When you’re craving a cold, refreshing beverage, beer might be the first drink that comes to mind. However, hard seltzer is another delicious option that is rising in popularity. If you’re not sure how these alcoholic refreshments differ, below is more information to help you choose between them.

Hard Seltzer

While you might see this beverage in many fruity flavors, hard seltzer starts off as a simple mixture of cane sugar and water. After sweetening the water, manufacturers ferment it to turn the sugar into alcohol. Next, they carbonate the alcohol, which leads to the sparkling sensation of bubbles with every sip. The final stage is flavoring, with some popular options being raspberry, mango, and lemon; however, some options do not have flavoring at all.

When you compare this to beer and cocktails, most hard seltzers have less calories and carbohydrates. Since they use fermented sugars instead of grains, they are usually gluten-free, which is significant if you have this dietary restriction. Generally, you can expect around 100 calories and 2 grams of carbohydrates in each 12-ounce can of spiked seltzer.

Beer

This drink begins with malted grains like barley or wheat, which manufacturers mash into hot water to extract the sugars. Then, they bring the resulting substance—known as wort—to a boil, before cooling it and adding yeast. This starts the fermentation process, where the yeast turns the sugars into alcohol. Due to its grainy start, beer has a golden or brown hue, unlike hard seltzer, which is clear.

In this form, beer often has a unique taste—bitter up front, with a bread-like, lingering sweetness. However, there are many different types, and depending on the grains that the manufacturer uses, the duration of fermentation, and the added hops, every beer can taste differently. In fact, many people approach this drink similarly to wine, detecting varying notes of caramel, spice, fruit, or nuttiness.

Compared to hard seltzer, beer has more calories and carbs, with around 150 calories and 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates in a 12-ounce can. However, this also makes the drink more filling, which can lead drinkers to consume less than they would when indulging in a hard seltzer.

If you’re in the mood for either of these refreshments, head to Classic Brands – Budweiser of Chillicothe, OH. They carry a wide range of Anheuser-Busch® and Yuengling® products. They are family-owned and -operated, providing a 40,000-square-foot warehouse to meet the needs of every customer. Visit them online for more information about their products. Call (740) 774-2831 to place an order.