Spiked seltzer was definitely the most popular drink of summer 2019, but with a whole new warm-weather season just a couple of months away, we’re on the lookout for a new beverage to obsess over. Could Leinenkugel’s new beer-seltzer be the one? The brand seriously hopes so!
- It’s called Spritzen. That’s German for “splash,” but in reality, the new Leinenkugel offering is just beer with a “splash” of seltzer added. The brewery, which is owned by Molson Coors, is clear about what Spritzen is aiming to achieve. “To be really clear, Spritzen is a beer. It’s beer with a splash of seltzer,” said Katie Leinenkugel, a sixth-generation Leinenkugel and the company’s brand strategy and engagement lead, in a statement to Thrillist.
- It comes in three different flavors. Leinenkugel’s beer-seltzer is available wherever alcoholic beverages are sold now in three different and equally delicious-sounding flavors: Grapefruit, Raspberry Lemon, and Pineapple Strawberry. Better yet, each can is only 93 calories, so if you are watching your waistline, you can enjoy a few of these without worrying about it too much.
- This is a step up from Summer Shandy. Leinenkugel’s most popular beverage thus far is definitely their Summer Shandy. It accounts for between 60% and 70% of the brewery’s output and sales, which is why the brand believed that a beer-seltzer hybrid was a logical next step. “Our decision to launch Spritzen came from wanting to create something that was going to be a uniquely Leinenkugel’s take on the popular hard seltzers that are everywhere,” Katie said.
- It’s a smart financial move too. Considering how much cash spiked seltzer brands like White Claw and Truly Hard have raked in with their formulas, it’s pretty smart for other alcohol brands to start going for the same market of consumers who enjoy their buzz with a little fizz. Why not?
