Sapporo Beer LTD is the latest international beverage alcohol brand to venture into the hard seltzer category. The company is launching two flavors of Water Sour, its first ready-to-drink (RTD) spiked and sparkling product offering.

Sour Water was introduced in two flavors – Lemon and Orange. At 3% ABV, the new drink is super light and contains no sugar. It is described uniquely as “liquor that can be enjoyed like carbonated water.”

The new Sour Water is Sapporo’s answer to Suntory’s Chu-Hi Horoyoi White Sour drink, which also rings in at 3% alcohol.

Chu-Hi drinks are a popular hard genre in Japan. A traditional Chu-Hi drink is made with barley shōchū, carbonated water, and lemon, although some modern twists on the drink use vodka in place of shōchū.

Recently manufacturers of Chu-Hi drinks have experimented with new flavors, including lime, grapefruit, apple, pineapple, kiwi, and even strawberry cream.

Chu-Hi drinks typically contain a lower alcohol level, making them a popular, better-for-you choice in Japan. Yet stronger options are available – most Chu-Hi drinks range from 3% to 10% ABV.

Sold in single servings, Chu-Hi drinks can often be found in vending machines.

US Possibilities for Japan Sour Seltzer

The beverage is so popular that a big player may soon try to bring the genre to American markets.

In 2018, the Coca-Cola Company introduced its first alcoholic beverage in nearly 40 years – Lemon-Dou, a Chu-Hi drink sold exclusively in Japan. Its name loosely translates to “Demon Lemon.”

Lemon-Duo is available in four different varieties, each with a different ABV and flavor profile. Hachimitsu Lemon contains 3% ABV and is lightly sweetened with honey. Hachimitsu Lemon ranks next at 5% alcohol, while Shio Lemon has 7% and Oni Lemon reaches an impressive 9% ABV.

While the Coca-Cola Company was initially adamant about Lemon-Dou being a Japan-only exclusive, the early success of its new Topo Chico Hard Seltzer may have changed the company’s proverbial mind.

In June Hard Seltzer News reported that Coca-Cola applied for trademark protection with an intent to use in interstate commerce for Lemon-Dou, a “lemon flavored beer.”

Coca-Cola may be eyeing further expansion into the UK as well.  According to The Grocer, “the soft drinks giant has registered the name with the Intellectual Property Office under class 33” in the UK, “which covers beverages carbonated with alcohol, and class 32, which covers a raft of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks made with lemon.”

With its distinct, nutty taste from shōchū and its wide range of ABV options, there is a definite space in the American hard seltzer market for Chu-Hi drinks; they just may be the next big Japanese trend to take over the US.

Will Sapporo soon follow Coca-Cola’s Lemon-Dou into the complicated American drinks market? A stronger ABV Sour Water may also be a possibility – news of the launch seem to be flirting with the possibility.

Sour Water is currently available nationwide in Japan. It has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of ¥141 JPY, or approximately $1.28 USD per 350 ml can.

Here’s to hoping this “Japanese born” hard seltzer will reach the US soon.

Erin Grafton
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