This summer, it seemed like you couldn't go anywhere without seeing someone sip on hard seltzer. Flavored, alcoholic seltzers have become so popular that there was even a shortage of White Claw — one of the most popular brands in the category, earlier this year. So why are hard seltzers so popular? For starters, they taste super refreshing. Anyone who guzzles La Croix on the reg will likely be a fan. They're also generally low in calories and sugar, making them a somewhat healthier alternative to other forms of booze. Which hard seltzer is right for you, though? That's what we're here to help you decide. Here are our favorite alcoholic seltzer drinks to imbibe this fall and beyond. Find your favorite, then head to your local supermarket to stock up for the season!
Image via @whiteclaw
White Claw Hard Seltzer
We couldn't write about hard seltzers without including the aforementioned White Claw. It's really the brand that started the craze. White Claw seltzers are just 100 calories and contain 5 percent alcohol by volume. It comes in five fruity flavors that aren't overly sweet (each one has 2 grams of added sugar): black cherry (our personal fave), mango, natural lime, raspberry, and ruby grapefruit. They also sell a "pure" seltzer for those who prefer unflavored seltzer water.
Natural Light Seltzer
Remember Natty Light, the cheap beer you used to drink in college? Their parent company, Anheuser-Busch, now sells a hard seltzer under the Natural Light name. This line of alcoholic fizzy waters is also marketed toward college students, as, according to CNN, it costs about 20 percent less than leading competitors and is sold in bulk 24-packs. Natural Light Seltzer, which comes in two flavors (Aloha Beaches, a mango/peach blend, and Catalina Lime Mixer, black cherry/lime combo), clocks in at 130 calories and 6 percent alcohol by volume per can.
Smirnoff Seltzer
For those who want to hold onto summer just a little bit longer, set your sights on Smirnoff Seltzer. The available flavors are summer in a can: cranberry lime, watermelon, raspberry rosé, berry lemonade, and piña colada. These seltzers are only 90 calories per can with 4.5 percent alcohol by volume. And there's zero sugar to boot.
Truly Hard Seltzer
White Claw's biggest competitor would have to be Truly Hard Seltzer — and it makes sense why so many people would also love this brand. Truly is available in a huge variety of flavors (13!), including wild berry, passion fruit, and pomegranate. At 100 calories and 1 gram of sugar, with 5 percent alcohol by volume, Truly is a low-cal (yet still totally tasty) treat.
