Sonic prominently features Ocean Water as an iconic item on their expansive slush menu. The aftertaste of this one has a distinctive SweeTARTS edge to it that's not unpleasant. 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. 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. If faced with the challenge of describing guava flavors on the spot, it may prove difficult due to a lack of experience or familiarity. 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. 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. At home, at the lake, on your neighbors patio its happy hour somewhere! But times have changed, and these days, for a regional craft brewery, its as good a place as any to stack your chips. They are just OK in my opinion. . This beverage offers a deceptively sweet taste sensation fit for those partial to flavored water products, such as Crystal Light and Mio. Treat your taste buds to a unique blend of Japanese melon Ramune soda and Pepino Limon Gatorade with a hint of sweetness, culminating in an acidic cucumbery aftertaste like nothing youve ever experienced before. From the chains perspective, hard seltzer was an intriguing new vessel for its familiar flavors, one that could carry the brand onto supermarket shelves and into off-premise drinking occasions that even the cheesiest of footlong chili cheese dogs would have trouble reaching. This one is certainly better than the regular Lemonade seltzer, as it's not painfully sour. Sonic continues to capitalize on this success by encouraging customers to join either Team Ocean Water or Team Cherry Limeade in promotional materials for their Hard Seltzer brand. The Citrus pack has Lemonade, Limeade, Lemon Berry, and Cherry Limeade. 2014 - 2023 VinePair Inc. Made In NYC. Sonic seltzer contains no gluten or distilled spirits. Find Sonic Hard Seltzer near you! Many of us may have noticed the difference in flavor between limes and lemons; At the same time, one delivers a refreshing, citrusy taste that excites our senses, and the other only serves an overpowering sourness. 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 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. SONICDrive-In On the contrary, lime juice has complex flavors comprising both acidic tartness and sweet zestiness that captivates everyones palate! Sonic hard seltzers comes in a wide variety of flavors! Over a half century later, Sonic Drive-In has expanded to a total of 3,549 locations across the United States. While Texas boasts nearly 1,000 drive-in locations, there are zero Sonics in Maine and New Hampshire. I wonder how they measure up to the competition. They kinda taste like playdoh. Save your money, these are not tasty, they are very artificial tasting. We trust youll agree Team Cherry limeade is the way forward! They're made out of carbonated water, alcohol fermented from sugarcane, and natural flavors. Your email address will not be published. Dont love them unfortunately, here in TN. | VinePair, https://vinepair.com/articles/ask-bartender-secret-to-margarita/, wbs_cat Spirit, wbs_type Tequila, agave, blanco, lime, margarita, tequila. Returning from a morning run in early September 2020, he got in touch with the brand marketing team at Sonic to pitch a one-off collaboration. 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. They werent horrible, just not amazing. 2023 LEARFIELD. Its been insane.. 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. Of course, so-called berry lemonade often doesn't taste like berries, so we won't hold that against it. 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. Home It's more reminiscent of actual ocean water than anything you'd get from Sonic. Reviews on Truly Hard Seltzer Bar in Los Angeles, CA - Truly LA, Big Bar, The Edmon, EightyTwo, 90 West Lounge, The Normandie Club, Clifton's Republic, The Brickyard Pub, Southland Beer, EP & LP The latest product offering takes inspiration from SONIC Drive-In signature beverage flavorswith a hard seltzer twist. 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. Still, its a big if. The road to consumer packaged goods gone bad is paved with good licensing intentions, after all. The taste is stronger than some of the others, and the extra sweetness really helps sell it as Limeade rather than just another weak-tasting hard seltzer. grown-up refresher with 5% ABV. They come in two variety packs, Tropical and Citrus. 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. Beverage Cans Rather, it tastes like a watered-down version of cheap pink lemonade, which is not a bad thing at all. Of all the Sonic seltzers, this one is the most faithful to its flavor inspiration. They generously sent us a couple of cases so we could test out all the flavors and share our results with you. But youd be wrong. They were just undrinkable. Follow @birdstorc and @goldenwitchfire on Twitter and Instagram for daily updates!Feb.. Pick up a pack and host your own happy hour any time you want! SONIC Happy Hour, redefined. Following the adoption of the new name, and alongside entrepreneur Charlie Pappe, owner Troy Smith opened some 41 locations before Pappes death in 1967. Contactless delivery and your first delivery or pickup order is free! Not going to be my go-to, but they are worth a try IMHO. In fact, demand for this flavour-packed hard seltzer has grown from a regional Oklahoma, U.S. launch in May 2021 of this year to. Sorry to hear you didnt care for them. Although the ingredients on the label didn't include artificial sweeteners, it had a little bit of that kind of flavor, with a saccharine aftertaste that smacked of diet soda. As it so happens, the hard-seltzer-ficiation of Ocean Water would lead to a sea change for COOP. [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. All rights reserved.Produced by COOP Ale Works, Oklahoma City, OK. Sign up for SONIC Hard Seltzer served straight to your inbox. Earlier this month, rumors emerged online that the toymaker was Want to know how to say Happy St Davids Day in Welsh? Sign up for VP Pro now! SONIC Drive-In, founded in 1953, is the largest drive-in restaurant brand inthe United Stateswith more than 3,500 restaurants in 46 states. In 2018, the category grew by 4%, making it the fastest-growing segment in the U.S. market. 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. COOP Beverage Works is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oklahoma City-based craft brewery COOP Ale Works. But in a multibillion-dollar hard seltzer market, regional and nearly national longtail brands can stack tremendous cash without leading the category. Those storylines, and other market factors, are creating new opportunities for brewers willing to try their hands at developing businesses beyond their own portfolios and brands. SONIC is part of the Inspire Brands family. Additionally, Missouri residents are now able to get their hands on SONIC Hard Seltzer in St. Louis. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Between my husband and I we are hard pressed to find a hard seltzer at least one of us wont drink. SONIC Hard Seltzer is sold in two variety packs inspired by the fruity flavors of SONIC's iconic frozen slushes - Tropical (with Ocean Water, Melon Medley, Mango Guava, and Orange Pineapple) and Citrus (with Cherry Limeade, Original Limeade, Classic Lemonade, and Lemon Berry). The Tropical offers Mango Guava, Melon Medley, Orange Pineapple, and Ocean Water. 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. Sonic Hard Seltzer comes in two themed 12-packs: Citrus and Tropical. SONIC Hard Beverages products are not available for purchase at SONIC Drive-In locations. Thanks so much for sharing your honest thoughts with us, Jessica! Product 1.5 oz Vodka. This post is an update of: Truly Hard Seltzer Opening New Downtown Los Angeles Taproom in Early 2022. 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. For more information, visit coopaleworks.com. Limeade, however, has got it all juicy lime notes in combination with refreshing zesty elements that create a harmony as pleasing on the tongue as it is stimulating. For more information, visit Big12Sports.com and follow the Conference on Facebook (Facebook.com/Big12), Twitter (@Big12Conference), Instagram (Instagram.com/big12conference/) and YouTube (YouTube.com/Big12Conference). Served by SONIC's iconic Carhops, the restaurant's expansive, award-winning menu offers unique, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and drink options for the whole family. 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. This new offering makes a splash in the growing beverage category by re-creating fan-favorite beverage flavors in a new format. 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. Not just anybody can say I want to make alcoholic beverages, he says. The Citrus Variety Pack offers Cherry Limeade, Original Limeade, Classic Lemonade, and Lemon Berry. But two things happened that would dramatically expand the course of the brewerys FMB foray. To be frank, it tastes exactly like Mango White Claw. The Big 12 is an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics conference that encompasses five states with over 40 million people within its geographic footprint. Expanding into more markets is a natural extension for us as we continue to grow the brand.. The Cherry Limeade IS Sonic. We expected the plain Limeade seltzer to be kind of boring, but it was actually one of the tastier options. They are not amazing I was disappointed because I really wanted to love them. Thanks for the honest feedback. The alcoholic beverages are not available at SONIC Drive-In locations, according to the press release. 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. Its hard to win ongoing shelf placement for a non-gimmick brand extension, and to keep selling it after the initial buzz wears off is harder still. Americas . The Tropical Variety Pack features Ocean Water, Melon Medley, Mango Guava and Orange Pineapple. The first impression reminded us of diluted 7UP, with a pleasant balance of sweet and sour. As the consumer profile of seltzer drinkers continues to expand, so do the occasions for drinking a SONIC Hard Seltzer. I searched high and low for these and my husband finally found them and got me the red citrus pack. 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. Results were mixed at first, a fact that was not lost on Mossman and his COOP colleagues in Oklahoma City. SONIC Hard Seltzer is available in two variety packs, Tropical and Citrus. A licensing deal between Oklahomas iconic fast-food franchisor and one of its longest-running craft breweries was ready for John Hancocks. Count us as firmly Team Cherry Limeade. Sour fake orange dominates this seltzer, with pineapple playing a supporting role. Ill second and third and fourth this comment section. For more information, visit COOPAleWorks.com. 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. Were thrilled to partner with the Big 12 Conference, said COOP Beverage Works President Sean Mossman. Sonic has taken a bold leap into the melon-flavored hard seltzer market, offering a refreshing take on the genre. 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. Best Christmas present ever, he says, delight evident in his voice. | 2400 Dallas Parkway, Suite 500 Plano, TX 75093 | Phone: 469-241-9191. Sonic Hard Seltzers, which were previously only sold in Oklahoma, are now . Its a lot easier for you to come in with Sonic hard seltzer than it is to get a meeting with the Wal-Marts of the world when youre pitching a small craft brand that the planogram guy has neither heard of, nor can find with a quick Google search, he says. And if you do everything right, your liquid stays solid, and you get a little lucky, your rocket just may go well, supersonic. Facilitating deals between brands like 3M and DuPont and major retailers like Lowes and Home Depot gave him an appreciation for the upside of licensing deals and an intimate understanding that the devil is in the details. Continue reading to learn the number of Sonic Drive-In locations in your state. With its continued market expansion, SONIC Hard Seltzer is on track to see significant growth across the US. Despite lofty expectations, our taste testers were sorely disappointed by the Ocean Water seltzer flavor from Sonic Hard Seltzers. 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?. 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. What are ya waiting for?! At first, the brewer was plugging the resulting variety packs directly into its existing distribution network. The level of sourness is totally out of whack, making some sips taste like pure citric acid dissolved in plain sparkling water. Sonics Hard Seltzer Is Hot. 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. If theres a perfect fast-food brand capable of crossing over into hard seltzer, Sonic might just be it. But having already cracked into the categorys upper echelon after less than a year on the market, its worth taking a closer look at how COOPs pioneering QSR deal came to be, how its structured, and what it means for the collapsing landscape of American alcohol. IRVING, Texas Big 12 Sports Properties, the LEARFIELD team dedicated to the Big 12 Conference as its sponsorship rights holder, announces a multi-year agreement with Oklahoma City-based COOP Beverage Works, makers of SONIC Hard Seltzer. The fully immersive seltzer taproom will offer drinkers . Pick up a pack and host your own happy hour any time you want! 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. The first you know about. Well, were on hand to help you with all the appropriate festive greetings. Yosemite National Parks first major rockfall of the year comes from El Capitan watch it in the dramatic video. Offering less tartness than other options, it evoked subtle similarities to soda beverages like 7UP. Get the latest in beer, wine, and cocktail culture sent straight to your inbox. In contrast, Lemon Berry feels like a powder you'd add to your Nalgene when you got tired of plain water. Though it certainly wont surprise you with its bold guava notes, fans of these drinks will likely find much to savor here as well! Strain the drink into a glass over pebble ice, and add Lemon Berry SONIC Hard Seltzer. The fake cherry flavor is big and bold, calling to mind memories of eating cherry snow cones in the summertime. You can update your preferences by clicking the "Cookie Policy" link at the bottom of any page on our website. In its first three months in-market, SONIC Hard Seltzer became one of the top 10 fastest selling seltzer brands nationally. Will & Wiley debuted in early 2020, and grabbed up around 8 percent of Oklahomas hard seltzer market in its opening weeks, according to Mossman. The FDA requires that the total carbohydrates listed include sugarsa type of carbohydrate. The Greatest Hits Pack features fan-favorite flavors such as Cherry Limeade, Ocean Water and Lemon Berry. 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 . SONIC Hard Seltzer is not available for purchase at SONIC Drive-In locations. Slinging hard seltzer through Americas variously applied, post-Prohibition three-tier system of alcohol commerce is a different challenge entirely from selling fast food and fountain drinks to sweaty motorists on the quick. This seltzer is by far the most candylike of any of the flavors, which is what we really wanted from Sonic seltzers. You asked and we delivered: SONIC Hard Seltzer is now available across nearly half the country! Pick up a pack and host your own happy hour any time you want! 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. We each tried these and unfortunately promptly threw the whole pack away. . Just don't come to this seltzer expecting to be blown away by the essence of exotic guava, or you'll leave disappointed. "The choice toward cans was an easy one as this is the iconic package for the hard seltzer market," Daniel says. 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.. Required fields are marked *. 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. (Well, MOST of them. That's not a knock on it whatsoever; SunnyD is delicious, and drinking something that kind of has that flavor but also gives you a mild buzz is wonderful. We got Big SunnyDand Tang vibes from this. 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. 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. We took the hard job of tasting them all and ranking them so you know which one to buy. Nearly 5,000 student-athletes from across the United States and around the World compete annually under the Big 12 banner. Sonic Hard Beverages - All your favorite SONIC flavors are now available as hard seltzer! The Citrus Variety Pack features Cherry Limeade, Original Limeade, Classic Lemonade and Lemon Berry. True Sonic fans know that the chain's drink menu is at least as important as the food. In addition to Oklahoma, SONIC Hard Seltzer is now available in Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri & Texas! 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. 21 New States Welcome SONIC Hard Seltzer. 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. We know there are people out there who claim to enjoy sucking on wedges of lemon or lime for fun. As one of the chain's signature items, this flavor features prominently in Sonic Seltzer's marketing materials. 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. Sorry, Chili Cheese Tot lovers.) The brand manager at Sonic called me and said, Were a go, recalls Mossman in a recent interview. And the choice to package this growth? Limeade excels because it delivers a multifaceted lime experience, offering reasonably convincing facsimiles of the flavors of lime juice and lime zest. All these flavors come in at only 100 calories each . There's no sweetness or fruit flavor, real or fake, to counteract the unrelenting acidity.
