That was pretty much the default drink, explains Katie Camlin, former liquor store operator who now works for KC Bier Co. and grew up making Sonic runs in Kansas City, Mo. . With this drink on your side, youll never have to worry about running short of sweet refreshments! Not only is it delicious, but it doesn't taste like any other hard seltzer we've tried. Now, Sonic Hard Seltzer is entering a new phase of its nationwide rollout by adding eight states to the list of locations where it can be purchased. As one of the chain's signature items, this flavor features prominently in Sonic Seltzer's marketing materials. If a bottle of Orangina lived a hard life that drained it of all sweetness and light, leaving only sourness and disappointment, this is what you'd get. As the Official Hard Seltzer of the Big 12, SONIC Hard Seltzer will have category exclusivity and use of Conference and Championship marks at the retail level, along with social and digital engagement on the official Big 12 Conference channels and receive exposure in conjunction with the Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship; Phillips 66 Big 12 Mens Basketball Championship; and Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship. Ill have to try the blue one! If somebody put a gun to your head right now and told you to describe the flavor of guava, would you know what to say? But youd be wrong. 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Will & Wiley debuted in early 2020, and grabbed up around 8 percent of Oklahomas hard seltzer market in its opening weeks, according to Mossman. You asked and we delivered: SONIC Hard Seltzer is now available across nearly half the country! Follow me on tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cinestalker Follow me on instagram: https://www.instagram.co. Of course, so-called berry lemonade often doesn't taste like berries, so we won't hold that against it. 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. Since 2007, Sonic has put its soft drinks program front and center with a profligate mix-and-match menu and daily Happy Hours. That non-alcoholic beverage pedigree has helped power banner billion-dollar revenues for the locally founded chain (which is now owned by Inspired Brands) throughout the pandemic when other quick-serve restaurants were scrambling to deploy QR codes. The first you know about. Between my husband and I we are hard pressed to find a hard seltzer at least one of us wont drink. 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. SONIC Drive-In has licensed its iconic name to COOP Ale Works to create a family of hard beverage products that includes SONIC Hard Seltzer, SONIC Hard Southern Sweet Tea and SONIC Hard Slush. After earning an enthusiastic reception in its Oklahoma test market, SONIC Hard Seltzer began its coast-to-coast rollout in January, with the goal of becoming available nationwide by the end of 2022. 1/2 oz Simple Syrup. 21 New States Welcome SONIC Hard Seltzer. After all, here in fast-food nation, a drive-thru dynasty and a red-hot booze category is a compelling combo meal. (According to a 2021 Business Insider report, a full quarter of Sonics pandemic receipts came from its soft drink menu. Would you also like to leave us a comment? the technical definition of sonic). 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. Home According to Sonic's website, each flavor has 100 calories, one gram of added sugar, and one gram . Its the brewerys ballgame. About SONICHard Beverages The Tropical Variety Pack has flavors, including Ocean Water, Melon Medley, Mango Guava, and Orange Pineapple. From the jump, COOP has carved Sonic hard seltzers out of its owned-and-operated brand portfolio, for reasons well discuss in a moment. As the consumer profile of seltzer drinkers continues to expand, so do the occasions for drinking a SONIC Hard Seltzer. The firms eagerness stunned the brewery president. 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. (A little oasis in [customers] days, as Springer puts it.) (Well, MOST of them. In 1953, the first model of the drive-in restaurant opened in Shawnee, Okla., originally named Top Hat. COOP needed one of those, sure but what if there were a way to turn tongue-in-cheek brewhouse innovation into a bigger play? This unique combination allows for a more complex taste that promises to keep consumers coming back for more! | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/articles/ask-bartender-secret-to-margarita/, wbs_cat Spirit, wbs_type Tequila, agave, blanco, lime, margarita, tequila. This one is a big departure for Sonic, as they don't have any melon-flavored beverages in their restaurants. Over a half century later, Sonic Drive-In has expanded to a total of 3,549 locations across the United States. 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. SONIC Hard Seltzer COOP Ale Works partnered with SONIC Drive-In to license their iconic name to create SONIC Hard Seltzer. Sonic Hard Seltzers are ditching their old packaging and opting instead for new, slim cans. The popular Easter snack consists of solid Amid Maryland mayor Patrick Wojahns arrest and subsequent resignation, we take a look at the politicians political party. It simply wouldnt do to jeopardize that sort of big-ticket revenue by cheapening Sonics beverage brand equity with a fly-by-night hard seltzer simulacrum.) Ultimately, whether these are worth seeking out in the crowded hard seltzer market comes down to taste, so it's time to start cracking some cans. Youd be hard-pressed to find one, what with sweet slushes, Ocean Waters, shakes, and gooey mozzarella sticks, all from roller-skating waiters. At first glance, everything about Sonic Hard Seltzer is what we've come to expect from this beverage category, from the ingredients to the nutrition to the slim white can. 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. SONIC Hard Seltzer is not available for purchase at SONIC Drive-In locations. Sign up for VP Pro now! 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. Of all the Sonic seltzers, this one is the most faithful to its flavor inspiration. 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. (If you sense in the moniker a vague echo of Bartles & Jaymes, a before-its-time wine cooler marketed with before-its-time whimsy in the 80s, Mossman would be delighted to hear it: The nod was intentional.). 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. 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. The hard seltzers are each 100 calories with one gram of sugar and gluten-free with 5 percent ABV. Its student-athletes and teams have combined for 718 individual NCAA titles and 77 team national championships. We took the hard job of tasting them all and ranking them so you know which one to buy. This Sonic Seltzer presents an assertive orange flavor with a subtle hint of pineapple to balance. Offering less tartness than other options, it evoked subtle similarities to soda beverages like 7UP. The press release does not specify when the SONIC Hard Seltzers will be available in St. Louis or where they will be purchased. Some states clearly have a greater appetite for the restaurant than others,. Beyond Paradise returns to our screens this week for another enthralling mystery but who is set to feature alongside Kris Marshall in the cast of Rumours are flooding the internet that Cadburys Mini Eggs are being discontinued in 2024, but is it true? Watch. . Christmas came early for Sean Mossman two Decembers ago, and it came in the form of a phone call from Americas Drive-In. The president at Oklahoma Citys COOP Ale Works was headed into the holiday in relatively high spirits, having navigated the pandemics opening nine months with a successfully launched hard seltzer line and more new flavors on the horizon. Sonic's Mango Guava seltzer tastes like pure mango. Trew Knowledge. Sonic Seltzers Melon Medley is an unrivaled tropical treat that stands out among the rest. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. And, of course, the branding and packaging require close collaboration with the chain: Directly prior to his interview with VinePair, Mossman was going back and forth with Springer about font usage and intellectual property parameters. The Greatest Hits Pack features fan-favorite flavors such as Cherry Limeade, Ocean Water and Lemon Berry. I was SOOO excited to try them, I assumed they were so bad that they just kept it to OK. As thats where they were being made. The lack of sugar really hurts the Ocean Water seltzer, which has notes of savory coconut and sour citric acid with a mildly salty aftertaste. They come in two variety packs, Tropical and Citrus. They werent horrible, just not amazing. grown-up refresher with 5% ABV. Guava is often a mysterious flavor in many products, but its distinct and unique taste can be hard to define. When you come in with a name that is known nationally, or at least very strong regionally, obviously that is going to be a stronger buying opportunity for high-volume stockists, he says. You'd think the Limeade would taste pretty puckery, but it was less sour than some of the other seltzers, with a slightly more soda-like flavor. 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. Orders . The aftertaste of this one has a distinctive SweeTARTS edge to it that's not unpleasant. There's no sweetness or fruit flavor, real or fake, to counteract the unrelenting acidity. About Big 12 Conference The Big 12 Conference is comprised of 10 Universities - Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia. To find SONIC Hard Seltzer near you, visit https://sonichardseltzer.com/locator/or learn more at @sonichardseltzer on Instagram. At first, the brewer was plugging the resulting variety packs directly into its existing distribution network. OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SONIC Hard Seltzer today announced the expansion of its hard seltzer into six new markets: Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska . November 4, 2021. The alcoholic beverages are not available at SONIC Drive-In locations, according to the press release. Whether you are kicking back and relaxing while watching sports or sitting and soaking up some sunshine poolside, you'll be tasting the good vibes with every sip. Their version is a refreshing twist on the melon seltzer formula because its taste isn't dominated by watermelon. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. All these flavors come in at only 100 calories each . Sonic Hard Seltzer has crafted a unique beverage experience with its two themed 12-packs: Citrus and Tropical. While the tots and Coney dogs have their fans, aficionados of the Sonic experience always come back for the beverages. Boosted by changing tastes, emerging mainstream demand for perceived better for you beverages, and powerful cultural artifacts like Trevor Wallaces instant-classic Aint no laws when youre drinking Claws viral video/slogan nonpareil, hard seltzer went from unfairly slandered sorority slimmer to super-premium, all-demographic thirst quencher. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. A licensing deal between Oklahomas iconic fast-food franchisor and one of its longest-running craft breweries was ready for John Hancocks. However, the reason for the change in name stemmed from a copyright conflict. We trust youll agree Team Cherry limeade is the way forward! This week, the sitting US Lego has announced some new sets for Disneys 100th anniversary including 18 adorable collectable minifigures. Lemon Berry SONIC Hard Seltzer. Lemon Berry's fatal flaw is that it's just, well, boring. Were building an enterprise separately, built around Sonic and any additional innovations that well bring on, he says. The latest product offering takes inspiration from SONIC Drive-In signature beverage flavorswith a hard seltzer twist. OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SONIC Hard . Rather, the strongest note is the elusive, slightly floral essence of ripe honeydew, something that's rarely captured in American beverages. Not just anybody can say I want to make alcoholic beverages, he says. Sonic hard seltzers comes in a wide variety of flavors! By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and to the associated processing of personal data to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing and performance efforts. And its no secret why cans are the answer for this market. But Sonic was thinking bigger, and COOP came calling at the right time. The plain Limeade seltzer was a surprisingly pleasant surprise. 2014 - 2023 VinePair Inc. Made In NYC. Warns Bichsel: Consumers have the knowledge to sniff through bullshit, and [licensing] is one of those things that when you make products that tack too far away from what a brand traditionally does, it does risk damaging the mothership. All these flavors come in at only 100 calories each while containing no added sugar or gluten, making them healthier alternatives than many other items on Sonics restaurant drink menu (excluding alcohol). Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on H2S Email (Opens in new window), Click to share on SMS (Opens in new window). SONIC Hard Beverages products are not available for purchase at SONIC Drive-In locations. Although this seltzer drinks well on its own merits, it doesnt stand out among highly-rated siblings within the same range. If faced with the challenge of describing guava flavors on the spot, it may prove difficult due to a lack of experience or familiarity. Served through its iconic Carhops, the restaurants expansive, award-winning menu offers unique breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and drink options for the whole family. Get SONIC Hard Seltzer Citrus Variety Pack delivered to you in as fast as 1 hour via Instacart or choose curbside or in-store pickup. Limeade excels because it delivers a multifaceted lime experience, offering reasonably convincing facsimiles of the flavors of lime juice and lime zest. The Citrus pack has Lemonade, Limeade, Lemon Berry, and Cherry Limeade. This unique flavor, which combines blue coconut syrup and Sprite to create a taste reminiscent of sunscreen, has become so popular that the company even copyrighted its name! Results were mixed at first, a fact that was not lost on Mossman and his COOP colleagues in Oklahoma City. It is both sweeter and more sour than its brethren, with an assertiveness that may prove divisive. 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. . Order up! What you need to know about Sonic hard seltzers. The Citrus pack includes four flavors - Lemonade, Limeade, Lemon Berry, and Cherry Limeade; while the Tropical boasts Mango Guava, Melon Medley, Orange Pineapple, and Ocean Water. Hed been thinking about the line as a bolt-on to COOPs traditional beer portfolio, an effervescent ancillary revenue stream that would run in tandem with the core business. 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. A Sooner State fast-food staple for nearly eight decades, Sonic has national name recognition and legions of fans. Your email address will not be published. The zesty taste and refreshing complexity make it the perfect choice for those looking to take their seltzer experience up a notch worth picking up if available! Sonic has taken a bold leap into the melon-flavored hard seltzer market, offering a refreshing take on the genre. Sonic Hard Seltzers, which were previously only sold in Oklahoma, are now . All your favorite SONIC flavors are now available as hard beverage! 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. 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 seltzer contains no gluten or distilled spirits. Together he and Mossman hashed out the structure of the licensing arrangement. 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. But for the uninitiated reading this: Cherry limeade is Sonics signature fountain drink, a refreshing concoction of juice, flavor syrups, and Sprite served over the chains beloved pebble ice. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy, Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hard-seltzer-market-size-worth-49-4-billion-by-2028-grand-view-research-inc-301438691.html. Nestled in the vibrant Downtown LA Arts District, Truly LA contains everything from our small-batch flavor innovation lab to a concert venue where we host a myriad of events ranging from weekend artist markets to live music collaborations with our friends at Live Nation. Updated: 10:54 AM CDT November 4, 2021. With 100 Calories and 1 gram of sugar per can, SONIC Hard Seltzer is a gluten-free seltzer with a 5% ABV. Truly Hard Seltzer, a leader and innovator in the hard seltzer category, will officially open its first brick-and-mortar location, Truly LA, in Downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 25. This actually looks like a partnership, adds Bichsel. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. They're made out of carbonated water, alcohol fermented from sugarcane, and natural flavors. Hip2Save may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you via trusted partners and affiliate links in this post. Beverage Cans Yet, sought-after actual guava flavoring can be. The R&D process at COOP would eventually coalesce as Will & Wiley, a hard seltzer line named for actor Will Rogers and boundary-pushing pilot Wiley Post, two native Oklahomans. 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.. The closest positive comparison we can make to this is the San Pellegrino citrus sodas, but that's honestly a real stretch. These beverages are now available at select retailers in Alaska,California,Maryland,New York,North Dakota,Pennsylvania,Rhode Island,andWisconsin! Your email address will not be published. Support: https://ko-fi.com/birdstorcThank you for adventuring with us! Residents of the 46 states where Sonic operates brick-and-mortar drive-in locations implicitly understand the gravity of this otherwise mundane sales insight. Nothing was the same after the summer of White Claw. Required fields are marked *. As long as COOP keeps executing on the flavor-fidelity of original Sonic beverage combos (of which there are literally hundreds of thousands), and keeps supermarket and big-box chains stocked, Bichsel sees open road ahead. Compared to the other Sonic seltzers, everything about the flavor of Cherry Limeade is more extreme. We loved it, but if you like your fruit-flavored things to taste like real fruit, this isn't the seltzer for you. The choice toward cans was an easy one as this is the iconic package for the hard seltzer market, Daniel says. The Big 12 is an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics conference that encompasses five states with over 40 million people within its geographic footprint. We talked to them, to see if they want to partner with us, and theyre like Why dont you just license the brand and go?. 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. SONIC Hard Seltzer is made with all naturally gluten-free ingredients. 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. We each tried these and unfortunately promptly threw the whole pack away. It was announced that the fast-food chain has expanded its eight hard seltzer drinks to other . Has anyone tried these? Sorry, Chili Cheese Tot lovers.) Sonic stands out from the competition with an extensive beverage menu and various unique customizations. Where do the calories come from? SONIC Hard Seltzer is currently available in eight flavor offerings and provides a modern and adult take on classic SONIC flavors. They are not amazing I was disappointed because I really wanted to love them. Sorry, Chili Cheese Tot lovers.) With 100 Calories and 1 gram of sugar per can, SONIC Hard Seltzer is a gluten-free seltzer with a 5% ABV. The Citrus Variety Pack offers Cherry Limeade, Original Limeade, Classic Lemonade, and Lemon Berry. According to data reviewed by VinePair, this spring, Sonic cracked the top-15 hard seltzer brands in Nielsen scan data for grocery, convenience, drug, and liquor stores, despite limited distribution and volume compared to both craft and mass-market category leaders. If youre reading this, you probably know what came next: The craft beer industry, eyeing slowing growth in its maturing category, went looking for an answer to the White Claws of the world. This seltzer is by far the most candylike of any of the flavors, which is what we really wanted from Sonic seltzers. Cherry Limeade Sonic Seltzer is a genuinely bold soda experience! Pick up a pack and host your own happy hour any time you want! With 100 calories and 1 gram of sugar per can, SONIC Hard Seltzer is a gluten-free seltzer with a 5% ABV. 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 On the front end of that seltzer craze, we decided that we would get into seltzer but with a very local-centric seltzer in Oklahoma, to stay focused on our home market, he recalls, crediting Spiked Snowmelt, a hard seltzer that Colorados Upslope Brewing Company introduced in May 2019, as a bellwether for the OKC brewerys own foray into FMBs. 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. The Citrus Variety Pack features Cherry Limeade, Original Limeade, Classic Lemonade and Lemon Berry. About Big 12 Conference The Big 12 Conference is comprised of 10 Universities - Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia. 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.