The List – Hard Seltzer Summer* Round Up (2021)

When I kicked off Hard Seltzer Summer in May of 2021, I was hoping to try at least 50 new-to-me Hard Seltzers and continue to explore the booming market. Hard Seltzer Summer is more than over, but Hard Seltzers continue to pop up on store shelves and in brewery taps.

The constant feed of Hard Seltzers led me to make a 2021 round up list of Hard Seltzers rather than just limiting it to the summer months*.

Besides Hard Seltzer Box Co‘s Countdown/Advent Calendar (review coming soon!), I drank 74 new-to-me Hard Seltzers in 2021. Here is a breakdown of them all by flavor/style. They are ranked from favorite to least favorite.

Cherry

Michiganders love their cherries!

1. Petoskey Brewing – Michigan Cherry Hard Seltzer
2. High Noon Spirits – Black Cherry
3. Bud Light Seltzer – Cherry Limeade
4. Kirkland Signature – Black Cherry
5. Coors Seltzer – Black Cherry

Pineapple

Pineapple is a growing flavor in the Hard Seltzer game.

1. Vizzy Hard Seltzer – Pineapple Mango
2. Perrin Brewing Co – Rewired – Pineapple Tangerine
3. Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer – Spicy Pineapple

Citrus (Grapefruit / Orange / Tangerine)

Citrus Hard Seltzers are one of my favorite flavors.

1. Odd Side Ales – P.O.G.
2. Superior Culture – Orange Dream
3. Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer – Citrus
4. White Claw Seltzer Works – Tangerine
5. Coors Seltzer – Grapefruit

Citrus / Peach

Couldn’t figure out where to put the Fuzzy Navel because it was the best of both worlds.

1. Odd Side Ales – Fuzzy Navel

Peach / Mango

Peach and Mango went from separate categories to the same with a ton of crossover in 2021.

1. Transient Artisan Ales – Sparkle Water – Kill It with Fire Seltzer
2. Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer – Mango Apricot
3. New Belgium Brewing Company – Fruit Smash – Tropical Punch
4. Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer – Peach Pear
5. Patron Saints Brewery – Saintly Seltzers – White Peach Mango
6. Coors Seltzer – Mango

Lemon

Found a few with lemon as the feature, so they get a category!

1. Perrin Brewing Co – Rewired – Lemon Raspberry
2. MiddleCoast Brewing Company – Lemon Ginseng Hard Seltzer
3. Odd Side Ales – Lemon Elderflower Hard Seltzer

Lemonade

Thirst quenching lemonade with alcohol!

1. New Belgium Brewing Company – Fruit Smash – Pink Lemonade
2. Superior Culture – Raspberry Lemonade
3. Truly Hard Seltzer – Mango Lemonade
4. Truly Hard Seltzer – Strawberry Lemonade
5. Truly Hard Seltzer – Original Lemonade
6. Truly Hard Seltzer – Black Cherry Lemonade

Lime

Is 2020’s most popular flavor old news?

1. Aberrant Ales – In the Nude – Raspberry Lime
2. Ellison Brewing Co – Key Lime Seltzer
3. Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer – Cucumber Lime
4. Aberrant Ales – In the Nude – Prickly Pear Lime
5. Transient Artisan Ales – Sparkle Water – Yellow
6. Coors Seltzer – Lemon Lime
7. Pabst Brewing Company – Stronger Seltzer – Lime

Cocktail Inspired

The cocktail inspired Hard Seltzers are growing in numbers and brands.

1. SESH – Mojito
2. Beaches Hard Seltzer – Tom Collins
3. SESH – Moscow Mule
4. Ellison Brewing Co – Pina Colada Hard Seltzer
5. Beaches Hard Seltzer – Cosmo Inspired
6. SESH – Paloma
7. Beaches Hard Seltzer – Moscow Mule
8. SESH – Gin and Tonic
9. Beaches Hard Seltzer – Tequila Sunrise
10. Transient Artisan Ales – Sparkle Water – Green

Berries

Berries are still a popular flavor for Hard Seltzers.

1. Oskar Blues Brewery – Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water – Black Raspberry
2. Bud Light Seltzer – Blue Raspberry
3. Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer – Mixed Berry
4. Oskar Blues Brewery – Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water – Strawberry Coconut
5. Pabst Brewing Company – Stronger Seltzer – Wild Berry
6. Dragonmead Brewery – Jam Jar Dragonclaw
7. Oskar Blues Brewery – Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water – Yumberry
8. New Belgium Brewing Company – Fruit Smash – Berry Blast
9. Oskar Blues Brewery – Wild Basin Boozy Sparkling Water – Blueberry Mango

Punch

Throwback to the lunchroom, but now with a boozy kick!

1. Stillwater Artisanal – sparkling stillwater – fruit stuff (fruit punch)
2. Truly Hard Seltzer – Fruit Punch
3. Truly Hard Seltzer – Tropical Punch
4. Truly Hard Seltzer – Citrus Punch
5. Truly Hard Seltzer – Berry Punch

Smoothie

I don’t believe you can go wrong with a Smoothie Hard Seltzer. All of these were amazing!

1. Smooj – TROPICAL VACATION (LAB)
2. Smooj – STRAWBERRY BANANA
3. Ascension Brewing Company – THICC Anti-Seltzer – Pinerazzguava
4. Smooj – PINA COLADA

Other

All the other Hard Seltzers that didn’t fit nicely into a category.

1. Aberrant Ales – In the Nude – Watermelon Mint
2. Perrin Brewing Co – Rewired – Yuzu Elderflower
3. Ellison Brewing Co – Plum and Marshmallow Hard Seltzer
4. Bud Light Seltzer – Toasted Marshmallow
5. MiddleCoast Brewing Company – Passionfruit Basil Hard Seltzer
6. Bud Light Seltzer – Summer Ice
7. Spoetzl Brewery – Straight Shooter – Juicy Dill Pickle
8. Bud Light Seltzer – Apple Crisp
9. Patron Saints Brewery – Saintly Seltzer – Arnold Palmer
10. Bud Light Seltzer – Maple Pear

For 2022 and beyond, we’ll focus on Hard Seltzer reviews rather than lists of the winners and losers of the year.