Sparkling Water Alcohol has Arrived. Here are your Top…

Sparkling water is all the rage these days. It’s hydrating, it comes in all kinds of flavors, and now…it’s alcoholic? Nope, seltzer is no longer just the sober accomplice; it’s the party itself. For years, we’ve seen the slow but steady intersection of alcohol and carbonated water as trends have made their way to bars and shelves in an ever evolving fashion. Now, sparkling water alcohol has become a trend in itself.

When it comes to alcohol, trends tend to change like the weather. Since 1980, the number of craft brewers has risen from 8 to 537 in 1994, to over 2,800 in 2013. (1) Hard cider saw some big gains in 2012-2014, however it hasn’t maintained the same fanfare with sales growth slumping in 2015. (2) Spiked soda began to pick up the slack in 2015 with various hard root beers and ginger beers filling out store shelves. And now, the winds have shifted to the clear choice. (Get it?)

Let’s be real: sparkling water alcohol doesn’t have quite the fanfare of craft beer yet. But the night is still young. As of now, there are a handful of spiked bubblies out there, so we’ve taken it upon ourselves to make them all known to you. Whether you’re going low carb, gluten free, or just like to bring the party in fun, new ways, we can pretty much guarantee one of these 5 will happily replace your longing for Zima.

 

Truly Spiked and Sparkling

With simple packaging and even simpler ingredients, Boston Beer Company has hit the shelves with a full line of party seltzer that truly lives up to its name. Truly Spiked and Sparkling is made with a sugar-based alcohol (versus malt) which makes it a good choice for the gluten-free dieter. It also comes in with the lowest carb count, which means you can safely pound the whole 6-pack and still be in ketosis…theoretically. Flavors: Pomegranate, Colima Lime, Grapefruit and Pomelo, Sicilian Blood Orange, Lemon and Yuzu

Calories: 100 per serving

Carbs: 2g

ABV: 5%

Price: $10 (0h 18m)-11 per 6-pack cans or bottles

Available in cans and glass bottles.

 

Spiked Seltzer

Developed by two longtime friends, Spiked Seltzer has evolved from 5-gallon batches in a Connecticut garage to nationwide distribution as of Spring 2017. Spiked is brewed without barley, wheat, or sorghum, making it naturally gluten free. Although not as skinny on the carbs as Truly Spiked and Sparkling, it’s not so far behind at 5g per can. That means it’s also fairly low on the sugar spectrum, if you care about that kind of thing. Flavors: West Indian Lime, Indian River Grapefruit, Cape Cod Cranberry and Valencia Orange

Calories: 140 per serving

Carbs: 5g

ABV: 6%

Price: $9 (0h 16m) per 6-pack cans

Available in cans and glass bottles.

 

Nauti Seltzer

Hey, it’s a play on words! But really, is this actually a drink for the high seas, or a boozy beverage for the morally deficient? Hailing from Massachusetts, we can probably say it’s a little of both. (Why Bay Staters are more depraved than anyone else, I’ll never know.) Actually, for a sparkling water alcohol, or any alcoholic drink in its category, for that matter, it’s fairly benign. With 110 calories and 5 grams of carbs, it pales in comparison to Henry’s Hard Soda, coming in at 217 calories and 34 grams of carbs. And although technically Nauti Seltzer began as a malt liquor, Wachusett Brewing Company pledges to release a gluten-free version sometime this year. For all you zymarikaphobes out there. Flavors: Raspberry, Lemon Lime, Grapefruit, and Cranberry

Calories: 110 per serving

Carbs: 5g

ABV: 5%

Price: $9 (0h 16m) per 6-pack

Available in cans.

 

Henry’s Hard Sparkling

Speaking of Henry, he realized even boozy sodas needed a lighter alternative. And why not add one more offering to the lineup? Henry’s Hard Sparkling is currently the lowest calorie option available in its category, and its low carb count is also “hard” to match. However, this is one sparkling water alcohol distinctly without a gluten-free option, or ingredient list, for that matter. So if you’re looking for some bubbly with a more “transparent” label (these puns are just too easy!), you might be best served to keep moving. Flavors: Lemon Lime, Passionfruit

Calories: 93 / 92

Carbs: 2.9g / 2.6g

ABV: 4.2%

Price: $9 (0h 16m)-10 per 6-pack

Available in bottles.

 

White Claw Hard Seltzer

Finally, we have the mighty White Claw. The one choice on this list that passes Whole Foods Market’s “clean” list, its label contains an actual ingredient list, something most of the other sparkling water alcohol varieties can’t claim. Touting artesian water and OH made from fermented sugar as its main ingredients (3), White Claw Hard Seltzer is naturally gluten-free. For the calorie counters, this option is also comparable to the others, and even features an Instagram pic with a can of each flavor nestled between some workout equipment. So FYI, it’s officially cool to crush a few cans at your next CrossFit session. 

Flavors: Natural Lime, Black Cherry, and Ruby Grapefruit

Calories: 110

Carbs: 4g

Sugar: 4g

ABV: 5%

Price: $10 (0h 18m) per 6-pack

Available in cans.

 

References

1. History of Craft Brewing

https://www.brewersassociation.org/brewers-association/history/history-of-craft-brewing/

2. Cider Sales See Big Decline in Growth in 2015 http://ciderjournal.com/cider-sales-growth-decline-2015/

3. White Claw FAQ http://whiteclaw.com/faq.html