Call them “malternatives.” Call them “alcopops.” Call them “Zimalikes.” Call them “advertised incessantly, trying to get name and label recognition for their hard-liquor brethren, but not selling very well regardless.”
I’m one of the few people I know who actually drinks Zima on occasion — though it’s not, frankly, something I buy when I’m at a bar or restaurant. If we have it stocked and available at a party, we might get one person in thirty trying one (and usually another person or two saying, “Hey, I’ve never had one of those; can I have a sip?”).
Still, I find it interesting that, after almost a decade of Zima’s flat sales, every other brewery and distillery seems to be launching their own malt beverage label.
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You know, I noticed that myself. I think part of the reason for the Zimalikes is because of the hard lemonades and hard teas that are out there.
My preference is hard cider, which is a bitch to find here, alas. I even prefer it on tap if the place has it, which is rare. But I’ll do a Mike’s Hard Lemonade if I’m not in the mood for wine (and if the place has it).
There are some good hard ciders out there, but, yeah, they’re not easy to find. I like Mike’s Hard Lemonade as a “alcopop” type drink (though their Hard Ice Tea is abominable), and try to keep a few in the fridge at home.
And I think that’s one of the things this story doesn’t really talk about — what people buy (and drink) at home, vs. bars and restaurants and clubs. I suspect the malternatives are going to do far better in home sales than in night spots.
Yes, I think the hard teas (and I’ve tried Mike’s and BoDean’s) are abominable.
My favorite hard ciders are by Woodchuck, which has great line which includes Amber (hee), Dark & Dry, Granny Smith, and Pear.
Ciderjack is acceptable if there is nothing else, but too sweet for me once I discovered Woodchuck. Though I do love their seasonal cranberry cider.
Cranberry is a fine flavor for a lot of ciders and beers. A hint of sweet, a hint of fruit, but tartness, too. I usually find cranberry beers and ciders (whether its a flavoring or fermented) to be quite tasty.
As for teas — I keep my own fixin’s for real Long Island Ice Teas on hand, thankyouverymuch.