Happy Dad’s Quest to Rule the Seltzer World

Hold onto your cans because Happy Dad’s ambition is fizzing like a shaken hard seltzer. With their eyes set on the seltzer crown, they’re aiming to soar into the top three hard seltzer brands in the U.S. It’s a tall order, but if their rise so far is any indication, they might just be guzzling their way to the top (watch out, White Claw). What’s behind this beverage cultural phenomenon? We decided to dive into the history of Happy Dad Hard Seltzer to understand why these drinks are so popular.

Happy Dad’s Rise from YouTube Pranksters

Happy Dad Hard Seltzer is on a mission to convert beer drinkers to seltzer enthusiasts. But in the case of Happy Dad, it’s not just a mission. It’s an explosive transformation, driven by founders John and Sam Shahidi, Kyle Forgeard, and the Nelk Boys YouTube prank channel. The “About Us” page of the Happy Dad website summarizes it: “Happy Dad is an easy-to-drink hard seltzer with low carbonation, simple and refreshing flavors with no strange aftertaste. Happy Dad is enjoyed out of a regular can because we are tired of the skinny can bullsh*t.”

Image Source: Happy Dad Hard Seltzer Instagram

Billing itself as a masculine counterpart to the female-led hard seltzer craze, Nelk announced Happy Dad on its YouTube channel with a video that now has nearly six million views. In the video, the Nelk team designs the brand on the can and does “shot-gun” taste tests. Happy Dad’s rise was characterized by impactful in-store events that attracted large crowds. Beyond events, bars and stores rushed to stock their shelves with Happy Dad’s unique seltzers. From Happy Dad’s introduction in 2021 to becoming a buzzworthy brand with a net worth of $250 million, it’s a tale of a seltzer that not only sizzles but sparkles (with low carbonation) on the path to victory.

Happy Dad Celebrity Collabs

Image Source: Adage

Perhaps due in part to the fact that Happy Dad Hard Seltzer comes from celebrity founders, a number of celebrities have promoted the brand. Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, and Post Malone have all raised a can of Happy Dad. The brand also collaborated with comedian Druski and UFC sensation “Sugar” Sean O’Malley. Happy Dad’s unquestionable crowning achievement, however, had to be its collaboration with Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records—yes, you read that right. Happy Dad’s cracked open a grape-infused sensation in partnership with the cultural icons Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records. The announcement of the collaboration came just before the brand unwittingly got wrapped up in the Bud Light Controversy.

Happy Dad’s Accidental Controversy

In early 2023, beer brand Bud Light embroiled itself in controversy when it collaborated with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Rockstar Kid Rock called for a boycott of the beer brand, sharing a video of himself shooting cases of Bud Light with a rifle. Less than a week later, the singer posted a photo of himself on Instagram promoting Happy Dad. Perhaps unbeknownst to the rockstar, trans celebrity Caitlyn Jenner had shared promotional content for the hard seltzer on her Instagram. From quite literally obliterating Bud Light beer to embracing Happy Dad seltzer, it’s a head-spinning contradiction that pulled Happy Dad Hard Seltzer into a controversy that was dominating national headlines.

Fizzing to New Heights

As the fizz-tastic journey of Happy Dad Hard Seltzer unfolds, it’s clear that these YouTube creators turned beverage-moguls are on a sparkling mission that’s changing the way we raise our cans. From controversies to collaborations, triumphs to challenges, they’re leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of seltzer stardom. Happy Dad is available in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C.

Want to find your perfect hard seltzer or canned cocktail? Try our Seltzer Finder! You can search by flavor, ABV, carbs, and more to discover your ideal beverage.