Astoria’s Reach Break Brewing has launched a line of hard seltzers with natural fruit flavors as a lower-alcohol beer alternative.
Founder and head brewer Josh Allison says his Beachcraft seltzers will be available in 16-ounce cans this summer – in time for beach outings, barbecues and respites on the trails.
The seltzers are brewed in fermentation tanks like beer, taking up to two months per batch, but the base is corn with a white wine yeast. They emerge bubbly, crisp and dry – foggy with an enticing fruit aroma and flavor.
Allison knew he had something special when he offered experimental seltzers in his Duane Street taproom and people couldn’t get enough.
Reach Break is the only brewery in Astoria to make its own seltzer and have it available on tap. (In the region, Public Coast Brewing Co. in Cannon Beach also makes fruit-flavored hard seltzer).
Allison is currently delivering kegs to bars and restaurants but hopes canning will enable him to distribute throughout much of Oregon, including the Portland metro area.
“It’s been a lot of fun getting to this point,” he says with a smile.
Flavors range from lemon with a hint of vanilla and summer favorite watermelon, to more exotic combinations, including raspberry/lime/tangerine and passionfruit/guava/orange. Allison, who is constantly experimenting, is open to suggestions.
For more about Allison and Beachcraft, read this month’s Thirsty Growler column in The Astorian.
