![]() Lafavore said he is happy that it's low in carbs and calories with an alcohol-by-volume similar to beer. Part of the appeal of hard seltzer is that it's considered a healthier option. "I actually always expected it to take off if we could get people to understand the concept," he said.Īlcoholic seltzer: Everything you need to know about summer 2019's buzziest drink Is hard seltzer a healthier choice? The hard-seltzer landscape changed rapidly between 20, he says. He joined with Anheuser-Busch to begin nationally distributing under the BON V!V brand, while competitors such as White Claw and Truly helped create a new market for the drink. He launched SpikedSeltzer in November 2013. to get to something clean and low-sugar with 5 to 6% alcohol," he said. "I spent most of 2012 formulating, and batching. He noted the appealing combination of fizz and alcohol, the clean flavor profile and the relative low-calorie nature of a vodka soda. "I watched as five ladies ordered five vodka sodas one after another for their lunch," he said. ![]() and has a background in food science and product development, noticed a group nearby. The man, whose family started brewing company Haffenreffer & Co., Inc. In 2012, Shields sat at a bar in Westport, Connecticut. Hard seltzer is categorized as a flavored malt beverage (FMB) within the broader beer category, but Nielsen said in June that less than 10% of its consumers think of it as a type of beer.īut how did we get to a place in which hard seltzer is now v ying for its own category in the alcohol world? Jake Kirsch, vice president of innovation at Anheuser-Busch, said spiked seltzer is “the biggest thing to happen in beer since ‘Light.'"ĭid he just say beer? Yes. Hard seltzer is made like a beer, but instead of barley or another grain, brewers use a sugar base, which allows the drink to be gluten-free. Spiked slushies: Beer, hard seltzer and spirits take center stage in summer's coolest drink trend What kind of alcohol is in hard seltzer? Not vodka So what's the appeal of hard seltzer that has made it more than a flash in the pan? And what's next? USA TODAY asked drink industry experts about the future of the fizz-meets-flavor amalgamation. Nick Shields, who created SpikedSeltzer (which would eventually become BON V!V) in 2013, said there's a lot of "untested territory" left, adding what the "hard-seltzer players have done up until now is pretty simple in my mind." Despite its popularity, industry experts believe hard seltzer is still in its nascent form. Drink industry analysts at IWSR expect consumption to triple by 2023. ![]() Nielsen reported in June that sales of hard seltzer quadrupled year-over-year. "I’m a regular beer drinker who also consumes way too much (nonalcoholic) seltzer, so hard seltzer is a natural fit for me," he said. It's easy to have a few (or day-drink with) since they don't make you feel as heavy and bloated," she said.Īlec Lafavore, 26, of New York City says he has swapped "90%" of his beer consumption for hard seltzer. Now, we have hard seltzer offerings from Corona, Press, Social Club, Nauti, Nude, Kona, Smirnoff, Vizzy, Henry's and Corona. Today, Anheuser-Busch added to the list with the launch of Bud Light Platinum Seltzer.Īnd people love the effervescent offerings. Heather Pearson, 25, of Haverhill, Mass., told USA TODAY that she and her friends adore hard seltzer because it's "a sweeter, lighter option than beer. Last year, most of the country chose between White Claw and Truly. The options seem to be multiplying exponentially, too. You can't go to a grocery store, liquor store or socially distanced backyard barbecue without seeing a can of hard seltzer. Last year may have been the summer of the hard seltzer, but 2020 has shown the drink was more than a passing fad. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |