What's in a Can of Truly Hard Seltzer?
Truly Hard Seltzer's classic line is made with a few straightforward, gluten-free ingredients designed to create a clean, refreshing taste. The primary components work together to deliver the signature crisp flavor consumers expect. Here is a closer look at the key elements of a standard 12-ounce can:
- Filtered Water: This serves as the foundation for the entire beverage, providing the clear, watery base.
- Alcohol from Fermented Cane Sugar: Unlike beer, which uses fermented malted grains, the alcohol in classic Truly Hard Seltzer comes from fermenting all-natural cane sugar. This process results in a neutral, clean alcohol base that is naturally gluten-free.
- Natural Flavors: The distinct fruity taste of each variety is derived from natural flavorings, sometimes including real fruit juice concentrate.
- Citric Acid and Sodium Citrate: These ingredients are added to adjust the acidity, balance the flavors, and act as preservatives to maintain freshness.
- Carbon Dioxide: This is what provides the signature effervescence and bubbles that define a seltzer.
- Sweeteners: In some varieties, such as the Lemonade and Punch lines, a blend of sugar and artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium are used. Standard varieties typically rely on sugar and natural flavors for sweetness.
The Truly Vodka Soda Ingredient Difference
In 2022, Truly expanded its offerings to include a spirits-based line called Truly Vodka Soda. This product line uses a fundamentally different alcohol base than the classic hard seltzer, making it a canned cocktail rather than a malt-based beverage. The core components include:
- Premium Vodka: The alcohol in this version comes from six-times distilled vodka.
- Real Fruit Juice: Real fruit juice, rather than just concentrates, is used in this lineup to provide a richer, more authentic flavor profile.
- Natural Flavors: Like its hard seltzer counterpart, natural flavors are still used to enhance the overall taste.
A Nutritional and Flavor Comparison
Understanding the ingredients is only part of the picture; comparing the nutritional information and flavor profiles offers a more complete view. The two main product lines have subtle but important differences.
| Feature | Truly Hard Seltzer | Truly Vodka Soda |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Source | Fermented cane sugar | 6x distilled vodka |
| Calories (12oz can) | 100 calories | 110 calories |
| Sugar (12oz can) | 1 gram | 2 grams |
| Carbohydrates (12oz can) | 2 grams | 3–4 grams |
| Flavor Profile | Crisp, light, and clean | Fuller, richer, and more cocktail-like |
| Sweeteners | Sugar, sometimes with sucralose and acesulfame potassium depending on the variety | Sugar and natural flavors |
The Brewing Process: From Cane Sugar to Seltzer
The production of Truly Hard Seltzer is similar to brewing beer but with a key difference in the fermentable sugar source. Here’s a simplified breakdown of how the classic hard seltzer is made:
- Preparation: Filtered water and cane sugar are mixed to create a “sugar wash”.
- Fermentation: Yeast is added to the sugar wash. The yeast consumes the sugar and converts it into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
- Filtration and Clarification: The newly created alcoholic liquid is filtered multiple times to remove impurities and create a clear, neutral base.
- Flavoring and Carbonation: Natural fruit flavors and concentrated juice are added, along with citric acid and sodium citrate. Finally, carbon dioxide is injected to create the signature bubbles.
For the Truly Vodka Soda line, the process is different. The premium distilled vodka is simply blended with filtered water, real fruit juice, and natural flavors to create a pre-mixed cocktail.
Conclusion
Understanding what do Trulys have in them reveals a simple yet deliberate ingredient list tailored to create specific flavor experiences. For the original Hard Seltzer, the recipe relies on filtered water, fermented cane sugar alcohol, and natural flavors, resulting in a low-calorie, gluten-free beverage. The Vodka Soda line, on the other hand, is a pre-mixed cocktail featuring six-times distilled vodka and real fruit juice, creating a slightly different nutritional profile. Whether seeking a light, crisp hard seltzer or a richer, spirit-based canned cocktail, Truly’s transparency about its ingredients allows consumers to choose the option that best fits their dietary preferences and flavor cravings.
What do Trulys have in them? A quick list
- Classic Truly Hard Seltzer: Filtered water, alcohol from fermented cane sugar, natural fruit flavors, and a hint of fruit juice concentrate.
- Truly Vodka Soda: Premium 6x distilled vodka, real fruit juice, natural flavors, and carbonated water.
- Low Calories: A standard 12oz can of classic Truly has 100 calories, while the Vodka Soda version has 110 calories.
- Gluten-Free: All Truly hard seltzers and vodka sodas are naturally gluten-free.
- Sweeteners: While standard varieties use natural flavorings, some lines like the Punch and Lemonade varieties include additional sweeteners.
