Taste buds, prepare to be tantalized! And thrilled. And begging for more of the East Coast’s newest addiction: SpikedSeltzer.
Made exclusively from purified water and natural ingredients, this reinvented seltzer product is creating a fresh new category of its own alongside craft beer and sparkling ciders. Best of all, it’s friendly to those with gluten issues and those keeping an eye on carbs.
“We set out to make something light, crisp and all-natural, but with a touch of alcohol,” explained Brewer and Co-Founder Nicholas Shields. “We also wanted something that would appeal to women and the natural movement toward better-for-you beverages.”
When out and about, Nick and his Co-Founder, David Holmes, noticed women often ordered seltzer with lime. So their first experiments and products released—were made with citrus. Current offerings are West Indies Lime, Indian River Grapefruit, Valencia Orange and Cape Cod Cranberry.
All four refreshing sips show off what’s become a category-creating product. It’s fermented and brewed like beer, getting its bright flavors from the sugar fermenting the alcohol. It’s a subtle, all-natural note.
“SpikedSeltzer is 6% alcohol, but you don’t get that ‘alcohol’ taste thanks to Nick’s brewing techniques,” Dave said of his business partner, who cut his teeth at some pretty impressive companies after earning degrees from Cornell University and the University of California at Davis. He did stints at Nantucket Nectars, Pepsi and Cadbury Schweppes. It’s only natural that Nick found his way into the industry, as he’s a fifth-generation brewer hailing from Boston’s famed Haffenreffer Brewery (circa. 1870) thanks to his great-great-grandfather, Rudolph Haffenreffer.
The careful brewing means there’s no gluten in the raw materials or the process, making it naturally gluten-free to the delight of those looking for something tasty with some fizz. SpikedSeltzer runs around 135 calories for 12 ounces, roughly the same as a 4-ounce glass of wine. It’s pasteurized for freshness and contains no sulfites.
“This is not your typical ‘flavored’ product, which often comes from high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and preservatives,” Nick noted. “We print everything right on the label so you can see the ingredients. None of that junk [is] in SpikedSeltzer.”
“We were careful about the alcohol level, too,” Dave added. “This is half the ABV of wine, so you’re not ‘one and done.’ And there’s only 5 grams of carbs. It’s a pretty healthy drink!”
SpikedSeltzer is great alone, alongside your favorite foods and as a partner for more boozy adult libations. Get your SpikedSeltzer on and check out these food-pairing recommendations. Then hit the website to spy cool cocktails.
Pair citrusy SpikedSeltzer with these foods and let the crisp acidity cut through the good fats and healthy oil sauces:
- Thai ginger lime chicken
- Lemongrass chicken
- Chicken a l’orange
- Fish tacos with cilantro and lime
Cranberry SpikedSeltzer does double duty taming bitterness and pairing with the sweeter side:
- Salads that feature arugula, dandelion and other tart greens
- Anything made with goat cheese
- Rich chocolate desserts
- Holiday meals, particularly Thanksgiving
Thinking brunch? Both Valencia Orange and Indian River Grapefruit are beautiful bases for mimosas. The buttery richness of eggs benedict is refreshed by the light acidity and carbonation of SpikedSeltzer.
Find SpikedSeltzer at a location near you.
