After a long winter — and probably the longest year of our lives— it’s safe to say we could all go for a drink, yeah?
And now more than ever, New Jerseyans are reaching for hard seltzer when they want a libation. What started as a small sector of the alcohol industry has become one of the largest markets. It’s not just hard seltzers companies making the spiked stuff anymore, either. It seems everyone in the booze business is making one. Breweries. Distilleries. Wine companies. Everyone.
So which low-carb and low-sugar hard seltzer should you be drinking? Intrepid (and thirsty) NJ Advance Media reporters Jeremy Schneider and Bobby Olivier set off on an alcoholic excursion to rank 25 of the best and most popular hard seltzers available in New Jersey right now, so you don’t have to.
So sharpen your White Claws. Because it’s happy hour somewhere — and that somewhere is right here.
How we ranked them: Either Jeremy or Bobby tried every flavor in a brand’s most popular variety pack (usually three or four flavors) and gave each one a score of 1 to 10 based on flavor, crispness, carbonation, aftertaste, would we drink them at a socially distanced barbecue, etc. All of the scores in a given variety pack were then added together and divided by number of flavors to create an “average flavor score.” The 25 brands are ranked solely by their scores. Happy reading and responsible drinking!
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Catalina Wine Mixer, House Rules, Aloha Beaches)
ABV: 6%
Calories: 133
Sugar: 1.9 grams
Carbs: 4 gram
Average flavor score: 2
Notes: The disgusting beer we all drank at college parties makes an equally disgusting seltzer. As if the names weren’t dumb enough (Aloha Beaches? charming) the sharp, bitter aftertaste had me considering sobriety. Is it possible for hard seltzer to be skunked? Because this sure tastes like it. (JS)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Raspberry Rose, Cranberry Lime, Pina Colada, Berry Lemonade)
ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 90
Sugar: 0 grams
Carbs: 1 gram
Average flavor score: 2.5
Notes: Beautiful packaging — I had high hopes for this one — but holy crap it was awful. For a product that boasts “no artificial flavors,” nothing about these duds tasted natural. Yes, the zero sugar and exceedingly low calorie count is a draw, but you’re sacrificing flavor big time — the Pina Colada tasted like a Bath and Body Works candle, the Raspberry Rose was reminiscent of a kids’ fruit-scented marker. (BO)
Flavors sampled: Berry Pack (Black Raspberry, Yumberry, Blueberry Mango, Strawberry Coconut)
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 0 grams
Carbs: 1 gram
Average flavor score: 2.75
Notes: This comes from Oskar Blues, the same brewery that makes terrific Dale’s Pale Ale. Oskar should stick to beer, because this gave me the blues. I didn’t do an actual spit-take, but the Blueberry Mango and Strawberry Coconut had me close. The Yumberry tastes like… Grossberry? I don’t know where the Wild Basin is, but you can throw these in there. (JS)
A pack of Corona Hard Seltzer. (Bobby Olivier | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack No. 1 (Blackberry Lime, Tropical Lime, Mango, Cherry) ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 90
Sugar: 0 grams
Carbs: 0 grams
Average flavor score: 3.25
Notes: Much like Smirnoff, if you’re drinking Corona Hard Seltzer, it’s not for the flavor but the zero-sugar proclamation. The Cherry tasted like Robitussen (cherry seltzers are basically impossible to pull off), the Mango was blah. The Blackberry Lime was a cool concept mostly executed well; I could live off those on a socially distanced beach somewhere. (BO)
Flavors sampled: Classic Collection (Citrus, Mixed Berry, Mango Apricot)
ABV: 4%
Calories: 90
Sugar: 0 grams
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 3.25
Notes: Terrible, metallic aftertaste from the Citrus, the Mango and Berry were both fine enough — slightly under-carbonated and also suffered from a not-so-great finish. (BO)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Watermelon Lime, Tropical Pineapple, Mixed Berry, Mango Peach)
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 1 gram
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 3.5
Notes: Seagram’s makes seemingly every type of alcohol in the world, so I guess them entering the hard seltzer game is no surprise. The Watermelon Lime and Tropical Pineapple are light on flavor but sippable, the Mixed Berry and Mango Peach are undrinkable, however. (JS)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Peach Berry, Orange Mango, Pineapple Ginger) ABV: 5.2%
Calories: 110
Sugar: 0 grams
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 3.75
Notes: Man, everything about Two Robbers seems cool. The cans, which aren’t tall and narrow like most seltzers, are etched with doodles of skulls. They make interesting flavors. They’re based in Philly! Sadly, they seem cooler than they taste. All three flavors I tried had a weird bite to them that ruined the promising flavor. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t turn one down if this was all you had in your beach cooler, but I would ask if you had anything else. (JS)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Blueberry & Lemon, Pineapple & Lime, Pomegranate& Acai, Mango & Passionfruit) ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 110
Sugar: 3 grams
Carbs: 5 grams
Average flavor score: 3.85
Notes: How many hard seltzers can say they use real fruit juice?! Not many. But even with Willie’s doing just that, the brew isn’t all that super. The Pineapple Lime was the best of the bunch, but the Pomegranate Acai was downright medicinal. Yuck. (JS)
Flavors sampled: Classic Variety Pack (Lemon Lime, Strawberry, Black Cherry, Mango)
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: Less than 1 gram
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 4
Notes: Let it be known that I really, REALLY cannot stand regular Bud Light. Blegh. But the seltzers aren’t half bad. Surely crushable, as the kids say (I think). Could use more fizz, and it’s plenty artificial — the strawberry was pretty medicinal — but at a sweltering pool party you could do much worse. (BO)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Peach, Tropical Coconut, Mango, Strawberry Lemon) ABV: 4%
Calories: 80
Sugar: 0 grams
Carbs: 0 grams
Average flavor score: 4
Notes: How is a seltzer with zero sugar so damn sweet? Stevia, that’s how. The natural sugar substitute derived from plants is so strong that the Peach tasted like a Diet Peach Snapple. For some people, that’s a massive draw. For others, the artificial flavor will be a turnoff. The Tropical Coconut (is there a non-tropical coconut?) was so sweet it tasted like bubble gum. If you want a seltzer that tastes like a diet soda, this is the one for you. (JS)
White Claw, one of the most popular brands of hard seltzer. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images
Flavors sampled: Flavor Collection No. 1 (Natural Lime, Ruby Grapefruit, Black Cherry, Raspberry)
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 2 grams
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 4
Notes: The brand that sparked a craze and launched hundreds of copycats, White Claw remains ... just okay. The Natural Lime is the subtlest and best of the bunch here as it tastes like flat Sprite (in a good way). The rest are all take-or-leave, though certainly drinkable without a miserable aftertaste like some peers. If all you can find is the old standard, you’ll survive. (BO)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Lime, Mango, Cucumber, Raspberry)ABV: 5%
Calories: 110
Sugar: 0 grams
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 4.5
Notes: Three Birds was so preoccupied with whether or not they could make a cucumber hard seltzer, they didn’t stop to think if they should. I still don’t know if they should have. It tastes so much like cucumber water (the inspiration for a hilarious scene in “The Other Guys”) that it’s almost jarring. The flavors are all super light, kind of like if LaCroix made a hard seltzer. (JS)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Raspberry Lime, Mixed Berry, Black Cherry, Watermelon)
ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 1 gram
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 4.875
Notes: Nauti as in nautical? Or, like, naughty? The debate about what the name stands for, unfortunately, is more interesting than the seltzer itself. Completely passable. The Mixed Berry and Raspberry Lie were fine, the Black Cherry and Watermelon were meh — the latter tasting like a bad Warhead candy without the sour kick. Underwhelming. (JS)
A box of Truly Hard Seltzer. (Bobby Olivier | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Flavors sampled: Citrus Pack (Lime, Lemon, Grapefruit, Citrus Squeeze)
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 1 gram
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 5.5
Notes: Light, subtly sweet with a nice fizz — the Lemon and Lime I could (and might begin to) drink regularly. If I was told either was a vodka seltzer with a squeeze of citrus, I’d probably believe it. The overzealous Citrus Squeeze medley flavor was a cloying swing and miss. (BO)
Flavors sampled: Weekender Mix (Ruby Red Grapefruit, Raspberry Lime, Pineapple Pomelo, Black Cherry) ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 0 grams
Carbs: 3 grams
Average flavor score: 5.5
Notes: I want to love this seltzer. Polar, my favorite regular seltzer company makes it. But if I’m honest with myself, it simply doesn’t live up to its name. Almost every flavor has a weird, almost soapy aftertaste. The Black Cherry is great, the rest of them aren’t. Forgive me, Polar. (JS)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Cranberry, Black Cherry, Mango, Grapefruit) ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 90
Sugar: 0 grams
Carbs: 5 gram
Average flavor score: 5.75
Notes: Nothing to write home about, but nothing to scoff at either. The Grapefruit tasted like straight grapefruit juice, and the Black Cherry almost reminded me of a Boylan’s soda. I’ll take it! (JS)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Passionfruit Guava, Strawberry Guava, Starfruit Lime, Tropical Punch)
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 0 grams
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 5.75
Notes: Great beer, very solid seltzers. The Strawberry Guava was one of the single-best seltzers I tried, terrific flavor, just enough kick. Same goes for the delightfully tart Starfruit Lime. The Tropical Punch smells just like Hawaiian Punch, which was good, but for me was too syrupy, which was bad.
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Peach & Nectarine, Cherry & Cranberry, Pineapple & Passionfruit, Strawberry & Guava)
ABV: 4%
Calories: 70
Sugar: 2 grams
Carbs: 5 grams
Average flavor score: 5.875
Notes: A cheap wine company makes decent hard seltzer? I’m just surprised as you are. Barefoot bills these as “wine-based seltzers,” which had me tempted to pour these into a wine glass and swirl it like a wino. I didn’t, instead drinking it from the tiny cans that weirdly have the same feel as a can of V8 Juice. Thankfully, they’re a lot tastier. The Pineapple & Passionfruit was downright delicious. (JS)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Lemon Lime, Black Cherry, Grapefruit, Mango)
ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 90
Sugar: 2 grams
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 6
Notes: Coors getting into the hard seltzer game felt like a harbinger that EVERYONE was going to get in. And they did! Much like Coors beer, I won’t say no to their seltzer but I’m probably never seeking it out. The Lemon Lime had me feeling like I was sipping on a slightly watered down Sprite (White Claw might be in trouble!), and the Mango was a pleasant surprise. (JS)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Cherry Lime, Watermelon Mint, Peach, Blackberry)
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 3 grams
Carbs: 3 grams
Average flavor score: 6
Notes: This Austin, Texas-based company gets points for creativity — there are plenty of watermelon seltzers out there, how many pair them with mint? It kind of tasted like eating a watermelon Airhead and chasing it with a breath mint, but I dug it. Strong flavor for sure with these ones, though the alcohol kick was definitely there. (JS)
A pack of Mike's Hard Lemonade Seltzer. (Bobby Olivier | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Pineapple, Lemon, Strawberry, Mango)
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 1 gram
Carbs: 1 gram
Average flavor score: 6.25
Notes: Mike’s calls itself the “full flavor hard lemonade seltzer” — a clear dig toward its weakling competitors — and it mostly delivers. The Lemon, unsurprisingly, is like a diluted Mike’s Hard, plenty tart and sweet, and the strawberry is just as tasty as any boozy strawberry lemonade concoction you might get elsewhere. A fine sleeper pick. (BO)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Pineapple, Grapefruit, Black Cherry, Watermelon)
ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 2.6 to 2.9 grams
Carbs: 2.6 to 2.9 grams
Average flavor score: 7
Notes: High Noon was the big winner of summer 2020 (’round these parts at least), as overwhelming demand for the seltzer — which boasts its recipe of “real vodka and juice” — caused a supply shortage. Those who could find the sought-after packs went wild for the supremely good Watermelon and Pineapple — vibrant flavor, little aftertaste. The Grapefruit and Black Cherry are fine. (BO)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Lime Lemongrass, Grapefruit Cardamom, Blackberry Hibiscus, Pomegranate Ginger)
ABV: 4%
Calories: 110
Sugar: 5 grams
Carbs: 7 grams
Average flavor score: 7.375
Notes: I was sure Press would be bad. The flavors seemed entirely too ambitious, and the minimalist white can packaging had the pretension of a Voss water bottle. But, uh, wow. Color me impressed. Press absolutely delivers on their flavors. The Grapefruit Cardamom tasted like a spicy Fresca. Blackberry Hibiscus kind of reminded me of Capri Sun, which is just about the biggest compliment you can get from a ’90s kid. If not for an underwhelming Pomegranate Ginger which was sharply too spicy, Press might have taken the No. 1 spot. (JS)
New flavor combos released for spring 2021 by Vizzy Hard Seltzer. (Photo provided)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Blueberry Pomegranate, Black Cherry Lime, Pineapple Mango, Strawberry Kiwi) ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Sugar: 1 gram
Carbs: 2 grams
Average flavor score: 7.375
Notes: After Wild Basin’s crazy flavors failed to deliver, I was nervous that Vizzy would be a let down as well. Absolutely not. Wow. I turned to a can of Pineapple Mango as I sipped it and wondered aloud, “where have you been all my life?” One of the most flavorful seltzers I had without being overpowering or saccharine sweet. The Pineapple Mango is the best, but the Black Cherry Lime is an inspired combo as well. (JS)
Flavors sampled: Variety Pack (Lime, Wild Berry, Strawberry Basil) ABV: 8%
Calories: 171
Sugar: 1 gram
Carbs: 2.8 gram
Average flavor score: 8
Notes: The year is 2021. PBR, the company that makes the ultimate crappy hipster dive bar beer, not only makes hard seltzer — it makes a Strawberry Basil hard seltzer. As pretentious as that sounds, it’s absolutely delicious. Like, shockingly good. Almost as shocking as knowing that one of these seltzers packs twice the alcohol of most seltzers on this list. The Lime was the best, but you can’t go wrong with any of these flavors. So smooth you would have no idea they’re dangerously strong, so flavorful you would think you’re sipping a soda. You may have to turn in your hipster card to drink these, but it’s worth it. (JS)
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Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
The Link LonkMarch 20, 2021 at 08:01PM
https://www.nj.com/food/2021/03/the-ultimate-hard-seltzer-ranking-25-popular-brands-ranked-for-spring-2021.html
The ultimate hard seltzer ranking: 25 popular brands ranked for spring 2021 - NJ.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=hard&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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