What are the Best New Canned Beverages of the Summer?

Rosé, your time in the sun may be over. The Drink of the Summer for 2019 was White Claw Hard Cider. How about the summer of 2020, though? What’s the alternative to White Claw for 2020 Drink of the Summer? Will a new refreshing beverage win the crown?  Our correspondent Abbie Martin Greenbaum has curated a list of the best hard ciders, kombuchas, cold brew coffees, CBD-infused sodas and spiked seltzers right now. Plus some new delicious non-alcoholic beverages. What are the best new canned beverages of the summer? Read on.

what are the best new canned beverages of summer 2020?

Yes, we know all about coronavirus, and we know we can’t bring very many people with us on our outdoor adventures right now. Still, someday we’ll be free to gather again. And in the meantime, we’re keen to find some fun refreshment in a cute, cold can to tote with us on our first fabulous outdoor adventure post-captivity.

In the past couple of years, there’s been an explosion of creative drinking options out there, well beyond the predictable beer and wine. As consumers we now crave novelty and surprise, and the beverage industry has delivered in a big way.

This year’s big beverage trends are all about making things into what they’re not.

Specifically, taking drinks that are not usually alcoholic and giving them just a little bit of a buzz, as with hard cider, hard cold brew coffee, hard kombucha and boozy tea. And taking drinks that are usually alcoholic and make them buzz-free, like non-alcoholic craft beer. 

the best new canned beverages of summer 2020

So as the sun starts to shine, and the temperatures keeps climbing, pick up any of these drinks to make this coming summer season even more of a celebration.

1. White Claw

If you thought White Claw was going away, think again. This is the beverage that began our quest to find the Next Big Thing to drink this summer, and the brand is back this season with three new flavors. 

Everyone’s favorite spiked seltzer will be available in watermelon, lemon and tangerine, which will join the ranks of the already-beloved variety pack.

2. Austin Eastciders

Though spiked seltzers might have once been a rarity, now it seems you can find them anywhere, in just about any variety. If you want to try something other than White Claw, we recommend Austin Eastciders, makers of craft hard cider.

They’re a hundred calories per can, and absolutely delicious. The apple, black cherry and peach will each make their debut sometime this spring.

3. Boochcraft

Like spiked seltzer, the fermented tea better known as kombucha has been a rapidly growing trend over the past few years. And finally someone had the brilliant idea to combine two popular trends and start selling hard kombucha. 

California-based Boochcraft is the leader of the pack for hard kombucha. They have four unusual flavor combinations coming our way. Grapefruit, hibiscus and heather. Lemon, maple and thyme. Orange, pomegranate and beet. And ginger, lime, and rosehips. Are you kidding? We are All. In.

4. Kombrewcha

Made in Brooklyn, this hard kombucha brand is completely organic. And with only a 4.4% ABV per can, is the perfect slightly-spiked snack. 

You can find the berry hibiscus, royal ginger, or lemongrass lime flavors in multiple locations now.

5. Owl’s Brew

We’ve already discovered what we predict will be our favorite beverage this summer: Owl’s Brew Boozy Tea. The refreshing and clean cocktails made from botanicals and tea are seriously delicious. The brand’s Boozy Tea is made from fresh-brewed organic tea, a splash of fruit juice, a dash of cane sugar and spiked to 4.8% ABV. The teas are vegan and gluten free, and are 120 calories per can.

And on that note, the brand’s slim and stylish cans are incredibly chic. Making these the perfect companion for your Orlebar Brown swim trunks or your Eres maillot.

6. Sprig

In addition to kombucha and spiked seltzer, we all know what another of the fastest rising trends of the last year has been: CBD. From lotion to dessert, it’s everywhere these days, offering a way for people to feel just a little bit more relaxed in their day-to-day lives. 

Sprig offers a series of sunny CBD-infused drinks, including three delicious fruity sodas and a sparkling lemon tea. All four options have zero sugar, and are sure to help you “smile more” – the company’s tagline – this season.

7. Weller

Weller has an entire line of CBD snacks and drinks and of course it includes CBD-infused sodas. Right now they come in three flavors: black cherry, watermelon, and tangerine. 

The brand’s bright little cans look super-cute on the shelf. At zero calories each, they are a perfect palate cleanser that will also help you feel relaxed.

8. Sanzo

Maybe rather than spiked seltzers or hard kombuchas, you’re looking for a detox this season. Well, you’re in luck – there are a lot of people who want what you want, and there are a ton of amazing options for you on the shelf right now.

Sanzo sparkling waters are made with real fruit, have no added sugars, and are made by Filipino-American founder Sandro Roco to celebrate Asian flavors. They come in mango, lychee and calamansi. Each one is an excellent alternative to an alcoholic drink.

9. Bravus Brewing

With the budding desire for lower ABV options and for drinks that include no alcohol at all, non-alcoholic craft beer is on the rise. That’s right, now you can get everything you love about IPAs without any of the kick. 

Bravus Brewing makes a fantastic line of non-alcoholic beers, including an Amber Ale, an Oatmeal Stout, a White Ale and a Raspberry Gose. All of them have less than .5% ABV, and they taste just like your favorite beer.

10. DRY Botanical Bubbly

DRY Botanical Bubbly hitched itself to the trend of festive non-alcoholic beverages and has never looked back. Culinary-inspired, the flavors are an influencer’s dream: lavender, ginger, and blood orange.

Each bottle is also low-calorie and sodium free, and made to pair as well with food as a glass of wine would.

11. Minna

We all know how popular nitro cold brew is, so it makes sense that carbonated tea was next in line. These tropical cans are somewhere between sparkling water and a refreshing glass of iced tea. Their three delicious options are a green tea, citrus black tea, and a lime hibiscus.

Super low in caffeine, these are great to drink when you want all the pleasure of an iced tea without any of the jitters.

12. La Colombe

La Colombe is just about everybody’s favorite coffee supplier, and now they can be your favorite way to have just a little bit of alcohol, too. They’ve teamed up with MillerCoors to bring you what is definitely the next big thing: hard cold brew coffee. 

If you can’t decide which you like better, a cup of coffee in the morning or a cold beer at night, now you’ll never have to choose again.

13. Café Agave

With 12.5% ABV, Café Agave’s delicious spiked cold brew comes in flavors like caffe mocha, salted caramel, espresso shot, and vanilla cinnamon. They are much less acidic than your ordinary barista-blended cup of iced coffee, and each one is a great option for a slightly bitter summer cocktail.

the best hard ciders, kombuchas and spiked seltzers for summer 2020

That’s it! Some of the best beverages for a refreshing spring or summer day in the sun. What’s your favorite? And what will you try next?

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Abbie Martin Greenbaum grew up in New York City and currently lives in Brooklyn, where she drinks a lot of coffee and matches roommates together for a living. At Oberlin College, she studied English and Cinema, which are still two of her favorite things, along with dessert and musical theater. She believes in magic.

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