Locally Crafted Hard Seltzer in Grand Rapids

Hard seltzer continues to attract new fans across the nation and is one of the hottest new trends in boozy drinks. Hard seltzer, or spiked seltzer, is an alcoholic beverage containing carbonated water, alcohol, and usually a fruit flavoring. 

These beverages have really made a comeback over the past few years and are becoming increasingly popular among younger alcohol aficionados looking for options that are gluten-free, have less sugar, fewer calories, and fewer carbs. 

Seltzer sales across the US grew by 200 percent during 2018 according to Nielsen data, largely dominated by popular national brands like White Claw or Truly. With such high demand nationally, and even product shortages impacting distribution, a handful of local breweries jumped on board to try their hand at local versions of seltzers right here in Grand Rapids. 

More breweries (and distilleries) followed suit as the category has continued to grow in the years since. Here’s a look at some of the most popular local destinations for hard seltzer.

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.

Strawberry, mango, yuzu, blueberry and Moscow Mule flavors can be added to the house-made base. These seltzers boast 5.9% ABV, 0G sugar and 0G carbs to start before flavors are added in. They’re also gluten-free.

In collaboration with Brix Soda, City Built also offers the Wobbly Pop, a pomegranate lemonade soda hard seltzer, for those who like things a little bit sweeter. The Wobbly Pop is still gluten-free, though it has 5.25% ABV. 

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 gluten-free “Base Jam” seltzer checks in at 5.5% ABV and is combined with your choice of flavors – including strawberry, blackberry, mango, peach, pineapple, huckleberry, sugar-free raspberry and margarita – then shaken and served over ice.

Coopersville Brewing also offers some seasonal syrup flavors – like this past summer’s delectable Brazilian Lemonade.

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. Lake Life Hard Seltzers are handmade with house-distilled vodka and are available in white peach honey, cranberry lime, lakeshore berry and cherry lemonade flavors. They contain 0g of sugar, 4.0% alcohol by volume and around 80 calories per 12 oz. can.

Dragon’s Share Bourbon Barrel Seltzers are made with water aged in bourbon barrels, which adds a unique flavor angle. These seltzers are available in original, orange, cherry and blackberry flavors. Each 12-oz. can has 90 calories and 4.6% ABV. 

Stop by The Knickerbocker on “Thirsty Thursdays” to get 10% off full cases of seltzer to go.

TwoGuys Brewing

TwoGuys Brewing in Wyoming is known for its craft brews, food, and hard seltzer cocktails. They’re referred to as “sugar-based carbonated wine” with only 70 calories, 0g of sugar, 0 carbs, but pack a powerful 7% ABV. 

To start, the seltzer comes in the original flavor known as the “Brian Seltzer” and has no sugar. You can add a variety of house-made flavored syrups to create your own medleys which add different amounts of sugar and added calories as you go. A few flavors on tap include peach, grapefruit, mojito, blackberry, cucumber, and more. Stop in if you’re looking for a personalized seltzer experience that you can take with you in 16 oz. cans. 

Wise Men Distillery

Kentwood-based Wise Men Distillery has tasting rooms at its production facility and its downtown Grand Rapids tasting room, both of which serve Wise Men Distillery’s line of hard seltzers. Handcrafted with real juice from Michigan fruit farms and Wise Men’s award-winning vodka, they’re available in six flavors: black cherry, blueberry, lime, peach, raspberry, and watermelon.

All six flavors won medals at the 2023 Canned Challenge, a tasting contest conducted double-blind by a panel of mixologists, bartenders, beverage professionals, sommeliers, buyers, and trade members. Wise Men seltzers have 6.4% ABV and contain no added sugar.

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

Speciation Cellars on Wealthy Street serves “real fruit” seltzers and seltzer slushees in a variety of flavors. Both varieties contain 6% ABV.

Northeast

Perrin Brewing typically offers a couple of its “Rewired” hard seltzers on tap. Pink lemonade and cucumber mojito were on the menu the last time we checked – both with 5% ABV.

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

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery in Ada has a 5.0% ABV hard seltzer on the menu, available with a rotating selection of flavors.

New Union Brewery in Lowell complements its handcrafted beer with a handcrafted seltzer or two.

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 features a 7.0% ABV hard seltzers with flavors like blackberry, mango and pomegranate.

Southwest

3 Gatos Brewery in Wyoming pours up hard seltzer by the half or pint, mixed with your choice of margarita mix or mango juice.

Oakestown Brewery in Grandville offers a seasonal seltzer on tap. Blackberry bramble was the summer 2024 selection, beating out wild strawberry and pineapple/mango in a customer vote.

White Flame Brewing Co. in Hudsonville serves up a rotating selection of seltzer flavors, including a low-calorie “Skinny GNGR” made with unsweetened ginger.

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.