In terms of the tactical execution of getting the Sonic hard seltzer from its tanks to store shelves, though, the brewer treats its licensed liquid pretty much identically to the rest of its offerings. 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. 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. Sorry to hear you didnt care for them. ST. LOUIS SONIC fans in St. Louis will soon be able to buy SONIC Hard Seltzer at select retailers. SONIC Hard Seltzer is not available for purchase at SONIC Drive-In locations. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2011 - 2023 All rights reserved. We each tried these and unfortunately promptly threw the whole pack away. Cherry Limeade is Ocean Water's nemesis in the Sonic flavor battle, but unlike its competitor, it's actually deserving of its star status. Of course, so-called berry lemonade often doesn't taste like berries, so we won't hold that against it. COOP needed one of those, sure but what if there were a way to turn tongue-in-cheek brewhouse innovation into a bigger play? However, many other hard seltzer brands do melon, so it makes sense that Sonic would want a piece of that action. While Texas boasts nearly 1,000 drive-in locations, there are zero Sonics in Maine and New Hampshire. SONIC Hard Seltzer COOP Ale Works partnered with SONIC Drive-In to license their iconic name to create SONIC Hard Seltzer. The alcoholic beverages are not available at SONIC Drive-In locations, according to the press release. This new offering makes a splash in the growing beverage category by re-creating fan-favorite beverage flavors in a new format. Sonic Cherry Limeade Seltzer stands out from the crowd, boasting an intense and unmistakable fake cherry flavor. On the heels of our continued expansion into 39 states and being recognized as one of the top 10 fastest selling seltzer brands, were excited to deepen our product integration responsibly within the Conference and with its fans of legal drinking age.. After just under a year on shelves, Sonic hard seltzer is doing both. With just 100 calories and 1 gram of sugar per can, SONIC Hard Seltzer is a guilt-free (and gluten-free!) 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. Ill second and third and fourth this comment section. Its a winning combination indeed, including the delivery of variety across a unique combination of fruit flavors. We tried one of each, just overwhelming tin can flavor. 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. Each offering provides a modern and craveable take on fan-favorite beverage flavors. 2023 LEARFIELD. Though it certainly wont surprise you with its bold guava notes, fans of these drinks will likely find much to savor here as well! 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. 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. SONIC is a tenured brand that spans more than 3,500 stores in 46 states with decades of brand recognition and iconic flavours, he says. 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. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Order up! All in all, these seem healthier than most items on the drink menu at Sonic restaurants (except for the fact that they contain alcohol, of course). 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. Couple this with our craft beer tradition of manufacturing quality and excellence and youve got a winning combination for a leading hard seltzer entry that is shaking up the category and driving extraordinary growth.. 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. According to Sonic's website, each flavor has 100 calories, one gram of added sugar, and one gram . We ended up throwing away the rest of them. You asked and we delivered: SONIC Hard Seltzer is now available across nearly half the country! Watermelon is definitely hanging out in the background, but it's not dominating your palate as you drink this. The hard seltzers are each 100 calories with one gram of sugar and gluten-free with 5 percent ABV. 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! Top Hat was already copyrighted, restricting the Oklahoma restaurants ability to expand. It doesnt look like just a play on the [Sonic] name, it looks like an extension on what the company was already doing in the past.. Prices and availability are accurate as of time posted. From the jump, COOP has carved Sonic hard seltzers out of its owned-and-operated brand portfolio, for reasons well discuss in a moment. And its no secret why cans are the answer for this market. Sonic seltzer contains no gluten or distilled spirits. Pick up a pack and host your own happy hour any time you want! The latest product offering takes inspiration from SONIC Drive-In signature beverage flavorswith a hard seltzer twist. Because the brand had made it to retailers just before the coronavirus made it to Oklahoma, he was able to monitor scan data to see how the various Will & Wiley offerings were performing off-premise, which, if you recall those chaotic early days when the -demic was still epi-, was the only place anyone was buying. Some people go to Sonic just for this combination of blue coconut syrup and Sprite that smells vaguely like sunscreen (in a good way). 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. Whether its their famous pellet ice, chopped fruit additions, or extra flavor syrups Sonic brings us as close to that classic soda fountain experience we all long for. Despite lofty expectations, our taste testers were sorely disappointed by the Ocean Water seltzer flavor from Sonic Hard Seltzers. COOP brews Sonic hard seltzers which now number eight flavors total in its home region, and contract-brews a third-party co-packer for the volume it needs across the rest of its footprint. You can update your preferences by clicking the "Cookie Policy" link at the bottom of any page on our website. The closest positive comparison we can make to this is the San Pellegrino citrus sodas, but that's honestly a real stretch. In addition to the packages environmental advantages, brands also enjoy leading filling, distribution and retail display economics as there is no wasted space due to cans stacking abilities. Don't Miss Out! from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. SONIC Hard Seltzer products are packaged in Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) North America 12 oz. ARKANSAS, USA SONIC Drive-in is jumping on the hard seltzer craze and you can now enjoy the restaurant's famous flavored drinks in alcohol form . If youre within striking distance of a Sonic, assume youre surrounded by cherry limeade acolytes. No other fast-food place serves anything like it, and the company has copyrighted the drink's name. They were terrible imo. The market is expected to grow at a 4% annual rate in 2019 and at a 2.5% annual rate in 2020. 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. Oh darn! 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. 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? Its not just orange juice- this drink has a unique and delicious taste reminiscent of those classic corn syrup drinks from years ago now, excited for adults who want more than a refreshing treat! Were thrilled to partner with the Big 12 Conference, said COOP Beverage Works President Sean Mossman. 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. The fully immersive seltzer taproom will offer drinkers . All these flavors come in at only 100 calories each . We generously provided a few cases for us to test out all these delicious flavors so we could report back our results. Following the adoption of the new name, and alongside entrepreneur Charlie Pappe, owner Troy Smith opened some 41 locations before Pappes death in 1967. Sorry, Chili Cheese Tot lovers.) The Lemonade Sonic seltzer fails to bring the same refreshing satisfaction as its Limeade counterpart. So in mid-2020, they went back to the well, whipping up another Sonic-inspired hard seltzer, modeled after the restaurants polarizing, electric-blue Ocean Water to release in spring 2021. 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. 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. 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. TM and 2021 Americas Drive-in Brand Properties, LLC. According to Sonic's website, each flavor has 100 calories, one gram of added sugar, and one gram of carbs. Sonic has taken a bold leap into the melon-flavored hard seltzer market, offering a refreshing take on the genre. Pick up a pack and host your own happy hour any time you want! 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. OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SONIC Hard . As one of the chain's signature items, this flavor features prominently in Sonic Seltzer's marketing materials. They are just OK in my opinion. Recipe. As Oklahomas top-selling craft brewer, COOP had been carefully stewarding its own brand for the last 13 years, and with popular Sonic-style hard seltzer flavors, Mossman had a ready-made conversation starter with a nationally known licensor whose offices were just a mile south of the brewery. | 2400 Dallas Parkway, Suite 500 Plano, TX 75093 | Phone: College Football Season Ticket Pricing Analysis, Athletics, LEARFIELD Ink Multi-Year Contract Extension with iHeartMedia Minneapolis, Jacksons Expands Official Trading Card Promotion with Boise State Athletics, Harris Teeter and LEARFIELD to Assist in Fighting Hunger at the Feb. 25 Mens Basketball Game, LEARFIELD and SIDEARM Sports Executive Jeff Rubin to receive Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award; Basketball analyst Debbie Antonelli selected Jake Wade Award winner. Metal Following the initial excitement for SONIC Hard Seltzer, we have accelerated product availability for customers who are brand fans or excited to try it for the first time, saidSean Mossman, president of COOP Ale Works, makers of SONIC Hard Seltzer. To find a local retailer where SONIC Hard Seltzers are sold, click here. grown-up refresher with 5% ABV. The hint of sweetness leaves your tongue pretty quickly, making way for an acidic, cucumbery aftertaste that's a little bit like Pepino Limon Gatorade. Mossmans six-year tenure at the brewery was immediately preceded by another half dozen years as a CPG licensing executive focused on the hardware industry. Sonics Hard Seltzer Is Hot. SONIC Happy Hour, redefined. The Tropical Variety Pack has flavors, including Ocean Water, Melon Medley, Mango Guava, and Orange Pineapple. All your favorite SONIC flavors are now available as hard seltzer! SONIC Hard Beverages products are not available for purchase at SONIC Drive-In locations. For more information, visit coopaleworks.com. . November 4, 2021. 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. As the consumer profile of seltzer drinkers continues to expand, so do the occasions for drinking a SONIC Hard Seltzer. Is this the Edward vs. Jacob of our generation? Copyright 2020 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme, Sonic Shark Week Slush: What It Is + Review, Wendys Cheddar Bun: Everything About Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger, Sonic Milkshakes: Their Milkshake Menu Ranked, Chocolate Ganache Brownies: Most Fudgy Recipe, Oreo Milk Tea: How To Make Cookies & Cream Boba, Tapioca Syrup: What It Is & Hows Different from Corn Syrup. But while there are pitfalls a-plenty, the upside is transformative: a high-margin, shelf-stable brand extension from Americas heartland hamburger heavyweight plugged into the flavored malt beverage sales machine that is the modern American supermarket. This post is an update of: Truly Hard Seltzer Opening New Downtown Los Angeles Taproom in Early 2022. 1.5 oz Vodka. the technical definition of sonic). 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). But those are stunts. Well, not actually like mango, but like the ersatz mango we've come to expect from hard seltzer flavorists. Shirani Jayasuriya. Its sales velocity in major chain retailers is strong. Prior to July 18, Sonic Hard Seltzer was available in a total of 31 states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Sipping this reveals no evidence at all of the raspberry flavor promised by the illustration on the can. The Lemonade Sonic seltzer is somewhat similar to the Limeade, only worse in every way. 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. 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.