Hibiscus Citrus Hard Seltzer Recipe

Name: Hibiscus Citrus Hard Seltzer Recipe
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 4 Pounds Corn Sugar; 1 Pack Champagne Yeast; 1.5 Ounces Hibiscus Flower; 1 Ounce Lemon Peel; 1 Ounce Tangerine Peel; 5 Teaspoons Yeast Nutrient; 6.7 Grams Chalk ((When using Reverse Osmosis or Distilled)); 1.35 Grams Magnesium Sulfate ((When using Reverse Osmosis or Distilled)); .95 Grams Baking Soda ((When using Reverse Osmosis or Distilled)); .37 Grams Calcium Chloride ((When using Reverse Osmosis or Distilled))

by BottleToBarrel · February 28, 2020

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Hard seltzers are the current hot trend in the craft beer scene right now. They are generally light in calories with less than five percent abv and lightly flavored. White Claw and Truly are the big dogs of the category but you’ve also probably seen them popping up at local breweries.

I was hesitant about trying them but have grown to enjoy one when trying to cut some calories. At the homebrew level, you have two options for making hard seltzers. The first is mixing vodka or Everclear with the appropriate amount of water and carbonate. The second option and the one we’ll be focusing on is brewing a hard seltzer with corn sugar.

The most important part of a hard seltzer is the water. Your tap water will more than likely be fine for drinking but will have noticeable notes that will overpower a hard seltzer’s subtle flavors. Distilled and reverse osmosis are your best bets for a clean profile. You’ll still have to add brewing salts as your yeast won’t work well in mineral-free water though. My preferred water profile is a slight variation for Perrier.

Water Profile:

Calcium: 153.7 ppm
Magnesium: 7.4 ppm
Sodium: 14.4 ppm
Sulfate: 29.2 ppm
Chloride: 9.9 ppm
Bicarbonate: 259.8 ppm

Tasting Notes:

Aside from a good water source, you’ll probably want to flavor your hard seltzer. Lorann oils and Brewer’s Best flavors are quick and easy options that are added when packaging. Unflavored is always an option if you just want spiked sparkling water. My preferred flavoring comes from steeping spices while dissolving your sugar. The recipe below combines hibiscus, tangerine peel and lemon peel. You get plenty of flavor at a little over 100 calories.

The liquid is translucent pink to ruby red with a bit of quick fading foam. The aroma is of cranberry and citrus. Taste is tart cranberry with a crisp citrus finish. Sweetness is low but there is noticeable perceived sweetness.

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