Odds are that you know what hard seltzer is, right? A light alcoholic beverage that’s as bubbly as it is tasty. Hard seltzer has become one of the most popular drinks of choice for people looking for something lighter, without the next day regrets.
There’s a better way to crack open a cold one with hard seltzer, which is giving booze quite the makeover these days. The recent rise and popularity of hard seltzers makes perfect sense the more you think about it. Non-alcoholic seltzers are light, refreshing, and, perhaps best of all, perfect for any occasion. The hard versions of this bubbly beverage bring all of those same benefits to the table and more.
People can’t get enough of hard seltzer. Let’s find out why.
The History of Hard Seltzer
Hard seltzers have been around for quite a while, but their rise in popularity has skyrocketed during the pandemic and opened up the floodgates for different brands to enter the fray.
The first real hard seltzer brand was made in 1993 by Coors when they introduced Zima, which is no longer in production today. R.I.P Zima; we barely knew you.
These days the number of hard seltzer brands has expanded from 10 in 2018 to well over 100 today, giving thirsty buyers much-needed variety in the marketplace of bubbly spiked drinks.
Hard seltzer developed out of a love for vodka sodas and other carbonated, alcoholic mixed drinks. Companies saw that today’s modern consumer required something different than heavy beers and inaccessible, inconvenient liquors.
But what really made hard seltzer pop was that it could be sold in a can, so it works for almost any occasion, from beach days to graduation. Hard seltzer’s portability ensures that you can bring an ice-cold seltzer anywhere and everywhere.
Any doubts about the longevity of hard seltzer or ideas that it was just some kind of fad have been squarely put to rest over the past few months. Customers collectively purchased 82.5 million cases—that’s almost 2.1 billion cans— in 2019, according to IWSR. That’s a lot of seltzer.
How Hard Seltzer Is Made
Hard seltzer can be made in a variety of ways, depending on the brand and style.
Usually, hard seltzers are made from straight-up fermented cane sugar. Other times it could be brewed from malted barley, made with vodka, or even created gluten-free. These fizzy delights tend to have an alcohol content between 4 and 6 ABV, making them a refreshing and flavorful alternative to light beers.
The Perks of Hard Seltzer
The next time you’re perusing the aisles at your local grocery store, why should you snag seltzers over the plethora of wine or beer options? Keep that in mind next time you visit a HEB sale aisle.
Overall, compared to sodas and beers, hard seltzer has a much lower alcohol content and less sugar. The average hard seltzer hovers around the 100-calorie range, which is about the same calorie content as a shot of vodka, and much lower than a standard beer.
Beer is loaded with carbs and soda is notorious for containing around 40 grams of sugar. In contrast, hard seltzer usually has fewer than two grams of sugar—or none at all, if you’re looking at Flying Embers.
Flying Embers Hard Seltzer
This is where we come in. In this brave new world of hard seltzer consumption, how can you possibly know which one to try? We have the answer: Flying Embers.
At Flying Embers, we make hard seltzers with soul. We focus on handcrafting our hard beverages with only premium, organic ingredients, so that you can enjoy full flavor and subtle sweetness in a kaleidoscope of color.
Seltzers are extremely popular because they’re convenient, but they can also be a bit of a snooze fest. Grapefruit, lime, raspberry—all these flavors have been done before and are in need of a serious upgrade.
Instead, our hard seltzers are available in a variety of refreshing, craft-cocktail inspired flavors. Made with champagne yeast, our seltzers have zero sugar, zero carbs, and only 95 calories.
Enjoy this low-cal, no sugar beverage while sipping on Black Cherry Rose, Clementine Hibiscus, Passionfruit Elderflower, and Watermelon Chili, instead of the same old combos you always see. We’re more than convenience—we’re crafted.
If you still aren't sold on flavor and ingredients alone, did you know that every time you crack open a can, you're doing more good than you think? A portion of all Flying Embers proceeds goes towards our nonprofit organization, the Embers Foundation, to address firefighter, first responder and community needs nationwide following natural and other disasters. We'll drink to that.
Hard Seltzer, Hard Kombucha: The Choice Is Yours
Whether you opt for a fruit-forward botanical booch, or a spritzy seltzer with a kick of heat, you can't go wrong with one of these bright beverages in tow.
Sources:
How Hard Seltzer Became The Alcohol Industry’s Party Trick | B2
Hard Seltzer Is Here To Stay | Vinepair
Dudes Love White Claw, So Maybe the Idea of ‘Bitch Beer’ Can Finally Die | Eater