If you’ve been boozing your way through college over the last half a decade, you’ve probably noticed a lot of different types of alcoholic beverages beginning to make appearances at house parties.
These beverages, usually anything ranging from hard ciders or fruity malt beverages, have been popping up all across the country, delivering drunken satisfaction to thousands of individuals who love getting a little tipsy, but just can’t stomach beer.
The biggest challenge, of course, is figuring out which is the best one on the market. This week, we’ve got you covered on a round-up of popular non-beer adult beverages.
Henry’s Hard Ginger Ale
Style
Hard Soda, 4.2% ABV
Aroma
Normal ginger ale flavor, not much different than your non-alcoholic version
Appearance
Light gold color, similar to cheap light beer
Taste
Tastes like your drunk uncle’s strange concoction of ginger ale when you accidentally sipped his drink thinking it was yours.
Room Temperature Taste
Flat ginger ale
Consensus
MillerCoors’ attempt to bank off of the push for non-beer malt beverages just really doesn’t do it for me — falls flat and comes out bland.
Rating: 2.5/5
Redd’s Apple Ale
Style
Hard Cider, 5.0% ABV
Aroma
Sweet, fruity aroma, similar to your average apple juice or apple cider
Appearance
Golden-yellow, almost resembling a champagne
Taste
Very sweet compared to other hard ciders I’ve tried in the past. The alcohol is very masked and tastes much more like normal apple cider.
Room Temperature Taste
Tastes like room temperature apple juice
Consensus
For individuals who do not like to drink beer, but want to drink a light beverage, this is your go-to, cheap alternative.
Rating: 3.25/5
Angry Orchard Crisp Apple
Style
Hard Cider, 5.0% ABV
Aroma
Fresh apple aroma, not too strong
Appearance
Golden orange
Taste
Not as sweet as Redd’s, but still a prototypical cider beverage taste. A little smoother and more like a traditional cider.
Room Temperature Taste
Dryness comes through a little stronger as the beverage begins to settle
Consensus
One of the better ciders I’ve tried, this one’s a pleasant surprise in what can be a bland industry.
Rating: 3.75/5
Not Your Dad’s Root Beer
Style
Herbed/Spiced Beer, 5.9% ABV
Aroma
Vanilla notes come through strong, along with aromas of several other indiscernible spices
Appearance
Deep chocolate brown
Taste
Root beer taste comes through much stronger than beer flavors. Much more like a carbonated soda beverage than anything alcoholic
Room Temperature Taste
Sweetness stays potent throughout, and drink becomes a little flat
Consensus
For individuals fond of root beer and hate the taste of traditional beer, this is perfect for you. Unfortunately, if you like beer, you’ll hate this.
Rating: 3/5
Bud Light Mang-o-rita
Style
American Malt Liquor, 8.0% ABV
Aroma
Fruitiness like I’ve never smelled from an alcoholic beverage before
Appearance
Resembles your average-looking orange soda
Taste
Intensely sweet, with a slight mango taste but much more like your average fruity soda
Room Temperature Taste
Sweetness stays potent through the beverage settling
Consensus
Not a fan at all. This is saved for individuals who don’t want to drink anything remotely resembling a beer.
Rating: 1.5/5
Crispin Original
Style
Hard Cider, 5.0% ABV
Aroma
Slightly sweet apple aroma, but not nearly as intense as other ciders. Slightly more balanced.
Appearance
If it wasn’t in its bottle, it would easily be mistaken as a champagne.
Taste
Fruitiness is strong, while not too sweet and slightly dry
Room Temperature Taste
Dryness becomes a little stronger, but remains relatively balanced
Consensus
Nothing about this hard cider really stood out to me, which is neither a good nor bad thing. Relatively standard and neutral cider.
