Hard seltzer

Hard seltzer, spiked seltzer or hard sparkling alcohol water is a type of highball drink containing carbonated water, alcohol, and often fruit flavoring.[1] In the US the alcohol is usually made by fermenting cane sugar; sometimes malted barley is used.[1] Hard seltzer products outside of the US have been found to use either neutral spirit,[2] or fermentation of fruit.[3] The alcohol by volume is around 5%[4] and the calorie-content is relatively low.[5][6]

5th generation brewer Nick Shields invented the beverage style with Spiked Seltzer, in Westport, Connecticut, and brewed the first commercial batches in November, 2013. [7] The category saw a spike in popularity around 2018–2019 in the U.S.[1] As of 2019, in the U.S. the most popular brand is White Claw.[8] Hard seltzer is expected to generate $2.5 billion in sales in the US by 2021.[9] Analysts attribute the success of White Claw and the appeal of hard seltzer in general to increased demand from health-conscious consumers.[10] The rise of hard seltzers in the beer category may also be seen as a reflection of the broader surge in popularity of non-alcoholic flavored seltzers evidenced by the sudden and massive popularity of brands like LaCroix and Spindrift.[11] On the back of this popularity, hard seltzer brands have launched in numerous countries outside of the U.S., including in Canada,[12] Australia[13] and the UK.[14] In February 2020, White Claw launched in Canada[15] and has a registered trademark in the UK.[16]