Hard seltzer
Hard seltzer is sparkling water with a little alcohol and a hint of fruit. It is light, not very sweet and low in calories. In the United States, it became popular with brands such as White Claw; in the Netherlands, you know it from Stëlz and Breezer. Here you'll learn what hard seltzer is, which brands there are and how to drink it.
Hard seltzer brands at Gall & Gall
Gall & Gall sells 14 products in this category, from four brands. Each brand also makes a hard iced tea or another variant.
Breezer
The well-known bottled brand also makes a hard seltzer and hard iced tea, with 58 calories per can.
About Breezer →
Kletzer
Hard seltzer in apple and raspberry, and hard iced tea in peach and lemon, without bubbles.
View at Gall & Gall →
Viper
Hard seltzer, hard iced tea, hard ginger beer and lemonade in mixed packs. 60 calories per can.
View at Gall & Gall →Sparkling water, but with alcohol
Seltzer is the American word for sparkling water. Hard seltzer is sparkling water with alcohol in it, plus a hint of fruit flavour. The alcohol usually comes from fermented sugar or a neutral distilled base. The result is a clear drink with little taste of the alcohol itself, little sugar and few calories.
Hard seltzer became a craze in the United States around 2019, mainly thanks to White Claw, the brand that made the category big there. The drink then came to Europe. At Gall & Gall, you'll find Stëlz, Breezer, Kletzer and Viper. Most cans are 25 cl and contain 4 to 4.5% alcohol, about as much as a light beer. Almost every brand now also makes hard iced tea: iced tea with alcohol, often without bubbles.
In brief
Seltzer, iced tea and alcohol-free
Hard seltzer is more than just sparkling water with fruit. These are the types you'll find at Gall & Gall, with an example of each.
Hard seltzer
The base: sparkling water with alcohol and a hint of fruit, such as apple, raspberry, lime or passion fruit. Low in sweetness.
Hard iced tea
Iced tea with alcohol, often peach or lemon flavored. Softer and rounder than seltzer because it lacks carbonation.
Hard lemonade and ginger beer
Lemonade or ginger beer with alcohol. Fuller in flavor than a seltzer, like Viper's variety pack.
Alcohol-free (0.0)
Sparkling water with a hint of fruit, without alcohol. According to the maker, Stëlz Mango 0.0 contains no sugar and no calories.
Stëlz from Amsterdam has the widest range at Gall & Gall, in cans and packs of 6, 12 and 18.
Fresh, dry and a hint of fruit
Light fruit
A subtle aroma of the fruit on the can, such as lime, raspberry or mango. Never heavy or sweet.
Highly carbonated, low in sweetness
Tastes like sparkling water with a hint of fruit. You can barely taste the alcohol, as the base is too neutral for that.
Short and clean
Very little lingers. That makes it easy to drink, so keep track of how much you drink.
Flavor profile of a regular hard seltzer at 4 to 4.5%. Hard iced tea and hard lemonade score higher on sweetness and fruitiness, and lower on carbonation.
Three ways to drink hard seltzer
Hard seltzer is ready to drink. Keeping it cold is the most important thing: a lukewarm seltzer tastes flat.
In a highball glass with ice
Fill a highball glass with ice and pour the can over it. You can smell the fruit better than from the can, and it stays cold longer.
With fresh fruit
A lime wedge, a few raspberries or a sprig of mint instantly makes a seltzer fruitier. Choose fruit that matches the flavor on the can.
For a group
A variety pack is handy at a party or BBQ: everyone can choose their own flavor. Put the cans in a bucket of ice well in advance.
Drinks for the BBQ →Light and sparkling: make these yourself
A hard seltzer is actually a very simple highball. With these recipes, you can make something that is just as light and refreshing yourself.
Tom Collins
Gin, lemon, sugar syrup and sparkling water. A homemade lemon seltzer.
Gin and tonic
Gin, tonic, plenty of ice and the right garnish. Slightly more bitter than a seltzer.
Hugo Spritz
Prosecco, elderflower, sparkling water, mint and lime. Fresh and floral.
Moscow Mule
Vodka, lime and ginger beer. For those who enjoy Viper's hard ginger beer.The right glass for hard seltzer
A highball glass that fits an entire can, with room for ice. Or a large gin and tonic glass, which lets you smell the fruit even better. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about hard seltzer
Can't find your question here? View our page about ready-to-drink cocktails or contact us.
To ready-to-drink cocktails →What is hard seltzer?
How much alcohol does hard seltzer contain?
What is White Claw?
How many calories does hard seltzer contain?
What is the difference between hard seltzer and hard iced tea?
Which glass do you use for hard seltzer?
Buy hard seltzer
Want the bottle at home right away? Order hard seltzer online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 14, of which 14 are on offer.
Prices from October 9, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.