Hard seltzer: New drink trend sweeping Australia

A delicious new type of alcoholic drink is sweeping Australia and it’s perfect for summer. We’ve rounded up the best of them.

A delicious new type of alcoholic drink is sweeping Australia and it’s perfect for summer.

It’s called hard seltzer. It’s basically boozy fizzy water and bottle shops are starting to fill up with a massive variety of fruity flavours.

It’s being tipped as the big new drink trend this year, and having tried a wide range of them I agree they’re pretty damn tasty.

It’s the ideal drink for sweltering Aussie summer day at the beach because of how light and refreshing it is. It also tastes natural, unlike garishly sugary pre-mixed drinks that have rotted our teeth for too long.

Not only that, they’re better for you than almost all other types of booze. Most seltzers contain less than 100 calories, and are sugar and gluten-free.

Seltzers launched on the US market in 2016 and have become the fastest-growing alcoholic drinks category in the country.

Now they are taking Australia by storm and more are on the way, with retailer BWS stating they will be doubling their hard seltzer range for summer.

Luckily for you, we’ve rounded up some of the best ones on the market.

1. Somma – a good starting point

If you’re sceptical about alcoholic fruit water, and you have every right to be, then Somma is a good starting point for your voyage into the world of seltzer.

The wizards behind this awesome drink say it’s made using water from an extinct volcano in regional Victoria.

Somma is available in cucumber & mint and watermelon & lime.

It comes in two flavours, cucumber & mint and watermelon & lime, and they’re both ridiculously refreshing, light and tasty.

You could be drinking this in a prison cell and it would transport your mind to a beach on a summer’s day. Be sure to stuff some in your eskie.

2. Sunly – continuing the trend

If that light beachy vibe is your thing, you should also check out Sunly seltzers, which are made by a sister company of beer legends Stone & Wood.

It comes in three flavours: Davidson Plum & Berry, Blood Orange & Grapefruit and Ginger & Lemon – so there’s a bit more variety to pick from.

Sunly is made by a sister company of Stone & Wood.

I have to admit they’re all pretty tasty but blood orange is the pick of the bunch.

3. Rainbird – a night-time seltzer

Unlike the previous two drinks that have a low alcohol content, Rainbird is one for a night on the town or when you’re having a few mates over at night.

Rainbird certainly has a bit of a kick to it.

I’ve sampled the Lemon & Lime flavour which certainly has a bit of a punch to it.

It still maintains the natural flavours and perfectly balanced fizz of other seltzers but has a bit more of kick.

4. Fellr – a natural alternative to Dry & Lime

For beer lovers who have been turned off alternatives like Dry & Lime because of their high sugar content, this is a game-changer.

It’s brewed by two Sydney lads – Andy Skora and Will Morgan – who quit their day jobs in January to unleash their delicious creation on the market. Talk about rotten timing to start a business.

Fellr’s a good alternative for beer drinkers.

The good news is their drink is so good it has rewired my brain to bypass the part of it that makes me subconsciously gravitate to beer. That is a significant portion of it.

The Dry & Lime flavour is an absolute treat. It’s summery, refreshing, fruity and somehow both dry and sweet.

5. White Claw – the OG

White Claw was launched in the US in 2016 and it is said to have pioneered the hard seltzer movement.

According to the brand, it has close to 60 per cent of the market share in the states so, as Ron Burgundy would say, it’s kind of a big deal.

White Claw is said to have pioneered the hard seltzer movement.

After supping on a few I can see why, it’s so popular. It’s crisp, clean and natural tasting.

The mango and natural lime flavours are rippers, but the ruby grapefruit is too sour for my unsophisticated tastebuds.

Send me your recommendations. [e-mail]

Originally published as Hard seltzer: New drink trend sweeping Australia