What is White Claw?
You may have seen more and more people drinking White Claw at parties and picnics or heard about it in conversations, TV ads or online. But what is White Claw? White Claw is a widely popular brand of hard seltzer that contains alcohol. White Claw is essentially spiked sparkling water with 5% ABV. The alcohol in White Claw comes from fermented sugar cane used as the drink’s base. White Claw also contains added fruit flavoring to offer a variety of flavor options.
White Claw is a particularly popular drink among consumers under 30. The drink’s rise to the top of bubbly beverages has been fueled in part by social media posts and internet memes that glamorize the brand, according to an article in The Los Angeles Times. White Claw was first introduced in 2016 and gained popularity over the last five years as other hard seltzers like Truly, Smirnoff Sparkling Seltzer, and Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer try to compete in the expanding market.
White Claw is typically sold in 12oz aluminum cans and is available for those over the age of 21 to purchase wherever beer or wine is sold in the U.S.
As always, Seltzer Nation provides the most thorough, in-depth White Claw reviews anywhere.
Who owns White Claw?
Mark Anthony Brands International, a privately held company based in Dublin, Ireland, is the business behind White Claw. The company is also widely known as the owner of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, and it launched its White Claw Hard Seltzer brand in 2016.
The owner is Anthony von Mandl. He began his career after he graduated college in the 1970s by running a wine business from the back of his car in Canada, according to an article by Mashed. Mandl is now worth about $3.4 billion and continues to operate wineries alongside his more commercial beverage brands.
The Mark Anthony Brands website describes Mark Anthony Brands International as, “…unapologetically fast paced, entrepreneurial, and results driven.”
The website further states, “Each team member has the ability to make an impact on a business that is building a lasting legacy in the alcohol beverage industry. Our people have a relentless drive to always raise the bar, a genuine entrepreneurial spirit, a passion and love for what we do, to all act like owners, and to constantly innovate. We act with a sense of urgency, do everything possible to always over-deliver and treat each other with humility and authenticity. We are curious, take risks and are always seeking new ways to learn because that’s what drives innovation.”
What alcohol is in White Claw?
Though many people believe that White Claw contains vodka, the alcohol in White Claw actually comes from fermented cane sugar. Other varieties of spiked seltzers contain either fermented cane sugar or fermented malt to achieve an alcohol content.
Since White Claw does not contain vodka, it is sold and taxed in the U.S. like domestic beer or wine. Typically, beer gets taxed at a lower rate than liquor spirits, so White Claw is often priced similarly to domestic beer.
Compared to one vodka soda, hard seltzer contains much less alcohol per serving. While White Claw contains 5% ABV, the average vodka spirit contains 40% ABV. That means you would need to use a one to seven vodka/water ratio to mix a cocktail that is about as strong as one serving of hard seltzer.
What is White Claw made from?
Though many people believe that White Claw contains vodka, the alcohol in White Claw actually comes from fermented cane sugar. Other varieties of spiked seltzers contain either fermented cane sugar or fermented malt to achieve an alcohol content.
Since White Claw does not contain vodka, it is sold and taxed in the U.S. like domestic beer or wine. Typically, beer gets taxed at a lower rate than liquor spirits, so White Claw is often priced similarly to domestic beer.
Compared to one vodka soda, hard seltzer contains much less alcohol per serving. While White Claw contains 5% ABV, the average vodka spirit contains 40% ABV. That means you would need to use a one to seven vodka/water ratio to mix a cocktail that is about as strong as one serving of hard seltzer.
Who makes White Claw?
Mark Anthony Brands International makes White Claw Hard Seltzer. Mark Anthony Brands International is based in Dublin, Ireland. White Claw beverages are produced in a number of production facilities located around the U.S., including Glendale, Arizona, and New Jersey. The company also announced plans in late 2020 to open a $400 million production facility in Columbia, South Carolina.
How much is a 6 pack of White Claw?
A six-pack of White Claw ranges from $8 – $11, depending on where it is sold. Six-packs of White Claw contain only one flavor.
How much is a 12 pack of White Claw?
A 12-pack of White Claw ranges in price from $14 – $21, depending on where it is sold. A 12-pack of White Claw can contain one flavor or three cans of four flavors, which is referred to as a variety pack.
There are two types of 12-can variety packs of White Claw available. One variety pack contains the flavors Natural Lime, Raspberry, Ruby Grapefruit, and Black Cherry. The other variety pack contains Tangerine, Lemon, Watermelon, and Mango.
How much is a case of White Claw?
A case of White Claw, or 24 cans, is usually around $30, though they are difficult to find in stores, with 6-packs and 12-packs the more popular options available for casual consumers.
Where to buy White Claw?
You can purchase White Claw at any store that also sells beer. That will depend on what state you are purchasing in. Some states allow beer and wine sales at grocery stores and pharmacies, while other states only allow alcohol sales through liquor stores. Since White Claw has a low ABV compared to other cocktail beverages, it is often sold alongside beer at the store. You can also buy White Claw through alcohol delivery services such as Drizly.
There have been instances in recent years when high consumer demand led to nationwide White Claw product shortages. Just ahead of summer 2019, now known by many as, “White Claw Summer,” sales of White Claw skyrocketed as the weather warmed up. As a result, the company rationed its remaining White Claw supply, using a strategy referred to as allocation. The company limited the supply of White Claw so it could continue offering White Claw in all of its markets, despite the overall shortage, according to a report by CNN.
White Claw will occasionally sell out in stores when demand is extra high but the company has said it was adding additional production facilities in 2020 to produce more White Claw and keep supplies stable.
What does White Claw taste like?
Popular White Claw flavors include: Black Cherry, Mango, Natural Lime, Ruby Grapefruit, Raspberry, Watermelon, Lemon, and Tangerine.
White Claw flavors are sold separately or combined in 12 can variety packs of four flavors. White Claw Flavor Collection No. 1 includes Black Cherry, Natural Lime, Ruby Grapefruit, and Raspberry. White Claw Flavor Collection No. 2 includes Mango, Watermelon, Lemon, and Tangerine.
White Claw’s lower-calorie sibling, White Claw 70, comes in two flavors: Pineapple and Clementine.
A review of hard seltzers published in the Chicago Tribune stated, “White Claw has earned its status as the industry leader; flavors are crisp and tidy… (White Claw Flavors) are well constructed and reasonably authentic. They’re bold and juicy, and though sometimes skewing a bit sweet, exist in a broader context where carbonation is threaded into a clean finish that honors the ‘seltzer’ part of the equation.”
To learn more about what White Claw tastes like, you can read reviews and get White Claw ratings for various flavors right here at Seltzer Nation.
How many calories are in White Claw?
Like most other brands of hard seltzer, White Claw is low calorie and low sugar. The White Claw calories for a 12oz can are 100, while the same can only contains 2g of sugar. This is only for the 12oz can, as the White Claw calories for a 16oz can of regular White Claw is 160 and the calories for a 16oz can of White Claw Surge are 220. White Claw Surge also contains more alcohol, coming in at 8% ABV, but still only contains 2g of sugar per can.
Is there gluten in White Claw?
White Claw Hard Seltzers do not contain gluten. White Claw contains seltzer water, grain-free alcohol, and fruit flavoring.
White Claw’s website states the beverage is, “Serving as a step away from high-sugar sodas and mixers, White Claw is a shift into a lighter, all-natural, better-for-you alcoholic beverage – defining a whole new category for those who want to enjoy life and have fun while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”
Although White Claw often gets compared to beer, it has a different brewing process that does not include ingredients that contain gluten. Beer is brewed from cereal grains, while White Claw Hard Seltzer has a base of pure cane sugar. To see which flavor is right for you, always consult our Seltzer Nation White Claw hard seltzer reviews and ratings.
