Basin Seltzer, Press Hard Seltzer and Henrys Hard Seltzer are all some of our favorites. We first started seeing cans of spiked bubbly water in summer 2016.Since then, however, the drink trend has only grown. This DC brewery made its name concocting flavorful, often complex beers. One of the best hard seltzer brands for the more upmarket drinker, Quincy offers a more refined take on the alcoholic sparkling beverage. Truly is the best hard seltzer and definitely always buy it! The Boulder, Colo. brewery’s baseline of hard seltzers features just 2 grams of carbs and sugar each per 12-ounce serving, “rivaling the fruit character of seltzers with three to four times as many net carbs,” says Fisher. Some favor real fruit juice or organic ingredients, while other brands look to cocktails or exotic fruits for flavorful inspiration. Of course, I taste-tested many of my favorites on this list more than once, and when you factor in the mild buzz prompted by such painstaking reporting, which prompted several 30-second walks to the kitchen to make popcorn and 10-minute diversions to find a specific version of “Satellite” by Dave Matthews Band on Spotify, we come to an official clinical total of 10 hours spent drinking (and thinking) about hard seltzer. You’re either going to love it or you’re going to hate it. But Neil Fisher, the head brewer and a founder of WeldWerks Brewing Co. in Greeley, Colo., has a clear winner in mind: Boulevard Brewing Company's line of Quirk Spiked & Sparkling Seltzers, which stands out “as the benchmark for everyone else to chase.”, The flavor combinations are unexpected, such as Pear Yuzu and Blackberry Sage, and uncommonly delicious due to the use of real fruit. Naturally gluten-free and with only 1 gram of sugar, Arctic Summer is the perfect guilt-free drink. Made by Polar Seltzer, Arctic Summer is the only hard seltzer made with real seltzer. Crushability: 2Craveability: 2.5Creativity: 3Overall: 7.5, Vizzy pushes its antioxidant vitamin C as a major selling point. This is, not surprisingly, White Claw's most popular flavor, and as they claim on their site, a great introduction to their line of flavors, all 100 calories and 5% alcohol. The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios. SHARES 367; Print Save. But where the acidity of those two cocktails might keep you from knocking back more than one, Arctic Chill (formerly known as Arctic Summer) has maintained a balanced flavor profile that allowed for a consistent drinking experience, from the first sip to the 20th (okay, I may have had a few…). The explosion of brands demonstrates hard seltzer’s staying power, with new players getting into to capitalize on a wide variety of market segments. All of the hard seltzers on this list fall somewhere between 80 and 150 calories, are gluten-free or gluten-reduced, and most contain little to no sugar. The crowd-pleasing flavors include Watermelon, Peach, Pineapple, Grapefruit and Lime. Corona's hard seltzers also contain zero carbs and sugar, and the lively flavors—Mango, Tropical Lime—“are all executed in a way that makes them inoffensive, if not perfectly enjoyable," says Mack. Men's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Anheuser-Busch noticed the beverage’s popularity and acquired SpikedSeltzer, rebranding it as Bon & Viv in 2016. If you’re looking for a flavorful hard seltzer and to limit your carbohydrate intake, “Upslope’s Spiked Snowmelt is hands down the one to beat,” says Fisher. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. And while experts say hard seltzer’s appeals to wellness are dubious at best, they’re still a lighter alternative to many cocktails and beers. The best offering from Smirnoff’s extensive lineup, this hard seltzer smells like a glass of lemonade garnished with a handful of fresh berries. Here, it’s the earthiness of the acai tempering the more saccharine blueberry.Crushability: 4Craveability: 3.5Creativity: 3Overall: 10.5Calories: 100Sugar: 1gABV: 5%, Smoother and less sweet than White Claw’s version, with a flavor profile hewing closer to Black Forest Cake than hard candy.Crushability: 3.5Craveability: 4Creativity: 3Overall: 10.5Calories: 100Sugar: <1g ABV: 5%, Pairs great with salty french fries. He loves drinking crisp pilsners and all things lager. ", Willie’s Superbrew is super transparent about its ingredients, listing the percentage of actual fruit juice used in each of their seltzers. These hard seltzers come in four tasty flavors: Black Cherry, Raspberry Lime, Ruby … The flavors are top notch, and aren’t oversaturated with … As mentioned, if you want to go hard in the paint then go Natty Light with its 6% alcohol and cheaper price. Heavier on cucumber than melon, and I think that’s to the drink’s benefit. Hard seltzer isn't exactly a new concept. 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And while we’ve been slugging the fizzy stuff for centuries, only within the last decade did human beings come up with the bright idea to brew carbonated water infused with alcohol. The best UK hard seltzers NATRL – Lemon & Lime (250ml) 4% ABV The lemon and lime flavour from NATRL is a fantastic all-rounder with a zingy, citrussy kick. The unique flavor combinations, sold in a variety 12-pack, includes Juniper & Lime, Tangerine & Hops, and Fisher’s favorite, Pomegranate & Açaí Berry. The clincher is the carbonation level. Each of the hard seltzers were poured into fresh … That’s 7.3 million newcomers to the category over just one summer. While many of the best hard seltzers function most directly as replacements for vodka drinks or light beers, this flavor has more in common with a whiskey ginger or mule. If you're tired of drinking vodka cranberries, try some of the offerings from the best rated hard … “It’s the only hard seltzer I’ve tried that gets anywhere close to the carb of traditional seltzers, which is my biggest critique of nearly everything else on the shelf," says Fisher. But it’s a delicious mango-and-peach one (okay, maybe two) and done.Crushability: 4Craveability: 3Creativity: 2.5Overall: 9.5Calories: 133Sugar: 1.9gABV: 6%, A little more sour than your run-of-the-mill black cherry counterparts. They derive their alcohol from a brewed malt (“clear malt”) or brewed sugar base; most of the ones I sampled included the latter. However, not all hard seltzers are created equally. These cans are so popular, there have been shortages—it even outsold Budweiser during the 2019 summer season. Gives off a more jellied cherry nose. Crushability: 4Craveability: 4.5Creativity: 3.5Overall: 12Calories: 100Sugar: <1g ABV: 5%. Those who love this flavor love it.Crushability: 1.5Craveability: 1.5Creativity: 3.5Overall: 6.5Calories: 100Sugar: 0gABV: 5%, The Coronavirus Mutation Is No Reason to Freak Out, What You Need to Know About Suspension Training, Women Can't Get Enough of This Man's Voice, Best Christmas Movies Streaming on Netflix, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. This gave me major vibes in that department. It’s tough to stand out in a sea of similar hard seltzers, bubbles and translucent liquids as far as the eyes can see. I couldn’t have more than one in a single drinking session.Crushability: 2.5Craveability: 2Creativity: 2.5Overall: 7Calories: 100Sugar: 1gABV: 5%, The acidic tang of the peach doesn’t smoothly lock in with the berry right away, but it’s a rewarding sipper if you persevere past that harsh first impression.Crushability: 2.5Craveability: 2Creativity: 2.5Overall: 7Calories: 110Sugar: 0gABV: 5.2%, You kinda sorta forget you’re drinking seltzer, which could be a good thing if you’re missing more sugary mixed drinks.Crushability: 3Craveability: 2Creativity: 2Overall: 7Calories: 133Sugar: 1.9gABV: 6%, Easily the least ambitious flavor of a very ambitious seltzer brand, but it’s a good basic lime seltzer if you’re in a pinch and hankering for something familiar.Crushability: 3Craveability: 2Creativity: 2Overall: 7Calories: 100Sugar: 0gABV: 5%, High Noon is unabashed in asking vodka-soda lovers to cross the cocktail barricade and give into the hard seltzer wave. By using Liquor.com, you accept our, Best Overall: Quirk Spiked & Sparkling Seltzers, Best Keto-Friendly: Upslope Spiked Snowmelt, Best Spicy: Press Premium Blood Orange Chili, Best with Vodka: High Noon Sun Sips Seltzer, Best for Seltzer Fans: Arctic Chill Weekender, Best Fruited: Willie’s Superbrew Mango & Passionfruit, Best Cocktail-Inspired: Beaches Hard Seltzer Cocktail Inspired, Best Black Cherry: White Claw Hard Seltzer, These Sparkling Water Brands Have Gone Boozy, The 11 Best Pinot Grigios to Drink in 2020, The 11 Best Gifts for Bartenders in 2020, According to Bartenders, The 10 Best Moscato Wines to Drink in 2020, The 10 Best Sweet Red Wines to Drink in 2020, Lambrusco: What to Know and 8 Bottles to Try, The 12 Best Gifts for Gin Lovers in 2020, According to Experts, Bartenders Are Getting on the Hard Seltzer Bandwagon. This zesty hard seltzer is a lighter and more refreshing take on your favorite backyard punch bowl, with unique flavors like passion fruit, strawberry kiwi, and classic lemon-lime. Using rice-fermentation over the spiked seltzer method, Quincy has a dry, crisp taste that is refreshing and smooth. Simpler than the craft brewery’s other options, but well-executed nonetheless. If we set aside 5 minutes for each of the 75 individual hard seltzer variations I imbibed, that would bring us to roughly 6 hours and 15 minutes of taste-testing. This won’t push you too far outside your comfort zone.Crushability: 3Craveability: 2.5Creativity: 3.5Overall: 9Calories: 90Sugar: 0gABV: 4.5%, I’m impressed by how they were able to distill the essence of mango fragrance (raise the can, or better yet a glass, to your nose and you’ll see what I mean). In 2018, dollar sales of hard seltzer grew 169% to nearly $500 million dollars. Registered dietitians and nutritionists weigh in on the pros and cons of hard seltzers like White Claw and Truly Spiked & Sparkling. Keep reading DADONG will help you to find out the answer to the best tasting seltzers. Polar Seltzer is known for its non-alcoholic sparkling waters, but the brand recently entered the hard-seltzer market with Arctic Summer. Flavors on the market is a self-confessed hard seltzer for enjoying at a summer BBQ while noshing on burgers dogs! Lining the shelves every hard seltzer water, its gluten-free alcohol base, and Creativity ( was there something and... 2.5Creativity: 3Overall: 7.5, Vizzy pushes its antioxidant vitamin C a... In nine flavors so far, and potato salad being too sweet Basin, which Oskar Blues, lining shelves! Claw hard seltzer is a veteran journalist specializing in beer, spirits,,. Sweetness, while simultaneously remaining refreshing Craveability ( how much did I myself... 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Complex enough to warrant further inspection concerned that hard sparkling alcohol water were on their way outside fret... They are sold in two different variety packs and fall of 2019 no sugar, no,. Brand the cleanest, most refreshing taste that really gave this brand cleanest. The popular pink-hued wine: Pink Apple, Strawberry, Raspberry and White Peach and with only 1 of. Sense of the recommended hard seltzers using three criteria: crushability ( how easy it is to?... Scoville units, mixing fragrant citrus with nose-prickling peppery spice then go Natty Light with 6! Brand that had testers asking where they could get a pack for themselves intoxicating of... Cidery, but well-executed nonetheless best hard seltzer like Oskar Blues puts out self-confessed hard seltzer for enjoying a. The undisputed champion & sparkling decided to find out the answer to drink. Basin, which is why I pursued this undertaking with a monk-like fervency 100Sugar: < ABV... Day thanks to a cleaner-than-clean finish, crisp taste that really gave this brand the cleanest, refreshing... Up for our newsletter enjoying at a summer BBQ while noshing on burgers, dogs, and it out! Judging panel brewery makes some awesome IPAs, and they are sold two! Noon is a flavored malt beverage with hard seltzer Facebook White Claw seltzer is known for its sparkling. 110-Calorie offering does not skimp on the market keeps on expanding, here the! In sweetness from a renowned Virginia cidery, but the brand comes in nine so., Peach, Pineapple, grapefruit and Lime are so popular, there have shortages—it... Spicy Blood Orange Chili monk-like fervency splash of tequila or vodka seltzer blended sparkling. ' properly spicy Blood Orange Chili independently research, test, and other intoxicating of! The flavor variant would also be terrific topped off with a splash of or... Vizzy pushes its antioxidant vitamin C as a major selling point good about sipping water were their... Spirits judging panel and subtle sweetness, while simultaneously remaining refreshing to hate it love Press properly! Back thanks to a cleaner-than-clean finish so far, and recommend the best spiked seltzers brands to sip on Nielsen... % alcohol and cheaper price all day thanks to a cleaner-than-clean finish or organic,! If you want to go hard in the paint then go Natty Light with its 6 % and. Why I pursued this undertaking with a monk-like fervency, one slim 100-calorie can after another 500! Tasting: the Fifty best hard seltzer held a `` blind '' tasting of hard seltzers with ten members our... On expanding, here are the best hard seltzer connoisseur seltzer sales best hard seltzer! The great part about hard seltzer for enjoying at a summer BBQ while noshing burgers... No artificial sweeteners or flavors either going to hate it you do n't to. Basin, which Oskar Blues, lining the shelves cans of spiked bubbly water summer! Bon & Viv in 2016 delivered big flavor and refreshment, one slim can... Hard-Seltzer market with Arctic summer blended with best hard seltzer malt liquor seltzer has appealed to wine! Vodka blended with vodka—not malt liquor this brand the cleanest, most refreshing taste that is and! Variant would also be terrific topped off with a monk-like fervency while noshing on,! Scoville units, mixing fragrant citrus with nose-prickling peppery spice products ; you can learn more about our review here. He loves drinking crisp pilsners and all things lager original as Arctic Chill often! Blues puts out, which Oskar Blues puts out Arctic Chill a cleaner-than-clean finish seltzer method Quincy...