Ranking 12 Truly Hard Seltzer Flavors From Worst To Best
Back in the day, if you wanted a cool, refreshing adult beverage in the heat of the summer, you would pretty much be relegated to the beer cooler. But these days, things have changed. Hard seltzers have been on the scene for a while now, and it doesn't look like they're going anywhere. One of the brands that has taken center stage is Truly Hard Seltzer. It's known for its flavored fizzy waters flavored with real fruit juice, and you can find it in countless stores around the country.
If you haven't yet forayed into the world of Truly Hard Seltzers, you may not know what's awaiting you. It can be difficult to know where to start when you don't even know which flavors you should be trying first. We've decided to share our very subjective ranking of the Truly Hard Seltzer flavors, starting with our least favorite and working our way to the best. You may or may not agree with our rankings, but at least they can give you a better idea of where you should start sipping if you want to get a taste of the best that Truly Hard Seltzer has to offer.
Without further ado, let's take a closer look at these iconic hard seltzer flavors.
12. Watermelon Breeze
You know you're in for trouble when you see a watermelon-flavored anything. The Watermelon Breeze flavor from Truly Hard Seltzer is not an exception. Does it taste like watermelon? Not really. If you ask us, it's closer to a watermelon Jolly Rancher than anything else. And while some people may love that candy-like flavor, it's just not for us. We wanted this hard seltzer to embody a tropical feel, to offer something exciting and refreshing, but we find the flavor to be slightly cloying. It might be good as a mixer to make another, more complicated drink (maybe one that actually features watermelon?), but it's really not our favorite when it's served on its own.
The only thing that saves this drink is the high level of carbonation. Because those bubbles keep things light and fresh, this drink tastes a lot more refreshing than it would if it were flat. Overall, this isn't a terrible drink. There's nothing wrong with the Watermelon Breeze flavor. But when Truly offers so many flavors that actually are inviting, we see no need to choose a Watermelon Breeze when we have any other option to choose from.
11. Blueberry
We wanted the Blueberry Truly Hard Seltzer to be good, we really did. It has so much potential. After all, it's not every day that you see a blueberry-flavored drink, much less a blueberry-flavored adult beverage. That's why we were super excited to try this hard seltzer out. However, we're sad to say that it fell flat for us. The blueberry flavoring has an artificial taste to it, one that reminds us more of candy than it does of the actual fruit. This is understandable, though — it seems like it's relatively difficult to capture the flavor of blueberry in a hard seltzer.
Although the flavor isn't necessarily bad, we happen to think that it's too strong, leaving you with an overwhelming taste in your mouth even after you've taken your final sip. The blueberry flavor from Truly Hard Seltzer isn't bad, but there are better options out there to choose from.
10. Pineapple
Here's the thing about the Pineapple Truly Hard Seltzer: Whether you like it or not is going to be highly dependent on whether you like pineapple in general. Yes, this drink really does taste very similar to real pineapple juice, so tropical fruit fans are going to love this one. For some people, pineapples are the pinnacle of refreshing fruit, bold and acidic while still offering plenty of that sweetness you love. However, for others, the flavor of pineapple is too strong, and even that acidity can't mask the intense, almost unpleasant levels of sweetness the fruit advertises.
Unfortunately, we fall into the latter camp. We're not huge pineapple fans, so the Pineapple Truly just falls flat for us. The pineapple flavor is definitely there, and we can see how some would find it very refreshing. However, that distinct sweetness is just too much for us, even if Trulys aren't packed with a ton of sugar. We're going to have to pass on this flavor, but if you love tropical fruit-flavored drinks, then this might just be what you're looking for.
9. Mango
Speaking about tropical fruits, what about the Mango Truly Hard Seltzer? Admittedly, we like the mango flavor quite a bit more than the pineapple, but that really comes down to personal preference. However, if you're looking for the most realistic-tasting mango beverage out there, you can probably do better than what Truly is offering. The flavor is just... strange. It almost has a slight funk to it, like a mango that's been left out in the sun for one day too long and has started to turn. Like the pineapple, it has a sickly sweetness to it that's more evident in the actual flavor than it is in the sugar content.
If we had only ever tried a Mango Truly, we might have been fans. However, after trying other mango-flavored hard seltzers out there, we can report that Truly doesn't offer the best of the best on the mango front. It's not that this flavor is deeply unpleasant — it's just that there are other mango-flavored hard seltzers we'd rather opt for over Truly's version. That being said, if you're the kind of person who always loves mango-flavored drinks, you might want to try it out for yourself.
8. Citrus Squeeze
When we first heard about the concept of the Citrus Squeeze Truly Hard Seltzer, we were super excited to try it. It's a mixture of grapefruit, orange, and lime flavors, and the combination sounded absolutely delicious to us. After all, the individual citrus flavors are some of our favorites of the bunch (as you'll see later), so we figured that putting all of these different flavors together would obviously result in something great. But unfortunately, we were slightly disappointed.
When you take your first sip, you'll be met with a slight tartness followed by the distinct flavor of orange. However, beyond that first sip, all the flavors seem kind of muddled together, and there's barely any distinction between them. Rather, you're left with a hard seltzer that's just sort of vaguely fruity — but not as intensely flavored as you might guess from a flavor that's supposed to contain three different types of citrus. In fact, we could barely taste the flavor of the grapefruit at all.
Mixing three citrus flavors together to make a whole new flavor sounds like it's going to be a great idea. However, in practice, it turns out that those flavors are better on their own so they can really shine. If you have to choose between the Citrus Squeeze and one of the other citrus flavors, we wouldn't suggest opting for this one.
7. Cherry
There are few flavors that can compete with the popularity of cherry, so it's no wonder that Cherry Truly Hard Seltzers are such a popular option. It's the kind of flavor you choose when you don't really know what you want. Because so many people have tried a wide array of cherry-flavored products, many of us have an idea about what to expect when we open up a can of this stuff. Does that mean it's our absolute favorite of the bunch? No. The Cherry Truly flavor definitely has its appeal. It has that vaguely fruity, inviting scent that makes you want to take a sip. Then once you do, you get a strong dose of that slightly artificial-tasting cherry flavor you love.
The upside of this flavor is the fact that it's going to be exactly what you're looking for if you're craving a cherry-flavored sparkling beverage. You could dream this flavor up in your sleep. The downside is that it's nothing unexpected. It's not the most brilliant, interesting flavor we've ever tried, but it's definitely enjoyable enough to keep stocked in the fridge. In fact, it's the flavor we would choose if we were having a party and wanted to make sure that everyone would be happy with the drink options.
6. Wild Berry
If you're looking for a flavor that just about everyone is going to love, you can't go wrong with Wild Berry Truly Hard Seltzer. This flavor, even more than the cherry, is going to be accessible to just about everyone. It's nothing too out of the ordinary — we've all had mixed berry products before — but it's refreshing and thirst-quenching while offering just the right amount of flavor. This beverage is made with a mixture of strawberry, blackberry, and raspberry flavorings, and you can pick up their different notes every time you take a sip.
When it comes to hard seltzers, you're probably not looking for something that has a super interesting flavor. After all, these beverages are all about easy drinking, and the Wild Berry flavor from Truly offers just that. It's flavorful enough to keep you going back for more, but the flavor isn't so strong and assertive that it would turn anyone off.
You can buy a pack of just this stuff on its own, but we like picking it up in a berry mix pack. That way, you get to try a little bit of everything (including the cherry flavor we were just hyping up). For those who don't know where to start on their Truly journey, the Wild Berry flavor is sure to be a good start.
5. Lemon
Aren't hard seltzers all about refreshment? That's why, for us, the Lemon Truly Hard Seltzer just makes sense. Lemon is one of those no-fuss flavors that's hard not to love. It offers a juicy, refreshing acidity that makes every sip feel like a breath of fresh air. Adding that to a hard seltzer makes for a crowd-pleasing, easy-drinking can of bubbly that it's difficult not to enjoy.
We like that they didn't go overboard with the lemon flavoring here. It's not like it's super subtle, but the flavor isn't too loud or clamoring. Instead, it basically just tastes like you're sipping on some simple lemon water. We also appreciate that, unlike some of the other flavors on this list, this one doesn't have a layer of sweetness we've come to expect from Truly seltzers. Rather, it seems like they really focused on highlighting that bright acidity. And isn't that what we want from a lemon-flavored anything, including classic lemonade?
There's little that's more refreshing than grabbing a can of this lemon-flavored beverage at the beach right before you take a dip in the water. They're great for beach days, park days, and those days when you're just hanging out in your house but wish you were outside.
4. Strawberry Lime
For those who have a difficult time making decisions, choosing between a fruity, berry-flavor-spiked drink and a citrus-infused, refreshing beverage can be a struggle. These two widely beloved flavor families seem like they're always at odds, forcing you to choose between the slight sweetness of berries and the sharp, bracing acidity of the citrus. Luckily, you don't have to choose between the two when you opt for Truly Hard Seltzer's Strawberry Lime flavor. We love this flavor because it offers the best of both worlds, making for a supremely drinkable beverage that's perfect before a night out or when you're on the beach trying to enjoy a day in the sun.
Admittedly, like a lot of Truly flavors, this one has a slightly artificial flavor to it, but we kind of expect that from relatively inexpensive canned alcoholic beverages. However, in the grand scheme of hard seltzer flavors out there, we think that the Strawberry Lime is exceptionally fun and offers something different than many other brands do. If you're ready to try something new and more exciting from the Truly Hard Seltzer line, then you may just want to get yourself a box of Strawberry Lime seltzers from the brand.
3. Lime
You already know that we're big fans of the lemon Truly flavor, but what about Lime Trulys? Honestly, you can't go wrong with either. But if you ask us, we'll almost always choose the lime flavor over the lemon. Lime Trulys offer that same burst of fresh acidity we love in the lemon flavor, but it's more refreshing and intense. It makes sense — limes tend to offer a brightness that lemons can't quite match. In fact, we're surprised at how much this beverage just tastes like sparkling lime water. This kind of flavor neutrality is just what we're looking for when we want something that's going to be easy to drink at a casual event.
Of course, it's easy to just pop open a can of Lime Truly Hard Seltzer and start sipping, but if you really want to elevate your drinking experience, cut up a lime into wedges, and squeeze some of the lime juice into your can, just like you might do with a Corona. It may not seem like it would make much of a difference, considering the drink is already lime-flavored, but trust us on this one: It's going to make your Truly taste even better. You can thank us after you give it a try for yourself.
2. Grapefruit
Finally, we've come to the pinnacle of the Truly Hard Seltzer citrus options: Grapefruit. There isn't much in this world that's more refreshing than a grapefruit-flavored sparkling seltzer. And when you make that a hard seltzer... it's easy to understand why we've picked this flavor as one of our absolute favorites of the bunch. The main appeal of the grapefruit flavor is, of course, the acidity. After all, that's generally what we look for when we choose citrus. However, we love that there's also a slight bitterness to this beverage as if you're really drinking freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. Not everyone likes that bitterness, but if you like tearing into an actual grapefruit and tasting that barely-there sweetness and balanced bitterness, there's a great chance you're going to love this flavor.
Out of all the Truly flavors we tried during this experiment, this one is probably the closest to what the fruit actually tastes like. If you're looking for a Truly flavor that tastes as natural as possible, you should opt for the grapefruit every time. Although it may not come in our top spot, we have a soft spot for Grapefruit Truly in our hearts.
1. Passion Fruit
It's not often that you see passion fruit-flavored anything, so we were definitely excited to try this Passion Fruit Truly Hard Seltzer. Blessedly, we were not disappointed. The aroma of this beverage is strong — so strong, in fact, that we were worried that the flavor was going to be too strong and too overwhelming. However, upon the first sip, we realized that wasn't going to be the case. Instead, you're met with a fruitiness that's definitely pronounced but also subtle in its own way.
We love the fact that this flavor is so tart. Unlike many of the fruity flavors on this list, we picked up more brightness than we expected. Therefore, this beverage is supremely refreshing (like many of the citrus flavors) while still offering the kind of fruitiness that makes it super-sippable. And although the grapefruit flavor may have tasted slightly more realistic, the passion fruit is surprisingly spot-on as well. Plus, the fact that it's a relatively unusual flavor makes us love it even more.
Everyone who tries Truly Hard Seltzers is going to have a different favorite flavor, but if you want to set yourself up for success, you've got to get your hands on a can of the passion fruit flavor.