Popsicle Hard Variety 12Pk

Popsicle Hard Variety 12Pk is a 12-pack of non-carbonated flavored malt beverages at 5% ABV, featuring Cherry, Orange, and Grape in 12-ounce cans. This variety pack — four cans of each flavor — stands apart from hard seltzers and spirit-based RTDs by delivering a completely still, fizz-free drinking experience modeled after the iconic frozen treat.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5%  |  Origin: United States  |  Style: Flavored Malt Beverage (FMB)  |  Producer: Tilray Brands (under license)

Production & Heritage

Popsicle Hard is produced by Tilray Brands through a licensing agreement with Magnum Ice Cream Company, which was spun out from Unilever. Classified as a flavored malt beverage, it uses a malt base with natural flavors — no fruit juice — to recreate the signature taste profiles of classic Popsicle ice pops. The deliberately non-carbonated format is the defining production choice: unlike hard seltzers, these cans contain no carbonation whatsoever, producing a smooth, flat liquid that more closely mimics the melting-ice-pop sensation the brand is chasing.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Each flavor leads with its namesake fruit character — bright maraschino cherry, zesty orange citrus, and ripe Concord grape. There is a faint underlying sweetness from the malt base across all three.

Taste: The entry is immediately sweet, with 25 grams of sugar per 12-ounce can driving a candy-like intensity. Cherry delivers a bold red fruit punch; Orange leans into citrus peel brightness with a creamy undertone; Grape channels deep, juicy grape soda territory. A recognizable malt liquor backbone sits beneath the fruit flavors, distinguishing these from spirit-based RTDs.

Finish: Short to medium, with lingering sweetness and a slight malty warmth. The absence of carbonation means the finish feels smooth and coating rather than crisp or dry.

How to Drink Popsicle Hard

Serve ice-cold straight from the can or poured over crushed ice for the closest approximation of a melted popsicle experience. The non-carbonated, sweet profile also makes these useful as mixer components:

• Frozen Slushie: Blend a can with ice for a boozy frozen pop recreation that amplifies the nostalgic appeal.
• Hard Grape Spritz: Top the Grape variety with prosecco or club soda to add effervescence and cut the sweetness.
• Cherry Limeade Punch: Combine the Cherry variety with fresh lime juice and a splash of vodka for a party-ready punch bowl serve.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues and pool parties where sessionable, low-ABV drinks keep the day going
• Adult gatherings built around nostalgic or throwback themes
• Introducing non-beer drinkers to flavored malt beverages with approachable, familiar flavors
• Hot-weather occasions where carbonation feels too heavy or filling

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Popsicle Hard taste like? Each flavor tastes like a sweet, fruit-forward recreation of a melted Popsicle ice pop, with a noticeable malt beverage backbone and no carbonation. The cherry, orange, and grape profiles are candy-like and sugar-forward at 25 grams per can.

How does Popsicle Hard compare to Surfside? Surfside uses a vodka base, which produces a crisper, subtly bitter profile closer to a mixed cocktail, while Popsicle Hard relies on a malt base that reads sweeter and lacks that spirit-driven bite. Popsicle Hard is also non-carbonated, whereas many Surfside offerings carry light carbonation.

Is Popsicle Hard good for cocktails? Its high sugar content and bold fruit flavors make it a workable mixer when blended with ice into frozen drinks or balanced with citrus juice, though its malt base and sweetness mean it functions differently than a spirit-based ingredient.

Where is Popsicle Hard made? Popsicle Hard is produced in the United States by Tilray Brands under a licensing agreement with Magnum Ice Cream Company, the current holder of the Popsicle brand after its spin-off from Unilever.

What foods pair well with Popsicle Hard? Grilled hot dogs and burgers mirror the summertime nostalgia factor. Spicy wings benefit from the sweetness cutting the heat. Fresh fruit platters complement the candy-fruit profile. Salted pretzels or chips provide a savory contrast to the sugar-forward character. Key lime pie or lemon bars echo the dessert-like sweetness.

What sizes does Popsicle Hard come in? The variety 12-pack contains twelve 12-ounce cans — four each of Hard Cherry, Hard Orange, and Hard Grape.

Is Popsicle Hard worth the price? Popsicle Hard positions as an entry-level flavored malt beverage competing in the broad sessionable RTD market; its value proposition rests largely on brand nostalgia and the unique non-carbonated format rather than premium ingredients or craft production.

Why Popsicle Hard?

The non-carbonated format is the single biggest differentiator in a canned alcohol market dominated by fizz. Where hard seltzers and sparkling RTDs rely on carbonation for mouthfeel, Popsicle Hard bets on a smooth, still liquid that genuinely mimics a melted frozen treat. The licensed Popsicle brand identity gives it instant recognition that no startup beverage label can replicate. For drinkers who find carbonation bloating or simply want a different textural experience at 5% ABV, this variety pack delivers three distinct fruit flavors in a format that has no direct analogue on the shelf.