Sierra Nevada makes it hoppy.

Sierra Nevada is diving into hard seltzer and bridging the gap between beer and boozy bubbly water in the process. Hard Seltzer News has learned that the brewery is brewing Old Chico, a “hard hopped seltzer.” It’s currently being poured at select outlets in the Chico, CA area near its headquarters, including the Handle Bar and Parkside Tap House.

The hoppy seltzer is called Old Chico, a name that the brewery had previously used for beer. 

Old Chico Crystal Wheat, described as Sierra Nevada’s “lightest offering” craft beer, is brewed with malted wheat, barley, and crystal hops. The company says the beer was “a great choice for those new to craft brew and longtime beer aficionados alike—light-bodied, refreshing and wonderfully drinkable.”

Old Chico Hard Hopped Seltzer may share a similar taste profile to Old Chico light beer, and indeed are served alongside each other at the Parkside Tap House.

Sierra Nevada tells us the new hard seltzer has an “all-natural and hop-forward flavor in a lighter, low-calorie option.”  It’s brewed with Simcoe and Azacca hops, delivering an “approachable and refreshing hop forward flavor.” It contains 5.5 percent ABV.

The company has filed documents for the Old Chico name with the US Patent & Trademark office for trademark protection, in the category of hard seltzers.

Other hoppy hard seltzers

Old Chico joins a growing segment of hopped seltzers that are helping to bridge the gap between craft beer and hard seltzer. In October Heineken introduced its own hoppy hybrid, Bask IPA Style Hard Seltzer.

Bask is available in Blood Orange, Lemon, and Original Hops. Each flavor contains 110 calories, 3-4 grams of sugar, and five percent ABV; the lighter profile more closely resembles a craft seltzer than a traditional India Pale Ale. Like many hard seltzers it is also gluten-free, making it a refreshing alternative for beer drinkers who avoid gluten.

The hoppy, IPA style seltzer is meant to attract craft beer purists to the effervescent seltzer lifestyle, ultimately offering them a lighter choice.

“Bask is inspired by the palate and mentality of craft beers, but is intended for anyone who craves a flavorful and meaningful drinking experience,” sayid Ryan Webb, Heineken USA’s director of innovations, at the time of release. “In our initial research, we saw that only 30 percent of craft-beer drinkers consumed hard seltzers last year, providing an opportunity to deliver a new product that would bridge that gap.”

Sierra Nevada has other Beyond Beer beverages

Old Chico Hard Hopped Seltzer also joins Sierra Nevada’s growing profile of beer alternatives. The brewery is also working on a more traditional hard seltzer line called Agua Azul, or “blue water.”

Sierra Nevada is the country’s third largest craft brewery and the seventh largest beer producer overall. In addition to its hard hopped and Agua Azul hard seltzers, the brewery recently released a hard kombucha called Strainge Beast. The boozy ‘booch is available in Passion Fruit, Hops & Blood Orange, and Ginger, Lemon & Hibiscus varieties.

While hard seltzer originally grew in popularity by offering consumers a light yet satisfying option to beer, it is interesting to see new beverages that bridge the gap between hard seltzer and craft beer, whether or consumer or to help the beer brand rationalize the extension internally and with its fan base.

Although many millennials now prefer hard seltzer to craft beer, more options in the drinks market is always a positive.

Erin Grafton
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