See the best hard seltzers for 2021 here!
In the year that’s passed since VinePair’s first annual hard seltzer roundup, much has changed within the category. In just 12 months, hard seltzer has become the fastest-growing alcohol segment, with dollar sales forecast to hit $2.5 billion by the end of this year. In 2019 alone, U.S. drinkers bought more hard seltzer by volume than vodka, purchasing a barely believable 2.1 billion 355-milliliter cans, according to global data firm IWSR.
But there’s more to spiked seltzers than cold, hard, impressive sales stats. With a broad range of companies — from craft breweries to alcohol conglomerates — vying for a slice of the lucrative pie, there are dozens of new brands, each with its own interpretation of what constitutes the perfect, lightly flavored, gently sparkling alcoholic beverage.
Such expansion is great for hard seltzer fans, but proved challenging when determining the product mix that should be eligible for this roundup. While many brands build their formulas on a brewed-malt foundation, others have introduced wine- and spirits-based products. Some examples resemble hard kombucha, while others toe the line of ready-to-drink cocktails.
In the end, VinePair defined the category using the calorie- and carb-conscious formula that’s made hard seltzers so successful. We considered only beverages that contain: fewer than 150 calories; 5 percent ABV or below; and fewer than 10 grams of carbohydrates per 12-ounce serving. Additionally, each brand had to showcase this information clearly on its product packaging.
Our final ranking is based on a tasting of more than 130 different offerings. While not all options will be available nationwide, we wanted to provide the most accurate, in-depth exploration of products on the market.
Here are the 30 best hard seltzers you can buy right now, tasted and ranked.
30. Arctic Summer Spiked Pineapple Pomelo
ABV: 5%
Calories: 110
Carbs: 3g
Candied pineapple leads the way on the nose of this hard seltzer, followed by just a hint of pomelo. Both fruits are nicely balanced on the palate, however, and arrive in a bright, fresh guise.
29. Smirnoff Berry Lemonade
ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 90
Carbs: 1g
The best offering from Smirnoff’s extensive lineup, this hard seltzer smells like a glass of lemonade garnished with a handful of fresh berries. The flavor is crisp and seltzer-forward, with a pleasant kiss of berries on the finish.
28. Press Blood Orange Chili
ABV: 4%
Calories: 110
Carbs: 7g
Ideal for those who carry a bottle of Tabasco wherever they travel, this is one spicy seltzer. The chili is lively on the nose, so be careful not to inhale its aromas too hard! The spice is notable on the palate, too, and jives nicely with the blood orange flavors. Drink extra-chilled, or pour over ice to take some of the heat off that chili.
27. Omission Pomegranate Blueberry-Acai
ABV: 4%
Calories: 90
Carbs: 1g
Pouring a cloudy lemon color, this drink’s aromas recall the mix of fresh berries you might sprinkle granola over and serve with yoghurt for breakfast. The palate is fruity and crisp, with persisting berry notes.
26. SeekOut Real Hard Seltzer Cucumber & Juniper
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: <1g
While an admittedly bougey flavor combo, SeekOut delivers its promise of serving an unmistakable one-two of cucumber and juniper. It will no doubt be a familiar pairing for fans of Hendrick’s gin, and you could definitely spike this with a splash of the spirit for some extra punch.
25. Truly Hard Seltzer Orange
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2g
Intensely aromatic, a spray of orange jumps out of the can as soon as you crack it open. It’s a really authentic orange aroma, with hints of peel, pith, and flesh. The palate tastes like Fanta Orange without the sweetness — but that’s a good thing. There’s also a slightly waxy finish that tastes like taking a bite of orange, pith and all.
24. Kona Spiked Island Seltzer Strawberry Guava
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2g
Strawberry and guava riff off each other really nicely on this hard seltzer’s inviting nose. The fruit flavors are well balanced on the palate, too, but arrive as a subtle seasoning to the lively seltzer water.
23. Monday Night Brewing Narwater Blueberry Raspberry
ABV: 4.7%
Calories: 90
Carbs: 4g
This seltzer pours a striking pink rosé color with vibrant effervescence. The raspberries come through tart and fresh on the nose, evoking memories of plucking fresh berries from a bush. The palate is more reserved, but still tastes unmistakably of tart raspberry with just a spray of blueberry. If you’re looking for something that’s true to the subtle flavors of real fruit (versus concentrated natural flavorings), you’ll love this.
22. Wild Basin Melon Basil
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 1g
Get ready for juicy watermelon, fragrant basil, and a clean, crisp palate. It’s a simple offering, but at the same time a huge achievement: Nothing tastes artificial, there are no bitter malty notes, and everything is wonderfully balanced.
21. Pompette Cucumber Lime (750ml)
ABV: 5%
Calories: 160
Carbs: 5g
This beverage arrives in a 750-milliliter bottle, making it an interesting outlier in the hard seltzer world. Cucumber leads the lime on the nose before the balance flips on the palate. Perfect for sharing, enjoy at picnics, on the beach, or in a spiked punch at home for a boozier option.
20. Barefoot Strawberry & Guava (250ml)
ABV: 4%
Calories: 70
Carbs: 5g
This hard seltzer whiffs of ripe, oozing strawberries followed by pleasant tropical fruit notes and a delicate hint of herbs. The palate continues in similar fashion, with a good concentration of fruit flavor and full-bodied mouthfeel.
19. Brizzy Mixed Berry Mojito
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2g
At first you may wonder exactly what makes this a Mojito, as the berries take prominent center stage on the nose. Before long, a slap of fresh mint arrives and is unmistakable on the palate. The combination is a winner, with the herbs adding a refreshing finish to the vibrant berry flavors.
18. Bon V!v Black Cherry
ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 90
Carbs: 1g
This seltzer has an attractive light purple hue. Its aromas mix cocktail cherries, almond essence, and rose petals. The floral note continues onto the palate, adding a delicate touch of complexity. The texture is crisp and exceedingly dry.
17. Ficks Cranberry
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 3g
The best standalone cranberry option on the market, this is a wonderful representation of the tart red fruit. It’s vibrant on the nose and eye-clenchingly astringent on the palate — just like the real thing. For those who enjoy crushing Cosmos, this is the seltzer for you.
16. Pulp Culture “Hustle”
ABV: 4.9%
Calories: 99
Carbs: 0g
Los Angeles-based Pulp Culture offers an intriguing range of kombucha-esque spiked seltzers. This is the most fruit-forward of the lineup, with passionfruit and strawberry aromas and flavors joined by a complex mix of ginger and turmeric. The palate is lively, approachable, and refreshingly tart.
15. Bud Light Lemon Lime
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2g
A vibrant mix of citrus fruit on the nose, this is no boozy diet Sprite. The aromas are zesty, and even hint at an expression of citrus oils. The palate is lean and refreshing with the fruit notes lingering on a notably lengthy finish.
14. Vive Grapefruit
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2g
Intensely aromatic, this is a must-try for grapefruit lovers. The fruit notes feel really authentic, with a spray of peel and juice on the nose and the gentle bitterness of pith on the palate. This seltzer is crisp, clean, and highly expressive.
13. Willie’s Superbrew Pineapple & Lime
ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 110
Carbs: 5g
Of the numerous pineapple-flavored seltzers we sampled, this captures the truest expression of the fruit. The lime helps balance the natural sweetness of the fruit, providing a juicy, sweet and sour mix that is simply divine.
12. Lift Bridge Voyageurs Citrus
ABV: 5%
Calories: 120
Carbs 3.3g
Serving an attractive cloudy-pear pour, this hard seltzer features an enticing mix of fresh citrus fruits. Orange, grapefruit, lemon, and lime are each distinguishable on the nose, while the palate is bright, refreshing, and really well balanced. This is what “craft” hard seltzer should taste like.
11. White Claw Black Cherry
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2g
An icon in its own right, White Claw remains the leading option when it comes to black cherry-flavored hard seltzer. This one is more Jolly Rancher than cough syrup on the nose (thankfully), and is vibrant and punchy on the palate, with just the right amount of sweetness.
10. High Noon Grapefruit
ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 4.8g
This hard seltzer smells and tastes exactly like a freshly sliced grapefruit. Made with real vodka (rather than fermented malt), there’s an added concentration of flavor and heavier mouthfeel on the palate. The overall profile is tart, juicy, and refreshingly fruity.
9. Bluemarble Pure Love
ABV: 5%
Calories: 95
Carbs: 1g
Sometimes you just want a straightforward vodka soda with no added flavors. Arguably even tastier than the cocktail itself, there’s nothing to say about this hard seltzer other than it’s incredibly clean. There’s no bitter hint of malt and not the faintest burn of alcohol. Less is more with this offering.
8. Ficks Blackberry
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2g
This hard seltzer captures the subtle, pleasant aromas of freshly picked blackberries. The palate is nuanced and layered. It starts (relatively) sweet, transitions to tart and astringent, and finishes fruity. This is one of the cleanest, most refreshing hard seltzers available.
7. H2Roads Raspberry
ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2g
Standing head and shoulders above the many raspberry hard seltzers on sale, this example delivers the fruit in its freshest, juiciest form. Its color even looks like raspberry, and everything is well integrated and balanced on the palate.
6. Brizzy Watermelon Mule
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2g
Combining watermelon and ginger, this hard seltzer comes straight out of left field but works surprisingly well. It’s not a combo most will have experienced before, but it’s definitely something you should seek out. The palate is full of flavor, with the sharpness of ginger softened by mouthwatering watermelon. A cocktail-in-can just waiting for summer to arrive.
5. Wild Basin Lemon Agave Hibiscus
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 1g
The flavors for this hard seltzer sound pretentious, but each ingredient is present and accounted for on the nose and palate. The lemon is candied, like a lemon drizzle cake; the hibiscus adds a sweet floral seasoning; and the agave lends spice undertones.
4. Willie’s Superbrew Mango & Passionfruit
ABV: 4.5%
Calories: 110
Carbs: 5g
This seltzer delivers some funky kombucha notes, but it’s delicious. The aromas and flavors are highly concentrated and true to the fresh ingredients. There’s a decent body to it as well, offering a tasty spiked beverage that packs more punch than the average hard seltzer.
3. Vive Dragonfruit
ABV: 5%
Calories: 100
Carbs: 2g
In its natural form, dragonfruit delivers a tropical mix of pear, kiwi, and citrus fruit. This hard seltzer serves an accurate recreation of that delicate profile. The aromas are pleasantly intense while the palate is light and refreshing without lacking flavor.
2. Canteen Spirits Watermelon
ABV: 5%
Calories: 99
Carbs: 0g
Another vodka-based offering, this hard seltzer serves a mix of sweet gummy candy, ripe watermelon, and zesty lime. Its aromas are expressive and inviting, while the palate is straight-up classic seltzer: clean and crisp, with just a kiss of watermelon.
1. Lift Bridge St. Croix Berries
ABV: 5%
Calories: 120
Carbs: 3.3g
With this hard seltzer, Minnesota-based Lift Bridge Brewery serves the ideal mix of fresh wild berries many other brands try to achieve, but fail to completely deliver. With a cloudy pour that’s lively and effervescent, you can smell and taste each of the blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries that make up the blend. The flavor profile is tart, dry, pleasantly acidic, and perfectly balanced.
