What’s not to love about a hard seltzer? The buzzy beverage has been experiencing a surge in popularity recently. In a single month, from June 2019 to June 2020, sales of hard seltzers made up 10% of non-spirit alcohol sales and earned $2.7 billion. That’s a lot of bubbles! 

It’s easy to see why hard seltzers are so popular. Seltzers are available in a medley of flavors, from the conventional flavors like citrus and berries to the exotic ones such as floral combinations and tropical fruit mixes. If you can’t settle on one flavor to try, you can purchase a variety pack to taste-test them all.

Flavors aren’t your only variable when choosing this boozy beverage. You can find a seltzer with lower or higher alcohol by volume (ABV) content or low-carb, low-sugar, gluten-free, and non-GMO varieties. Connoisseurs of fizzy, boozy drinks are spoiled for options. 

With such a cornucopia of choices, how can you find the best hard seltzer to bring to your next BBQ or beach day? Dive into our list of the best hard seltzer brands currently on the market, from familiar brewers to small craft producers. You might discover a new favorite that’ll have you raising your glass to great taste.

1. New Belgium Fruit Smash SUPER HARD Variety 12pk 12oz Can 8.0% ABV

This bold, great-tasting, high-ABV seltzer is made with real fruit juice and blows traditional seltzer flavor combos out of the water. Strawberry, raspberry, and cherry combine for the super satisfying Berry Blast variety. Raspberry also teams up with lemon to create a zesty twist on Pink Lemonade. Authentic mango parties it up with guava and passionfruit juices to create a Tropical Punch flavor for the ages. These seltzers offer a crisp, delicious refreshment with no artificial aftertaste to distract from their light, bubbly flavor.

$25.99

2. Flying Embers Fruit & Flora Hard Seltzer 6pk 12oz Can 5.0% ABV

This botanical-inspired brew is a seltzer for the kombucha set. Flying Embers has created a harmonious interplay of bold fruits and delicate florals that infuse inspiration into every sip. Their Fruit & Flora Botanicals collection includes exotic flavor combinations of Clementine Hibiscus, Black Cherry Rose, and Passionfruit Elderflower. These seltzers incorporate shelf-stable probiotics, vitamin C, and antioxidants into their gluten-free, non-GMO, and USDA-certified organic beverages with 5% ABV and less than 100 calories per can. 

Flying Embers Fruit & Flora Hard Seltzer is your floral, fruity fix in a can.

$11.99

3. Happy Dad Hard Seltzer Variety 12pk 12oz Can 5.0% ABV

Happy Dad Hard Seltzer is easy-to-drink and focused on quality. They take pride in being different from the rest. Their hard seltzers provide low carbonation and a refreshing taste with added electrolytes in four delicious classic flavors: Wild Cherry, Pineapple, Watermelon, and Lemon-Lime. All products are gluten-free with 1 gram of sugar and 100 calories per can and all-natural flavors.

Happy Dad is an incredible seltzer-producing team and delivers a lot of fun. Let’s go!

$20.99

4. Corona Hard Seltzer Variety 24pk 12oz Can 4.5% ABV

Enjoy the moment with this light, fruity hard sparkling water from Corona. Get that day-at-the-beach vibe wherever you go with this delicious, gluten-free variety pack of Blackberry Lime, Tropical Lime, Mango, and Cherry seltzers. These spiked seltzers are crammed with natural flavors but only have 2 to 3 grams of carbs and 2 to 3 grams of sugar, racking up 100 calories per drink. 

Kick back on the patio with a cool attitude and an even cooler Corona Hard Seltzer. 

$39.99

5. Arizona Sunrise Hard Seltzer Variety 12pk 11.5oz Can

Keep it real with a fresh, new take on Hard Seltzer. AriZona’s SunRise Variety Pack pops with four refreshing fruit flavors: Mucho Mango, Cherry Punch, Lemon, and Grapefruit. 

Enjoy your SunRise over ice to experience the authentic color and real fruit taste. With 100 calories and 4.6% alcohol content per can and the quality and flavor you expect from AriZona, it’s the perfect complement for any gathering or chill fest.

$19.99

6. High Noon Vodka Hard Seltzer Variety 8pk 12oz Cans 4.5% ABV

Why limit yourself to a single delicious hard seltzer flavor when you can try them all? This High Noon variety pack combines the great flavors of Black Cherry, Grapefruit, Pineapple, and Watermelon with premium vodka to craft hard seltzers. Each one contains 4.5% ABV, is only 100 calories, and is made with real vodka and fruit juice. 

$19.99

7. TRULY Hard Seltzer Punch 12pk 12oz Can 5.0% ABV

Truly Punch Hard Seltzer delivers an explosion of fruit flavor and big refreshment. Truly Punch beverages are unique mashups of your favorite fruit: Fruit Punch, Berry Punch, Citrus Punch, and Tropical Punch. Each 12-ounce serving delivers 100 calories, 1 gram of sugar, and 3 grams of carbs and has a slightly sweeter taste than Truly’s original line of hard sodas.

Next time you’re in the mood for some fruity bubbles, punch up with Truly Hard Seltzer.

$20.99

8. Michelob Ultra Seltzer Variety 1 12pk 12oz Can

Michelob Ultra Organic Hard Seltzer variety pack offers three flavors of hard seltzer you can enjoy at any time. This flavored seltzer variety pack comes with three fruity flavors: Cucumber Lime, Spicy Pineapple, and Peach Pear. 

Michelob uses only all-natural, high-quality ingredients to create alcohol drinks that are certified organic and have a 4% ABV with zero sugar, zero grams of carbs, and only 80 calories per serving. It’s an adult drink you can enjoy without ruining your diet. Enjoy these intriguing flavors out with friends or on your own at home. Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer: As real as it tastes.

$19.99

9. Vizzy Seltzer Variety 12pk 12oz Can 5.0% ABV

Vizzy Hard Seltzer is a unique spiked seltzer option. The addition of superfruit acerola to the recipe makes these seltzers antioxidant and vitamin-C rich. Vizzy comes in a range of tropical fruit flavors with just enough sweetness to satisfy: Pineapple Mango, Black Cherry Lime, Blueberry Pomegranate, and Strawberry Kiwi. Vizzy Hard Seltzers are just 100 calories and are gluten-free. Vizzy has 5.0% ABV per 12-ounce can.

Say “Oh Yeah” to a walk on the wild side with Vizzy.

$19.99

10. White Claw Surge Variety 12pk 12oz Can 8% ABV

The original best-selling hard seltzer, White Claw, continues to innovate with Hard Seltzer Surge. At 8% alcohol, White Claw Hard Seltzer Surge offers a tide of new flavors like Blackberry, Natural Lime, Blood Orange, and Cranberry. Naturally gluten-free, White Claw Surge is crafted using a unique brewpure process to deliver a hard seltzer experience like no other. Get your paws on a White Claw and ride the wave to refreshment. 

$19.49

11. Topo Chico Hard Seltzer Variety Pack 12pk 12oz Can 4.7% ABV

Delightfully fizzy mineral water, combined with alcohol and exotic flavors like Strawberry Guava, Tangy Lemon Lime, Tropical Mango, and Exotic Pineapple? You can’t go wrong with this new entry into the hard seltzer category. Especially when you consider each serving comes with 2 grams of sugar, 100 calories, and less than 5% ABV. Enjoy a new level of refreshment that is out of this world.

$19.99

12. Bud Light Platinum Seltzer Variety Pack 6pk 12oz Can 8.0% ABV

Another entry into the hard seltzer category from Anheuser-Busch, these Bud Light Seltzers are premium and delicious hard seltzer drinks. The Platinum Seltzer Variety pack boasts several natural fruit flavors, including Wild Berry, Citrus, and Blood Orange. Each flavor is crafted from sparkling water, natural fruit flavors, and agave to give a balanced sweetness and subtle alcohol bite. Each gluten-free serving has 170 calories, less than 3 grams of sugar, and an 8% ABV. These hard seltzers from Bud Light are the perfect, anytime indulgence.

$11.99

FAQ

What is hard seltzer?

Seltzer has come a long way since playing for laughs on the comedy circuit when some unsuspecting Joe would get a face full of it. And now, it’s ready for its turn in the spotlight. And it’s going hard.

Hard seltzer isn’t new. It’s been around for a few years now. As a matter of fact, it’s a direct descendent of Zima, that oft-maligned drink from the ‘90s that still makes Gen-Xers cringe. Non-alcoholic versions started gaining popularity around the mid-2010s when people began moving toward healthy alternatives to sodas and other sugary drinks. 

LaCroix kicked off the seltzer revolution with its fruity, non-alcoholic concoction. It didn’t take long for seltzer-lovers to start spiking their drinks with rosé and other wines, and the hard seltzer market was born. Soon the liquor shelves were bursting with the delicious alcoholic fizz.

So what’s hard seltzer anyway? Hard seltzer is a simple drink — a refreshing blend of carbonated water, alcohol, and fruit flavoring. Carbonation is added through fermentation or supplied from soda or mineral water. The best-tasting hard seltzers use pure fruit juices to flavor their drinks, with some brands adding sweeteners such as agave and cane sugar to the mix. However, this addition doesn’t do much to drive up calories and carbs. Sugar is fuel for fermentation and is converted to alcohol — making it the perfect lower-sugar, lower-carb alternative to wine coolers and beer. You can even find hard seltzers that are non-GMO and gluten-free.

From the butt of the joke to a beverage powerhouse, hard seltzers offer a lot of flexibility in taste, composition, and indulgence level. It’s no wonder that more and more people are reaching for a can of thirst-quenching seltzer instead of a traditional alcoholic beverage.

What kind of alcohol is in hard seltzer?

Seltzers derive their alcohol from a variety of different methods. The majority ferment the naturally occurring sugars from fruit juice or added cane sugar in their recipes into alcohol. Others convert malted barley into alcohol, adding gluten to your drink. These brands are usually categorized as a “flavored malt beverage” at the local liquor store. Some varieties of seltzer skip the fermentation process altogether and add vodka, wine, or tequila to give their beverages a boozy kick.

What seltzer has the least alcohol?

Hard seltzers average about 4% to 6% ABV, which puts them on the same level as light beers in terms of alcohol content. Others can go as high as 12%, putting it on par with a standard glass of wine. 

A lower ABV level means fewer calories and carbs, making it great for people who want to watch their waistline when they have a drink or four. Most varieties have about 100 calories per 12-ounce serving, which lands at about 3 grams of sugar per can, making them a sounder indulgence both alcohol and sugary treats.