Colorado Sake Co. is launching a new line of hard sake seltzers this summer. The bubbly beverage, which the company has branded “the original sake seltzer,” will be available in four flavors including Yuzu Ginger, Blood Orange, Mixed Berry and Lime.

Each 12 ounce can of the Denver-based brewery’s sake seltzer will boast an ABV of 6%, which is higher than many of the most popular seltzer brands on the market. Colorado Sake Co. described Original Hard Sake Seltzer as “flavor forward compared to most competitors, with just the right amount of carbonation to be refreshing but also go down easily.”

Sake, also known as Japanese rice wine, is an alcohol made from fermented rice. The beverage is brewed with starch, which converts into sugars and ferments. Sake is the national beverage of Japan and has a history that dates back as far as the 3rd century CE. It was originally used for religious and ceremonial purposes.

Although sake continues to be the most popular alcohol in Japan, the drink is still finding its footing in other parts of the world. There are only 15 domestic sake makers currently producing the alcohol in the US. By comparison, there are more than 8,000 beer breweries and nearly 11,000 wineries in the country.

Colorado Sake currently only distributes within the state of Colorado, but with the help of a StartEngine campaign, the craft sake brewery hopes it will be able to expand more than its alcohol offerings in the near future. Colorado Sake Co. set a goal of $1.07 million on the equity crowdfunding platform. As of July 18, the company had raised $186,090 between 246 investors. A minimum $250 investment is required to become an investor.

Colorado Sake was founded by William Stuart and Heather Dennis in 2018. The operation has grown significantly since then, expanding rapidly from a 500 square foot location to 4,000 square feet in its first year of business. The company now possesses 15,000 square feet, which includes a large brewing and bottling facility.

Colorado Sake has enjoyed a 310% year-over-year growth rate and has recently doubled its retail selection. The brand has impressive profit margins of around 80%. StartEngine investments will help support the brewery’s ambitions to expand into national distribution. The company mentions via the crowdfunding platform that its “goal is to make Colorado Sake a household name nationwide!”

Colorado Sake does not explicitly detail how its hard seltzers will be produced. It is likely the seltzer’s sake base will be made utilizing one of the brand’s current sake products. According to the company, “the sake we dreamed of bringing to Denver, Colorado is clean, unpasteurized, undiluted and delicious! It is available in a variety of both unique and traditional selections.”

Colorado Sake makes four varieties of the beverage.

The brand’s signature sake, American Standard, is a traditional Junmai Ginjo Sake. It contains only four ingredients and is used as the base of all of the company’s offerings. The Blueberry Hibiscus variety uses the same American Standard base steeped with hibiscus flowers and juiced blueberries. Lychee Nigori contains all natural ingredients including, of course, lychee. Horchata Nigori was inspired by the traditional Mexican drink. It is made with vanilla beans and sticks of cinnamon.

All four sake options are vegan, gluten-free and contain an ABV of 15%-16%.

Colorado Sake’s Original Hard Sake Seltzer is a strategic part of the company’s growth and one that will bring exciting new flavors to the national hard seltzer market.

Shirani Jayasuriya
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