Ep 157 - Berry Seltzer Showdown

A berry label can mean anything from “tastes like fruit” to “tastes like carbonated regret” and we put that to the test with a full lineup of hard seltzers and canned cocktails. Cal is back with me to taste and score six berry-driven drinks, starting light and bubbly and ending with a creamy curveball that clocks in at 13% ABV. If you’ve ever stood in front of a variety pack wondering what’s actually worth your money, we do the guessing for you and tell you exactly what we taste. We get into Vizzy Black Cherry Lime and why “hint of” can be both honest and disappointing, then jump to White Claw Clawtails Blackberry Mojito and the big challenge of getting mint to taste fresh in a can. Nutral’s vodka seltzer lemonades bring tartness and that lemonade bite, while Fresca’s Mixed Berry Citrus lands as the sweeter surprise that feels made for a hot day. We also talk drinkability, heartburn risk, and why carbonation level can make or break a can even when the flavor is decent. Between pours, Cal shares some of the best Missouri stories, including watching the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout from a packed line of boats, the Freedom One Racing video that looks fake until you realize it’s real, plus concert nights near the Ozarks and a Kansas City weekend with comedy and casino reality checks. We wrap with what we’d recommend to different palates, how to approach high-ABV canned cocktails like Cutwater’s Strawberry White Russian, and which drinks are “try once” versus “buy again.” If you like honest reviews of hard seltzer, berry canned cocktails, and ready-to-drink alcohol, hit subscribe, share this with a friend who always brings the weird variety pack, and leave a review with the next drink you want us to score.Send us Fan MailThank you for listening to The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast. If you have a question, comment or would like us to review your beer, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, YouTube, X (Twitter), Instagram and Tik Tok.If you are on Untappd, look up NorthwoodsBeerGuy and send a friend request.Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can click on our RSS feed as well.