Bud Light continues to develop innovative products in line with the ever-changing tastes and health considerations of consumers in the beer market. Over the past few years, Bud Light has launched seltzers and fruit-flavored beers to stay in line with the ever-changing trends. We take a closer look at the Bud Light Hard Soda.
Anheuser-Busch InBev introduced Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade in 2020, hoping that the Bud Light Brand would give it an edge in the rapidly growing seltzer segment of the alcohol market. The first four flavors were black cherry, lemon-lime, strawberry, and mango.
Bud Light is rated as one of the top-selling beers in the USA, and the Bud Light Seltzer has gained in popularity and sales since being introduced in January 2020. In advance of the Super Bowl in 2022, the brand introduced Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda.
Bud Light Hard Soda comes in four flavors based on your favorite nostalgic flavors, Classic Cola, Cherry Cola, Citrus Soda, and Orange Soda. It is sold as a 12-pack with three flavor cans per pack.
History and Growth of Hard Seltzer
Hard Seltzer is a drink containing seltzer (carbonated water), alcohol, and fruit flavorings made in the USA by fermenting cane sugar. The alcohol by volume is generally around 5%, and the calorie content is relatively low.
The first commercial Hard seltzer, Two Dogs, was brewed in 1993 in Australia and paved the way for similar commercial products, such as Hoopers Hooch in the UK.
Nick Shields introduced Spiked seltzer to the USA with the first commercial batch brewed in Westport, Connecticut, in November 2013.
Hard seltzer saw a spike in popularity in the US around 2018, with the success and appeal of White Claw lemonade hard seltzer being attributed to increased demand from health-conscious consumers seeking drinks with fewer calories and less sugar.
In the summer of 2019, the hard seltzer category became the best-selling beer sub-category and held 14 percent of the beer share that year compared to just five percent in 2018 and had risen to a 21 percent share in 2021.
How is Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda Made
Making Bud Light seltzer starts by fermenting cane sugar and water for 20 days. The liquor then goes through a 5-step filtration process. It is carbonated, and flavors are added before the beverage is bottled.
Prices, Variations, and Sizes
Bud Light Hard Soda is available in a Variety Pack consisting of three 12 FL OZ cans of four flavors of Hard soda. All four varieties are naturally flavored, have no sugar, 100 calories per 12oz can, and have an alcohol content of 5% ABV.
Bud Light Hard Soda Classic Cola
Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda Classic Cola has a rich, dark color that would be hard to distinguish from a non-alcoholic cola. It also smells like a cola when you crack open the can and has a strong carbonation with a classic cola fizz.
Although it has an alcohol content of 5% ABV, there is no hint of alcohol in the fragrance. Although it has a somewhat sweet flavor closer to Pepsi or RC Cola, it is gluten-free with no sugar, 100 calories, and 1 gram of total carbs.
With no alcoholic taste, Bud Light Seltzer Classic Soda could easily be confused by some as a straight diet soda. Just remember that it has an alcohol content of 5% ABV so too many cans could put you over the legal limit.
Bud Light Hard Soda Citrus Soda
Budlight Light Seltzer Citrus Hard Soda has excellent carbonation, with the aroma leading to memories of making lime Jell-O. When poured, it has a green, yellow color and looks similar to a Mountain Dew, although the taste is closer to that of Sprite.
While it is gluten-free and has no sugar, with 2 grams of total carbs, it registers just 100 calories per can. It is a little sweeter but has more flavor intensity than a comparable diet soda.
With an alcohol content of 5% ABV, it has a slight boozy aftertaste and a definite summer vibe.
Bud Light Hard Soda Cherry Cola
Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda Cherry Cola has that classic old-time Cherry coke flavor but now comes with an alcohol content of 5% ABV, and despite its sweet taste, it only has 100 calories per 12oz can with no sugar and only 2 grams of total carbs.
The Bud Light Cherry Cola Hard Soda smells like an old-fashioned cherry cola with excellent carbonation and plenty of bubbles. It has an aesthetically pleasing caramel color, and the taste is very close to the classic soft drink version.
If you want a flavor experience that will remind you of your favorite cherry cola from your youth while still getting a very light alcoholic flavor, then this Bud Light Hard Soda Cherry Cola is worth trying.
A word of warning. You will hardly taste the alcohol, but the 5% ABV will catch up with you if you have too many, so enjoy this beverage in moderation.
Bud Light Hard Soda Orange Soda
Bud Light Seltzer Orange Soda has a bright orange color when poured. The aroma of sweet orange soda with tangerine notes bursts from the glass, and the flavor is reminiscent of that of a traditional orange soda.
Unlike many seltzers, you can taste traces of alcohol in the Bud Light Hard Soda Orange Soda, but instead of being off-putting, it enhances and blends perfectly with the orange zest.
Orange Hard Soda has an alcohol content of 5% ABV, is gluten-free with no sugar, 2 grams of total carbs, and just 100 calories per 12oz can.
Average Retail Prices for Bud Light Hard Soda
The Variety Packs come in 12 or 24-can packs consisting of 3 or 6 cans of each of the following flavors. Classic Cola, Cherry Cola, Citrus Soda, and Orange Soda
- Variety Pack – 12 x 12 FL.OZ cans 5% ABV $19.68
- Variety Pack – 24 x 12 FL.OZ cans 5% ABV $38.42
- Single 12 FL.OZ can 5% ABV $1.99
- Single 16 FL.OZ can 5% ABV $2.98
Alternatives / Comparisons of Bud Light Hard Soda
1. Bud Light Hard Seltzer
Bud Light Seltzers offers the typical ‘hard’ seltzer flavors often seen on store shelves, like lime, mango, strawberry, and black cherry. In contrast, Bud Light Hard Soda has nostalgic flavors based on popular soda flavors.
2. White Claw Hard Seltzer
White Claw Hard Seltzer is an alcoholic seltzer manufactured by the Mark Anthony Group and is sold in 12 flavors. It was introduced to the US market in 2016, and by 2019 it was reported that White Claw accounted for over half the total ‘hard’ seltzer sales in the USA.
How to Drink Bud Light Hard Soda
Bud Light Hard Soda is a ready-to-drink hard seltzer with four flavors based on favorite soda pop flavors with an alcohol content of 5% ABV. Although they only have a mild alcoholic taste, be advised that 3 or 4 cans could put you over the legal limit.
FAQ’S
Is there Caffeine in Bud Light Hard Soda?
While most traditional sodas contain a varying amount of caffeine (Coke, for example, has 34mg per 12oz can, and Diet Coke has 46mg), Bud Light Hard Sodas contain 0mg of caffeine, so you will not get any caffeine boost.
What Type of Alcohol is in Bud Light Hard Soda?
Alcohol manufacturers categorize Bud Light Hard Soda as a flavored malt beverage (FMB). Bud Light Seltzer Hard Soda is made from cane sugar and yeast added to sparkling water.
The yeast feeds on the cane sugar, converting the sugars to alcohol, creating an alcoholic base to which any natural flavor can be added.
Even though it is brewed similarly to beer, it is not a beer and contains no beer. Beer is generally made from malted barley or other grains and hops
