Do you love alcoholic drinks? Particularly beer? If so, check out this article. So, in this post, we’re going to talk about the difference between hard seltzers and beer.
If you are interested in knowing the difference between these two alcoholic beverages, scroll down and continue reading.
Hard Seltzers Vs Beer
What Is A Hard Seltzer?
This alcoholic beverage is also known as mature seltzer, adult seltzer, spiked seltzer, and hard sparkling alcohol water. It is a kind of highball beverage that includes alcohol, seltzer or carbonated water, and typically fruit flavorings. In the US, cane sugar is typically fermented to produce alcohol, malted barley is also occasionally utilized. It has been discovered that hard seltzer products made outside of the US either use neutral spirit or fruit fermentation. The amount of alcohol is about 5% by volume, and it also has a low calorie content.
History Of Hard Seltzer
Two Dogs, which was brewed in Australia started in 1993 and widely known as the “world’s first brewed alcoholic lemonade” despite the availability of conventional beverages like sima, opened the door for comparable commercial products like Hooper’s Hooch and Mike’s Hard Lemonade, recognized as malternatives in America and alcopops in the United Kingdom.
With Spiked Seltzer in Westport, Connecticut, Nick Shields created the beverage’s logo and visual, and the company brewed the first batches for sale in November 2013. In the United States, the category had a surge in popularity between 2018 and 2019. As of 2019, White Claw was the most well-known brand there. By 2021, it is anticipated that hard seltzer would produce US sales of $2.5 billion. Increasing demand from health-conscious consumers is credited by analysts as the reason for White Claw’s success and the appeal of hard seltzer in general. The popularity of hard seltzers in the beer bracket may also be seen as a projection of the wider rise in non-alcoholic flavored seltzers, as shown by the sudden and enormous success of brands like LaCroix and Spindrift. Brands of hard seltzer have been introduced in many nations outside of the United States as a result of its popularity, including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. White Claw made its debut in Canada in February 2020, followed by Australia and the UK.
What Is A Beer?
In addition to being the third most common beverage overall, beer is also one of the oldest and most popular alcoholic beverages in the world, following water and tea. It is made through the brewing and fermentation of carbohydrates, primarily from cereal grains—most frequently from malted barley, though wheat, maize (corn), rice, and oats are also used. The wort’s starch sugars are fermented during the brewing process, which results in ethanol production and beer with carbonation. As a natural preservative and stabilizing agent, hops are used in the majority of modern beers to impart bitterness and other flavors. Hops can be substituted with or added in addition to other flavorings such gruit, herbs, or fruits. The natural carbonation effect is frequently eliminated during processing and substituted with induced carbonation in commercial brewing.
Most beers are frequently served on draught and sold in bottles and cans, especially at pubs and bars. The global brewing sector is made up of thousands of smaller manufacturers, from brewpubs to local brewers, as well as a few powerful multinational corporations. The alcohol volume(ABV) or alcohol content in modern beer is typically between 4% and 6%, while it can range from 0.5% to 20%, with some brewers producing beer with an ABV of 40% and higher.
History Of Beer
One of the first beverages that mankind made was beer. The first barley beer with chemical proof was produced in modern-day Iran in the fifth millennium BC, and it was documented in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia’s written histories before being exported all over the world.
It’s possible that beer-like beverages were spontaneously created all over the world shortly after a tribe or culture domesticated cereal because nearly any cereal containing specific sugars can undergo spontaneous fermentation due to wild yeast in the air. Beer was manufactured as early as 7,000 years ago in what is now Iran, according to chemical analyses of old clay jars. It also represents the earliest proof of brewing to date. This discovery demonstrates one of the earliest known uses of fermentation.
Difference Between The Two Drinks
Both beer and hard seltzer are brewed and fermented utilizing a sugar source to produce a sweet liquid that, when combined with yeast, will transform into alcohol. What is fermented makes a significant difference. In the case of beer, malted grains are smashed in hot water to draw out the sugars and generate a wort. After the wort has been boiled and cooled, yeast is added to convert the sugary mixture into alcohol. At this point, hops are also added.
Although grains can be used to create hard seltzer, most brewers skip this step and immediately begin fermenting pure sugar or cane sugar in water. After fermentation process, a clear alcohol that has been carbonated is the end result. The grains and other additives or adjuncts used in the brewing process give beer its vast range of colors.
Both methods produce the expected result, which yeast consumes the sugar and produces the byproduct we know as alcohol. However, in the case of hard seltzer, using only sugar and water generates a blank canvas that makes it possible for the addition of fruit flavorings while also giving the brewer extra to maintain calories and carbs low. One of the primary benefits of hard seltzer is that it contains fewer calories.
Which Of These Two Beverages Is Healthier
You might have heard that beer only contains empty calories. But did you know, that beer may be beneficial for your heart if you consume it in moderation? Yes, you read it right.
Most hard seltzers have significantly fewer carbs and calories than beer. Now, that’s a good thing. The next time you want to go to a bar, you know what to order. Usually, there are around 100 calories in a 12 ounce can of strong seltzer. In opposed to most beers, which have about 150 calories per can, that is low. However, some beers might have up to 203 calories. Additionally, most hard seltzers are gluten-free. As a result, even if you have Celiac disease or a gluten allergy, you shouldn’t have any issues drinking the majority of hard seltzers.
Furthermore, you’ll notice that hard seltzers contain about 5% alcoholic content, which is comparable to an average beer. Although certain hard seltzers are entering the market with increased alcohol levels, read the label to be sure.
Keep in mind that excessive drinking has been connected to a number of chronic ailments. Additionally, excessive drinking is linked to stroke, diabetes, liver disease, high blood pressure, and even various cancers like oral, breast, and liver. You might also experience mental conditions, including anxiety and depression, are correlated with excessive drinking, because it is considered a downer or a Central Nervous System depressant. Alcohol excess can be enjoyable in the moment, however it is still recommended to drink in moderation.