Hard seltzers have been growing in popularity for years now, and now many Ontario craft breweries are offering their own. In case you didn’t know, hard seltzers are a simple concept – water, bubbles, alcohol, and usually flavours. They’re low calorie, lightly flavoured and ultra-refreshing.
So why the parentheses? Well, hard seltzers typically do not contain any distilled spirit – they’re fermented using sugars and yeast. Hard sparkling waters (think vodka soda) use separately distilled spirits like vodka. Although they are different, the end result is very similar, so we’re including both versions here. If you’re not a beer drinker or you’re looking for something a little lighter, you might want to check these out. Here are some Ontario craft breweries making refreshing hard seltzers (and hard sparkling water).
Muskoka Brewery
Hard Sparkling Water
Bracebridge, ON
Muskoka Spirits’ hard sparkling water comes in convenient variety packs so you can try all four flavours. There’s Coconut & Lime, Grapefruit & Ginger, Cranberry & Blood Orange, and Lemon & Field Berry. Plus, at 100 calories and 5% ABV – you can enjoy a drink in the sunshine (while it lasts!) guilt-free.
Get yours
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Blood Brothers
Holy Ghost Seltzer
Toronto, ON
In a somewhat unconventional partnership, Blood Brothers and BlogTO collaborated on this raspberry and lime seltzer. It’s fermented dry with champagne yeast (not spirits based) and conditioned on real raspberries and limes for a refreshing flavour and tart finish that contains no artificial flavours. It’s 5% ABV like your average beer but will feel a lot lighter.
Get yours
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Great Lakes Brewery
Gin Soda
Etobicoke, ON
A classic botanical juniper aroma with refreshing carbonation and zest of key lime. Great over ice while you enjoy the final days of summer. Not a gin person? GLB also makes a vodka soda with lemon!
Get yours
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Block Three Brewing
Hard Seltzer
St. Jacobs, ON
These malt-based seltzers are currently available in three flavours – watermelon, lemon + lime, and strawberry vanilla. We hear the strawberry vanilla is a fan-favourite!
get yours
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Longslice Brewery
Cherry Sploosh Seltzer
Toronto, ON
This is another malt-based seltzer, and their description says it best: “It tastes like a sparkling water with a hint of cherry. You’ll be asking yourself – is this even a beer?” It’s 4.5% ABV and super easy drinking.
get yours
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Rouge River Brewery
Boysenberry Hard Seltzer
Markham, ON
Using real fruit purée, Rouge River Brewery created a super spritzy, lighter alternative to their beer lineup. Plus, the boysenberry brings delightful juiciness and tang.
Get yours
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