Every craft brewer and their mother was spinning up a hard seltzer brand at the time, given the then-surging popularity of category leaders like White Claw and Truly. I was not impressed maybe I had my expectations set too high. While some of the calories in SONIC Hard Seltzer do come from those sugars and other carbohydrates, most of them come from the alcohol content itself. Of course, the chain's distinctively chewable pellet ice has a cult following, but that's only one of many unique touches the iconic drive-in brings to their drinks. Would you also like to leave us a comment? While Texas boasts nearly 1,000 drive-in locations, there are zero Sonics in Maine and New Hampshire. Sign up for VP Pro now! Nearly 5,000 student-athletes from across the United States and around the World compete annually under the Big 12 banner. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. When you put those three pieces in place, it does make these rocket launches easier to withstand, says COOPs president, referring to rolling out high-profile licensed beverages. Born from the collaboration between SONIC Drive-in, a 68-year-old brand powerhouse, and COOP Ale Works, a 12-year-old quality craft brewery, SONIC Hard Seltzer continues to gain a devoted customer following. Sonics lineup consists of eight flavors and is currently available across seven states throughout America! With this drink on your side, youll never have to worry about running short of sweet refreshments! Not going to be my go-to, but they are worth a try IMHO. Cant wait to try this!! When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type. COOP Ale Works COOP Ale Works is a craft brewery based in Oklahoma City, OK, dedicated to brewing full-flavored beers with the greatest attention to quality. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Guava is often a mysterious flavor in many products, but its distinct and unique taste can be hard to define. This post is an update of: Truly Hard Seltzer Opening New Downtown Los Angeles Taproom in Early 2022. According to a Sonic press release, the seltzer was originally only available in the company's home state of Oklahoma, but now it can be found in six more states. Served through its iconic Carhops, the restaurants expansive, award-winning menu offers unique breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and drink options for the whole family. To celebrate 2023 Interna Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A., 56, rue Charles Martel, L-2134 Luxembourg, LuxembourgR.C.S. [M]ost consumers are either fans or are at least familiar with our popular drink flavors across Sonics 46-state footprint, explains Springer, noting that while the firms franchisees are excited by the hard seltzer rollout, there are no plans to sell the alcoholic beverage at the drive-ins themselves. This new offering makes a splash in the growing beverage category by re-creating fan-favorite beverage flavors in a new format. COOP Beverage Works manufactures and markets alcoholic beverage products in the seltzer, ready-to-drink (RTD) and malt-beverage categories such as SONIC Hard Beverages (SONIC Hard Seltzer, SONIC Hard Slush and SONIC Hard Southern Sweet Tea) and future licensing partnerships. But given the turmoil in the restaurant industry over the course of the past couple years, big hospitality brands with household names are thirstier than ever for opportunities to monetize their intellectual property and diversify their revenue streams. Luxembourg B 251465, Modern Slavery Statement The Citrus Variety Pack features Cherry Limeade, Original Limeade, Classic Lemonade and Lemon Berry. To learn more about SONIC Hard Seltzer and where to purchase product, visit sonichardseltzer.com. If you drink seltzers, try it! Make sure to check this post about Sonic Shark Week Slush! Has anyone tried these? With its monochromatic flavor profile and lack of complexity, there is no incentive for palates looking for an exciting adventure. Sonic has got the middle of America, and theyve had a grip on it for years, says Donn Bichsel, the founder of 3 Tier Beverages, an independent beverage-alcohol consultancy that provides data analytics for COOP. We expected the plain Limeade seltzer to be kind of boring, but it was actually one of the tastier options. Head on over here to find a retailer selling SONIC Hard Seltzer near you! According to Daniel Mercer, CEO, COOP Ale Works, its no secret why SONIC Hard Seltzer has carved out its own niche in the crowded hard seltzer category. It would definitely be worth picking up as a standalone six-pack if you had the opportunity. This is payable on March 28, 2023 to sh Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. (NYSE: AMBP) Chief Executive Officer Oliver Graham will participate in a fireside chat at the Bank of America Securities 2023 Global Agriculture and Materials Con We are giving back in the communities where our employees live and work by investing in education in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4 Quality Education. November 4, 2021. Sleek cans. Sonic Hard Seltzers are ditching their old packaging and opting instead for new, slim cans. We like the blue one (maybe its ocean) the best (?). The Citrus pack has Lemonade, Limeade, Lemon Berry, and Cherry Limeade. Hottest Dominos Coupons | Any Pizza w/ Up to 5 Toppings Only $9.99 + More, Larabar Mini Bars 20-Count Box Only $7.49 Shipped on Amazon (Reg. Sonic Hard Seltzer comes in two themed 12-packs: Citrus and Tropical. We got some in Oklahoma. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. grown-up refresher with 5% ABV. This feature was not appreciated when it came to this particular imbibe. An additional 22 new U.S. states will be added this January with plans in place to extend distribution to retail stores across the rest of the country by the end of the year. The Citrus Variety Pack features Cherry Limeade, Original Limeade, Classic Lemonade and Lemon Berry. On the contrary, lime juice has complex flavors comprising both acidic tartness and sweet zestiness that captivates everyones palate! Don't Miss Out! COOP brews Sonic hard seltzers which now number eight flavors total in its home region, and contract-brews a third-party co-packer for the volume it needs across the rest of its footprint. A licensing deal between Oklahomas iconic fast-food franchisor and one of its longest-running craft breweries was ready for John Hancocks. The thought occurred to him on a socially distanced jog a few months prior. Available at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hard-seltzer-market-size-worth-49-4-billion-by-2028-grand-view-research-inc-301438691.html, Media Contact:Jessica Zweigbaum(631) 624-2705[emailprotected], Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 It definitely gives a lack of longevity to whatever youre trying to extend with that branding. He thinks that Sonic hard seltzer has found success in part because of the aesthetic continuity from restaurant to package, and in part because Sonic has spent so much time and effort building its QSR business as a beverage-centric destination. Were proud to provide this support to the SONIC Hard Seltzer team as they build their brand and bottom line and continue their expansion across the country.. They werent horrible, just not amazing. Support: https://ko-fi.com/birdstorcThank you for adventuring with us! If you play the word association game with 99 percent of Oklahomans and said cherry limeade, their first word would be Sonic. COOPs team had played the flavor-association game in homage to the hometown favorite, and now it was going gangbusters. Cookie Policy | Privacy Statement | Terms&Conditions. ARKANSAS, USA SONIC Drive-in is jumping on the hard seltzer craze and you can now enjoy the restaurant's famous flavored drinks in alcohol form . To find SONIC Hard Seltzer near you, visit https://sonichardseltzer.com/locator/ or learn more at @sonichardseltzer on Instagram. This story is a part of VP Pro, our free content platform and newsletter for the drinks industry, covering wine, beer, and liquor and beyond. 1.5 oz Vodka. I'm a food photographer and recipe developer with a passion for creating healthier alternatives to all time favorite recipes. Metal That doesn't mean it tastes bad, but it does mean it's putting on airs and pretending to be more special than it actually is. SONIC Hard Seltzer became one of the top 10 fastest-selling seltzer brands in the country within its first three months and is on track for significant growth across the U.S., according to the press release. SONIC Hard Seltzer COOP Ale Works partnered with SONIC Drive-In to license their iconic name to create SONIC Hard Seltzer. In here youll also find all the cooking tips and tricks + information and basics for special diets like gluten free, vegan and keto. . Watermelon is definitely hanging out in the background, but it's not dominating your palate as you drink this. SONIC Hard Seltzer products are packaged in Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) North America 12 oz. Like all the Sonic Seltzers, there's a good level of carbonation in this, which combined with the orange makes it seem like a chiller version of a mimosa (or a classier version of a brass monkey). | 2400 Dallas Parkway, Suite 500 Plano, TX 75093 | Phone: College Football Season Ticket Pricing Analysis, Athletics, LEARFIELD Ink Multi-Year Contract Extension with iHeartMedia Minneapolis, Jacksons Expands Official Trading Card Promotion with Boise State Athletics, Harris Teeter and LEARFIELD to Assist in Fighting Hunger at the Feb. 25 Mens Basketball Game, LEARFIELD and SIDEARM Sports Executive Jeff Rubin to receive Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award; Basketball analyst Debbie Antonelli selected Jake Wade Award winner. It doesnt look like just a play on the [Sonic] name, it looks like an extension on what the company was already doing in the past.. Oh darn! We sure appreciate you sharing your experience, Amy! As the past 18 months of alco-llaborations demonstrate, pretty much any brand with a functioning marketing department can develop a crossover alcoholic beverage brand on a lark. This is why many opt out of adding lemon to their favorite beverage or even cooking with it due to its lack of sweetness; this singular characteristic deters most. Two weeks after the [Will & Wiley] launch party, Rudy Gobert famously caught Covid here at the Thunder game in Oklahoma City, and our whole world changed, says Mossman. It's more reminiscent of actual ocean water than anything you'd get from Sonic. # sonichardseltzer # thisishowweseltzer # thisishowwetailgate 1 reply 1 retweet 7 likes SONIC Hard Seltzer @SONICHardSeltzr 2 Nov 2021 Big news coming tomorrow. I wonder how they measure up to the competition. We loved it, but if you like your fruit-flavored things to taste like real fruit, this isn't the seltzer for you. grown-up . The latest product offering takes inspiration from SONIC Drive-In signature beverage flavorswith a hard seltzer twist. Take advantage of this one-of-a-kind seltzer experience! With Sonics iconic branding and flavors ranging from Pineapple to Ocean Water for all taste preferences, this refreshing drink deserves its place among cold drinks on those hot days! At first, the brewer was plugging the resulting variety packs directly into its existing distribution network. Score a FREE cheeseburger & more yummy deals with the SONIC app! Previously only available in seven markets, brand fans and consumers across these states will have the opportunity to grab a pack of their new favored hard seltzer at select retailers in the upcoming weeks. (A little oasis in [customers] days, as Springer puts it.) COOP Beverage Works is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oklahoma City-based craft brewery COOP Ale Works. I like sweet and he doesnt. I did drink them all because I refuse to waste alcohol (unless its Whiteclaw surge I just couldnt finish them) but I will not buy again unless its the only thing available. The Cherry Limeade IS Sonic. After just under a year on shelves, Sonic hard seltzer is doing both. We moved very fast, remembers Mossman. Licensing corporate brands to build out parallel commodity businesses targeted to mass consumers? Maybe Sonic had this demographic in mind when they formulated the Lemonade flavor, because we don't know who else this could possibly be for. The choice toward cans was an easy one as this is the iconic package for the hard seltzer market, Daniel says. Cherry Limeade is Ocean Water's nemesis in the Sonic flavor battle, but unlike its competitor, it's actually deserving of its star status. Tags: These beverages are now available at select retailers in Alaska,California,Maryland,New York,North Dakota,Pennsylvania,Rhode Island,andWisconsin! Some states clearly have a greater appetite for the restaurant than others, though. The first you know about. Sonic may be more known for its drive-in burger joints but now the restaurant is focusing on moving its hard seltzer products into new markets with a new slim can format. Moreover, this version is tastefully milder than regular Lemonade seltzer meaning no unpleasant sourness here! (According to a 2021 Business Insider report, a full quarter of Sonics pandemic receipts came from its soft drink menu. January 10, 2022. The hint of sweetness leaves your tongue pretty quickly, making way for an acidic, cucumbery aftertaste that's a little bit like Pepino Limon Gatorade. A hard seltzer typically has a distinct sweet taste, as opposed to regular seltzer. We had high hopes for the Ocean Water seltzer going into this taste test, but sadly it was one of the least impressive flavors in the lineup. The brand manager at Sonic called me and said, Were a go, recalls Mossman in a recent interview. From the jump, COOP has carved Sonic hard seltzers out of its owned-and-operated brand portfolio, for reasons well discuss in a moment. Thanks so much for sharing your honest thoughts with us, Jessica! The alcoholic beverages are not available at SONIC Drive-In locations, according to the press release. Hip2Save may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you via trusted partners and affiliate links in this post. While accurately formulated to deliver a balanced sweet-and-sour experience, Lemon Berry needs to captivate the taste buds. Colder faster, 360-degree branding on the vessel and leading recycling rates and recycled content rates make this the easy choice for quality and environmental superiority for the market and for SONIC., Claude Marbach, CEO, Ardagh Metal Packaging North America, agrees, confirming hard seltzers are a beverage category increasingly committing to cans. Its not just orange juice- this drink has a unique and delicious taste reminiscent of those classic corn syrup drinks from years ago now, excited for adults who want more than a refreshing treat! It doesn't taste like orange juice, but rather what you thought "orange juice" was when you were a kid if you grew up on the corn syrup-rich, artificial stuff. We Tried Every Sonic Hard Seltzer So You Don't Have To. 2014 - 2023 VinePair Inc. Made In NYC, The Number of Sonic Drive-Ins in Every State [MAP] | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/articles/map-states-sonic/, dining out, Infographics, map, restaurants, sonic, VinePair Happy Hour: Whats Your Favorite Way to Drink Bourbon? COOP is dedicated to serving the community and finding at least one beer in their lineup for every beer drinker. Sonic Hard Seltzer will be available at select retailers across Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia The ratio between sweetness and acidity is properly calibrated, but there's no depth to keep your palate engaged. Brand stewardship and licensing partnership was something that was in my set of experiences previously. SONIC Hard Beverages products are not available for purchase at SONIC Drive-In locations. This beverage category continues to grow with predictions putting the hard seltzer market at $11 billion by 2027, he says. Between my husband and I we are hard pressed to find a hard seltzer at least one of us wont drink. Follow me on tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cinestalker Follow me on instagram: https://www.instagram.co. Ocean Water is perhaps the most distinctive item on Sonic's massive slush menu. Combine all ingredients, except for the Lemon Berry SONIC Hard Seltzer, into a cocktail shaker and muddle the berries. To learn more about the SONIC Hard Beverages products and where to purchase, visitsonichardbevs.com. No content on this site may be reused in any fashion without written permission. Watch. 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice. However, many other hard seltzer brands do melon, so it makes sense that Sonic would want a piece of that action. Where do the calories come from? SONIC Hard Seltzer is made with all naturally gluten-free ingredients. FA Cup prize money has become a trending topic after the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham, West Ham and Grimsby took part in the 5th Find out how much tickets are for Post Malones just-announced UK tour in May 2023. Best Christmas present ever, he says, delight evident in his voice. In terms of the tactical execution of getting the Sonic hard seltzer from its tanks to store shelves, though, the brewer treats its licensed liquid pretty much identically to the rest of its offerings. Site by They were just undrinkable. But while there are pitfalls a-plenty, the upside is transformative: a high-margin, shelf-stable brand extension from Americas heartland hamburger heavyweight plugged into the flavored malt beverage sales machine that is the modern American supermarket. Following the adoption of the new name, and alongside entrepreneur Charlie Pappe, owner Troy Smith opened some 41 locations before Pappes death in 1967. SONIC is part of the Inspire Brands family. After all, here in fast-food nation, a drive-thru dynasty and a red-hot booze category is a compelling combo meal. Sonic Seltzers Melon Medley is an unrivaled tropical treat that stands out among the rest. You asked and we delivered: SONIC Hard Seltzer is now available across nearly half the country! Home Updated: 10:54 AM CDT November 4, 2021. Jenna has a Bachelor's Degree from Lycoming College and her Master's from Penn State, holding 4 years of writing experience between a variety of publications and Hip2Save. The mayor of Park College City submitted President Joe Bidens ash cross to mark Ash Wednesday has some under the false impression it is a forehead bruise. the technical definition of sonic). SONIC Hard Seltzer is currently available in eight flavor offerings and provides a modern and adult take on classic SONIC flavors. Though it certainly wont surprise you with its bold guava notes, fans of these drinks will likely find much to savor here as well! Whether its their famous pellet ice, chopped fruit additions, or extra flavor syrups Sonic brings us as close to that classic soda fountain experience we all long for. Were actively negotiating with several parties to bring more licensed brands to market because we really feel like convergence between non-alc[oholic] and alcoholic beverages will continue to be a trend that grows moving forward here., Thats not to say its easy. Sorry to hear you didnt care for them. Testers found its coconutty notes, along with sour citric acid flavors plus hints of saltiness, unsatisfying compared to other offerings like Cherry Limeade. They were terrible imo. Hip2Save is a registered trademark of Hip Happenings, LLC. . Although this seltzer drinks well on its own merits, it doesnt stand out among highly-rated siblings within the same range. The SONIC Hard Southern Sweet Tea is offered in one original flavor, while the SONIC Hard Slush is being offered in three flavor offerings for fans to enjoy. They are just OK in my opinion. The restaurant wowed diners with then-innovative curbside service, which let visitors order burgers without leaving their cars, and led to the catchphrase, Service at the Speed of Sound (i.e. SONIC Hard Seltzer will be available at select retailers across Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia and is not for purchase at SONIC Drive-In locations. It is over-saturated with an extreme sourness that can be unpalatable for some, leaving only plain sparkling water without any sweetness or fruit flavor. I searched high and low for these and my husband finally found them and got me the red citrus pack. If theres a perfect fast-food brand capable of crossing over into hard seltzer, Sonic might just be it. OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --SONIC Hard Seltzer, a rising fan-favorite, announced the continued expansion of its eight hard seltzer offerings into new states: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. They generously sent us a couple of cases so we could test out all the flavors and share our results with you. This week, the sitting US Lego has announced some new sets for Disneys 100th anniversary including 18 adorable collectable minifigures. It did make sense, at first. Mossmans six-year tenure at the brewery was immediately preceded by another half dozen years as a CPG licensing executive focused on the hardware industry. All these flavors come in at only 100 calories each . SONIC Happy Hour, redefined. Thanks for the honest feedback. At home, at the lake, on your neighbors patio its happy hour somewhere! The plain Limeade seltzer was a surprisingly pleasant surprise. Still, its a big if. The road to consumer packaged goods gone bad is paved with good licensing intentions, after all.