Another Hard Seltzer Summer is upon us — and this year is already looking a little different than last year. 

Beverage companies are working overtime again to produce enough seltzer to keep up with consumer demand. But this year, as pandemic restrictions ease and venues re-open, fans are purchasing ready-to-drink (RTD) bubbly beverages in record numbers both at home and now in bars and restaurants across the country. 

New and exciting flavors are also having their moment. Popular flavors like Black Cherry and Mango are stepping out of the limelight while a surprising crowd favorite takes center stage. 

This season, as far as hard seltzer is concerned, Orange is the new Black Cherry. 

Hard seltzer brands have been cranking out all kinds of novelty flavors. Crook & Marker recently partnered with BrüMate to release Afternoon Dillight, a limited edition pickle flavored seltzer. But more than any flavor, it’s the humble orange that is getting some much overdue fanfare. 

That’s right. The beloved fruit whose juice has been a breakfast staple in American homes since the 1950s is now the most sought after hard seltzer flavor of the summer. Orange flavors can be both tart and sweet. They are familiarly refreshing but they can still create unique taste profiles. 

With so many brands releasing their own versions of the sweet citrus flavor, it’s overwhelming to decide which to try first… 

Orange you glad we made a list?

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There is no doubt that oranges and hard seltzer are a winning combination. Two orange seltzer flavors recently squeezed out the competition  and won big, medaling at this year’s prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Smirnoff Zero Sugar Orange Seltzer took home a silver medal in the Hard Seltzer category while Ola’s Hawaiian Orange Vanilla Hard Seltzer earned a bronze medal.

Ola Orange Vanilla Hard Seltzer

Ola Brew’s Hawaiian Orange Vanilla Hard Seltzer is crafted in Kalua-Kona, Hawaii, and features locally grown Ka’u Gold oranges. Ola is a rapidly rising company, partially thanks to its crowdfunding success.

Each 12 ounce can of Ola contains 110 calories, 2 grams or sugar, 2 grams of carbs and an ABV of 4.8%. The seltzers are made with organic ingredients, and are packaged in 6-packs of individual flavors.

Bronze medal winner at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits competition.

Smirnoff Blood Orange Spiked Seltzer

Each 12 ounce can of Smirnoff Zero Sugar Orange Seltzer contains 90 calories, 1 gram of carbs and an ABV of 4.5%. It can be purchased as part of a variety pack alongside flavors like Berry Lemonade, Black Cherry and Lemon Lime.

Smirnoff also makes an imperial hard seltzer called 8% Spiked Seltzer which comes in a 16 ounce Blood Orange flavor and, per its name, features an enhanced ABV of 8%.

While maintaining its zero sugar, this variety has 67 calories per serving.

It has slightly bitter orange notes.

PRESS Blood Orange Chili

PRESS was founded by Amy Walberg, who frequently talks about the brand’s flavors being influenced by her culinary travels. The Blood Orange Chili flavor is receiving high marks from consumer review magazines. According to Liquor.com, “heat-seeking fans of hard seltzers will love PRESS’s properly spicy Blood Orange Chili.”

Blood Orange Chili hard seltzer mixes fragrant citrus with peppery spice.

110 calories per 12 ounce can and only 4% ABV.

White Claw Surge Blood Orange

Smirnoff isn’t the only brand making an orange-flavored imperial seltzer. White Claw recently debuted Surge Blood Orange which, like Smirnoff, boasts an ABV of 8%.

White Claw Surge Blood Orange promises “a hint of sweetness from the unmistakable taste of blood orange, this mouth-watering take on your favorite hard seltzer provides a bold surge of refreshment.”

Ficks Uses Orange Base

San Francisco-based Ficks Beverage Company puts all of its oranges into one basket, and then uses them as the fermentation base for its line of hard seltzers. Most companies ferment with malt or plain sugar but Ficks’ founders Ron Alvarado and Mike Williamson quickly learned that an orange base provided a smoother, more neutral flavor and produced high alcohol levels. In an exclusive interview with Hard Seltzer News Alvarado said of the company’s decision to ferment oranges, “[We’ve seen] some brands have some pretty unique things that they use in their fermentation process, but in the end, it seems like taste is kind of king.”

Ficks originally made non-alcoholic mixers but expanded into hard seltzers in 2018 at the very beginning of the seltzer surge. 

Ficks Hard Seltzers come in four real fruit flavors, interestingly none of which are orange.

The Mango, Grapefruit, Blackberry and Cranberry flavors come in 12 ounce cans and contain 100 calories, between 2-3 grams of carbs depending on flavor, and an ABV of 5%. They are sold in 6-packs of individual flavors as well as a 12-can variety pack.

Cigar City Florida Orange Hard Seltzer

Cigar City Brewing brings us orange flavors direct from the orange capital of the country—Florida. Oranges are Florida’s state fruit as well as its most important agricultural product. So when Tampa’s Cigar City entered the seltzer world earlier this year with a line inspired by Florida’s citrus flavors, it’s not surprising that Florida Orange was the central focus. The company described the flavor, “Fresh-squeezed orange flavors play on the palate with accompanying zesty acidity.” 

Additional flavors include Meyer Lemonade, Ruby Red Grapefruit and Key Lime.

Cigar City Brewing describes Florida Orange Hard Seltzer as, “Fresh-squeezed orange flavors play on the palate with accompanying zesty acidity.” 

These come in 12 ounce slim cans and contain 100 calories, 0 carbs and an ABV of 5%.

Coors Seltzer Orange Cream Pop

Finally, don’t let summer pass you by without grabbing a limited edition Coors Orange Cream Pop Seltzer. The seltzer boasts a creamy and nostalgic, Dreamsicle-inspired flavor that will make you think the ice-cream truck stopped by. 

“Consumers are constantly on the lookout for new and exciting flavors, and we know that flavor is a top driver of sales,” stated Matt Lafferty, Coors Seltzer’s Marketing Manager. “We wanted [to]  make a bold flavor choice instead of leaning into an iteration of something on the market already,”  

Each 12 ounce can of Coors Orange Cream Pop Seltzer contains 90 calories and an ABV of 4.5%. The seltzer is already creating quite a buzz on social media with fans eager to taste it.

According to Lafferty, “The frozen treat flavor of Coors Seltzer Orange Cream Pop is poised to be the must-try seltzer of the summer, when refreshment is most on the minds of drinkers.”

Orange hard seltzers are the warm weather drinks fans can’t get enough of. Expect to see more orange flavors hitting shelves this summer as consumers continue to reach for seltzers bursting with refreshing citrus notes.

Shirani Jayasuriya
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