5 New Hard Seltzers for C-Stores

CHICAGO — Hard seltzers are showing the strongest growth in alcohol, so it’s no surprise beverage companies keep releasing them.

The category, which makes up 5% of total alcohol, grew 88% in dollar sales for the two weeks ending on Jan. 9, according to a report from Goldman Sachs, New York.

Here are the latest releases in the subcategory ...

Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade follows the release of Bud Light Seltzer in 2020. The drink is available in 12-ounce slim can variety 12-packs in four flavors: Original Lemonade, Black Cherry Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade and Peach Lemonade.

Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade is made with real lemonade and is brewed with cane sugar and natural fruit flavors, according to St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch. It has 100 calories, less than 1 gram of sugar and 5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Vizzy Hard Seltzer is launching Vizzy Lemonade in four flavors in April. The drink, from Chicago-based Molson Coors Beverage Co., will come in Strawberry Lemonade, Peach Lemonade, Watermelon Lemonade and Raspberry Lemonade. Each 12-ounce can has 100 calories and 5% ABV.

Both the original Vizzy, launched last year, and the lemonade version are made with antioxidant vitamin C.

Many lemonade hard seltzers are set to launch in 2021 or already have been added to hard seltzer lineups including Truly Lemonade, Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade, Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer and Crook & Marker Spiked Lemonade.

Stewart’s Spiked Seltzer launched in February in New York and New Jersey. The flavors, modeled after Stewart’s Soda flavors, are Root Beer, Orange Cream, Black Cherry and Raspberry Lime.

Each can of Stewart’s Premium Spiked Seltzer is 100 calories, gluten free and vegan, containing 1 gram of carbs and 1 gram of sugar. The sparkling drinks have 5% ABV.

Stewart's Enterprises Inc., Lincroft, N.J., is the exclusive licensee of the original Stewart’s Root Beer brand. The Stewart’s brand was founded in 1924 in Mansfield, Ohio, and known for its sodas. Stewart’s Enterprises is now making hard seltzers using Stewart’s flavor profiles.

Seagram’s Hard Seltzer, Rochester, N.Y., is a new hard seltzer that comes in Tropical Pineapple, Mango Peach, Mixed Berry and Watermelon Lime. Variety packs launched in February across select markets.

Variety packs will include 12-packs of 12-ounce slim cans. Each seltzer has 5% ABV, 100 calories and 1 gram of cane sugar.

Seagram’s also sells Seagram’s Escapes, low-ABV beverages that come in flavors including Jamaican Me Happy, Calypso Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri.

Cacti Agave Spiked Seltzer is a new beverage from recording artist Travis Scott made in partnership with A-B. Scott said he was inspired by the flavors of tequila and the light and refreshing taste of seltzer when making the drink.

Cacti has 7% ABV and will launch in spring in Lime, Pineapple and Strawberry. The drink is made with 100% premium blue agave, used to make tequila and sweetener, from Mexico. It will be sold in 12-ounce cans in nine-count variety packs and 16- and 25-ounce single cans in the Lime and Pineapple flavors.