The Sip of Summer
Words by Sam Lauron Photo by Blue Norther Hard Seltzer
Hard seltzers have swept the nation for the past couple summers, and it’s easy to see why. Light and often low-calorie, the bubbly drinks are the perfect refresher while spending the day on water, in the sun, or just hanging out in the backyard. Fortunately, Austinites don’t have to go far to find some of the best. Ride the final wave of summer with these local hard seltzers.
Blue Norther
Brewed in East Austin, Blue Norther was created by a father-son duo—Austin T. and Austin M. Pittman—who set out to concoct a natural hard seltzer. The two Texas-inspired flavors include Wild Blackberry and Agave Lime, both of which are made with real fruits and a hint of organic agave. The natural combination creates a flavor that’s not too sweet and doesn’t leave an aftertaste. Enjoy either flavor on its own or get creative and mix into a cocktail.
drinkbluenorther.com
Ranch Rider Spirits
Created with the premise that good drinks are made with real and simple ingredients, Ranch Rider Spirits offers a healthier alternative to popular cocktails. The lineup includes Ranch Water, which consists of tequila, sparkling water, and fresh-squeezed lime juice, Tequila Paloma which is similar to Ranch Water but also includes grapefruit juice, and The Chilton, a vodka-based cocktail containing sparkling water, lemon juice and sea salt.
ranchriderspirits.com
Austin Eastciders
The well-known local cider company put their own twist on hard seltzers with the launch of their cider-based seltzers earlier this year. The 100-calorie drinks are similar in appearance to their signature ciders, and also showcase creative flavors, but the difference is in the lighter and effervescent quality. Eastciders’ seltzers are available in three fruity flavors: black cherry, apple, and peach.
austineastciders.com
Canteen Spirits
Enjoy your vodka cocktail on-the-go with a can of Canteen Spirits. The vodka-based seltzer is crafted with real vodka and no added sugars, making it light and easy to drink. The five vodka soda flavors available are black cherry, lime, grapefruit, watermelon, and cucumber mint.
drinkcanteen.com
Mighty Swell
Mighty Swell’s fruit-forward seltzer spritzers include cherry lime, watermelon mint, grapefruit, and peach. The spritzers are low-calorie and perfectly refreshing for the hottest of summer days. Enjoy them in single servings or consider grabbing a variety pack from a local grocery store to try them all.
mightyswell.com
Brizzy
Created by the company formerly known as BeatBox Beverages, Brizzy is a lineup of sophisticated seltzer cocktails. The 100-calorie canned cocktails include Watermelon Mule, Strawberry Rosé, Mixed Berry Mojito, and the recently launched Blood Orange Mimosa.
drinkbrizzy.com
