Move over, summer shandy.
There's a new libation in town in the form of spiked seltzer.
If you haven't heard of spiked seltzer, you might not be running with the right crowd.
The drink is a carbonated sparkling water spiked with nearly 5% alcohol by volume (ABV). It boasts close to the same buzz-inducing ABV as most light beers, but it has quickly attracted a loyal following among millennials for its low carbohydrate, sugar and calorie counts.
Hard seltzer was a $60 million industry heading into last summer, according to Nielsen data. Now by some estimates, the industry is hovering around $500 million in sales. Here's why experts say that hard seltzer is about to be the alcoholic beverage for the summer...and perhaps the rest of 2018.
Took Off Like a Rocket
It’s hard to beat a cold beer straight from the cooler on a hot summer day, or a chilled poolside cocktail. But it’s also hard to avoid the bloat that comes along with their high calorie counts. Cue hard seltzer—a refreshing alternative which, with fewer calories and about half the carbs of beer, has been getting some buzz as the health-conscious alcoholic beverage of the season. Another bonus? Because hard seltzer is low in sugar, it’s less likely to lead to killer hangovers.
The drink came on the scene in 2013, with the creation of SpikedSeltzer. Its immediate popularity has since spawned other brands, such as White Claw, Nauti, and Truly Spiked & Sparkling. Expect to see other companies popping up over the next few months—this trend is here to stay.
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