Locally Crafted Hard Seltzer in Grand Rapids

Hard seltzer, or spiked seltzer, is an adult beverage containing carbonated water, alcohol and usually a fruit flavoring. While its average alcohol by volume (ABV) is about the same as standard beer, hard seltzer tends to have fewer calories, carbs and sugar than beer or sweet mixed drinks. It’s also naturally gluten-free.

This lighter, cleaner nutritional profile makes hard seltzer a popular option for those seeking an alternative to craft beer – and that’s why many Grand Rapids breweries make their own distinct versions of the fizzy drink. Offering something for everyone (including non-drinkers and foodies) have made our breweries true community gathering places.

Hard seltzer production involves much of the same equipment as brewing beer, but the process is much quicker, allowing breweries to rapidly innovate and introduce new botanical flavors as the seasons change. 

Read on to find out where you can get a taste of our locally crafted hard seltzers.

City Built Brewing Company

Downtown GR’s City Built Brewing Co. uses local ingredients, such as Michigan beet sugar, to give their seltzers a really refreshing burst of flavor and unique taste overall.

The house-made base can be flavored with mango or strawberry, resulting in a refreshing drink with 5.9% ABV. For a bit lighter, sweeter taste, choose Wobbly Pop – blending City Built’s hard seltzer with Pomegranate Lemonade Soda from GR’s own Brix Soda . Its ABV is 5.25%.

Coopersville Brewing Company

The small farming community of Coopersville, about 20 miles northwest of Grand Rapids, is the home of Coopersville Brewing Company, which opened its doors in 2021 and quickly made an impression on hard seltzer fans. Their “Base Jam” hard seltzer checks in at 6.5% ABV and is combined with your choice of flavors – including pineapple, mango, strawberry, huckleberry, blackberry, sugar-free raspberry, or peach – then shaken and served over ice.

Coopersville Brewing also offers the same flavor options for its Base Jam Mule hard seltzer, which is made with Brix ginger beer soda and muddled lime. A non-alcoholic version is available, too.

New Holland Brewing - The Knickerbocker

Located in the Bridge Street Entertainment District adjacent to downtown GR, The Knickerbocker offers a full slate of New Holland Brewing Co. hard seltzers in cans. Lake Life Hard Seltzers – labeled as “day drinks” – are handmade with house-distilled vodka and are available in flavors like blackberry lemon, cherry limeade, pineapple citrus and peach mango. They contain 4.0% alcohol by volume and around 80 calories per 12 oz. can.

Stop by The Knickerbocker from 2-6pm Monday-Friday and all day Sunday for $4 Lake Life Seltzers.

TwoGuys Brewing

TwoGuys Brewing in Wyoming is known for its craft brews, food, and abundant non-beer options, including hard seltzers and hard seltzer cocktails.

The seltzer base – cheekily dubbed Brian Seltzer – is a 6.9% ABV concoction that can be flavored with 20+ different house-made flavored syrups, including vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, chipotle pineapple and cucumber. You can also order a variety of seltzer cocktails, such as My SweetTart made with Wild Berry Purée, Fresh Lemon and Vanilla. Any of the cocktails can be made non-alcoholic upon request.

More Hard Seltzers

Still thirsty? Try any (or all) of these destinations for hard seltzers made right here in Grand Rapids:

Downtown

BOB’s Brewery offers its own Neon Seltzers, featuring fruit flavors and 5.0% ABV, served at multiple venues in The B.O.B. (Big Old Building), including the brewery itself, BOB’s Beer Garden and Bobarino’s Pizzeria.

Uptown

Harmony Brewing Company’s Super Juice blends real fruit concentrate – available in six flavors – with its house-made hard seltzer for a 5.7% ABV drink.

Speciation Cellars on Wealthy Street serves “real fruit” seltzers and seltzer slushys in a variety of flavors, with ABVs ranging from 5.5% to 6.5%.

Northeast

Perrin Brewing typically offers one or two of its “Rewired” hard seltzers, featuring an assortment of flavors, on tap.

Rockford Brewing Company features a rotating 8% ABV fruit seltzer made with water, bubbles, real fruit and alcohol.

Third Nature Brewing Co. dubs its seltzer “Adult Bubbly Water” and infuses it with slightly sweet notes of citrus and lychee. Ask your server for current house-made flavors.

Northwest

Lost Art Brewhouse hard seltzers are light and refreshing, with just 4.2% ABV and a rotating selection of fruit flavors.

The Mitten Brewing Co.’s Sparkly Anderson Hard Seltzer, named for the Detroit Tigers coaching legend, is offered in a rotating selection of flavors.

Pink Barrel Cellars on Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm celebrates the local harvest with a rotating selection of hard seltzers often timed to the harvest – like strawberry shortcake seltzer, blueberry lemon hibiscus seltzer and apple pie seltzer.

Southeast

New Union Brewery in Lowell complements its handcrafted beer with a handcrafted seltzer or two – check the chalkboard for the day’s flavors.

Railtown Brewing Co. in Dutton makes a 4.5% ABV hard seltzer it mixes with a rotating selection of flavors. They’ll fill a growler with it!

Thornapple Brewing Co. in Cascade offers a rotating selection of hard seltzers – ask your server for today’s selections.

Southwest

Oakestown Brewery in Grandville often offers a seasonal seltzer on tap, sometimes served with a rainbow sparkle sugar rim from fellow Grandville business InBooze.

Pike 51 Brewery serves its own Hudsonville Hard Seltzer, a 7% ABV hard sparkling water available in a variety of delicious flavors.

White Flame Brewing Co. in Hudsonville serves up a 6.0% ABV hard seltzer with a rotating selection of flavors.

Hard seltzer formulations and flavors are subject to change, so if you don’t like surprises, you can call ahead and see what’s available before you visit.