Untitled Art Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer 4Pk

Untitled Art Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer 4Pk is a 9% ABV pastry-style hard seltzer brewed with dual-form strawberry and vanilla beans, sold as a four-pack of cans. A collaboration between Wisconsin's Untitled Art and Iowa's Pulpit Rock Brewing, this release marked Untitled Art's first official entry into the pastry seltzer category and holds a strong 4.0 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 2,700 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9%  |  Origin: Waunakee, Wisconsin  |  Style: Imperial Pastry Seltzer  |  Brewery: Untitled Art (collaboration with Pulpit Rock Brewing)

Production & Heritage

Untitled Art operates out of Waunakee, Wisconsin, and has earned a reputation for experimental, boundary-pushing releases that blur the lines between beer, seltzer, and dessert. For this Strawberry Shortcake expression, brewers employed an unusual dual-form fruit approach—incorporating both strawberry purée and strawberry concentrate into the same batch—layered alongside whole vanilla beans. The purée contributes body and a natural fruit texture while the concentrate amplifies sweetness and aromatic intensity, resulting in a seltzer that reads more like a liquid pastry than a conventional hard seltzer. This collaboration with Pulpit Rock Brewing in Iowa brought together two Midwest breweries known for creative, dessert-inspired beverages.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe strawberry jam leads immediately, followed by a wave of vanilla custard and a subtle baked-biscuit sweetness. The nose is generous and dessert-forward without any harsh alcohol presence despite the 9% ABV.

Taste: The entry is bright with concentrated strawberry sweetness that recalls fresh-dipped berries. At mid-palate, vanilla bean warmth emerges and introduces a creamy, almost cake-batter quality. A gentle tartness balances the sweetness, keeping the overall impression closer to sweet-tart candy than cloying syrup—reviewers frequently note that it drinks well below its stated strength.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering strawberry and a soft vanilla fade. The carbonation lifts and cleans the palate, preventing residual heaviness.

How to Drink Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer

Serve ice-cold straight from the can or poured over ice in a tumbler to keep carbonation lively and fruit aromatics at their peak. Its 9% ABV and dessert-forward profile also make it surprisingly versatile in drinks: try it in a Seltzer Spritz topped with a splash of prosecco and fresh strawberry slices for an effervescent brunch pour; blend it into a Frozen Shortcake Slushie with crushed ice and a squeeze of lemon for a warm-weather crowd-pleaser; or use it as a sweet component in a Berry Collins riff, shaking it briefly with gin and lemon juice and straining into a highball for a fruit-forward long drink.

Best For

• Introducing craft-beer drinkers to the pastry seltzer category
• Warm-weather cookouts where higher-ABV refreshment is welcome
• Dessert-course substitutions at casual dinner parties
• Gifting to fans of sweet, fruit-driven beverages looking for something beyond mainstream seltzers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer taste like? It delivers a pronounced ripe-strawberry sweetness balanced by vanilla-bean richness and a sweet-tart edge, reading like a liquid version of its namesake dessert while hiding its 9% ABV remarkably well.

How does Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer compare to Smooj? Both occupy the pastry/smoothie seltzer space, but Untitled Art's version leans more explicitly into a baked-dessert profile with its vanilla-bean addition, while Smooj smoothie seltzers tend toward a thicker, yogurt-like body and tropical fruit leanings. The 9% ABV here also sits higher than many Smooj releases.

Is Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer good for sipping on its own? Absolutely—its balanced sweetness, moderate carbonation, and well-integrated alcohol make it one of the more approachable imperial seltzers to drink straight from the can without any mixer or garnish.

Where is Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer made? It is brewed by Untitled Art at their facility in Waunakee, Wisconsin, in collaboration with Pulpit Rock Brewing based in Decorah, Iowa.

What foods pair well with Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer? Fresh strawberry shortcake or angel food cake mirrors the flavor directly; vanilla bean ice cream echoes the custard notes; a charcuterie board with creamy brie and honeycomb provides a savory-sweet contrast; lemon bars offer a citrus-tart counterpoint; and grilled shrimp with a light glaze balances the sweetness with savory char.

What sizes does Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer come in? It is sold as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard format for Untitled Art's imperial seltzer releases.

Is Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer worth the price? It positions as a premium craft seltzer, priced above mainstream hard seltzers but in line with other small-batch pastry and imperial seltzers; the 9% ABV, dual-form fruit additions, and vanilla-bean infusion justify the step up for drinkers seeking a more complex, dessert-driven experience.

Why Strawberry Shortcake Imperial Seltzer?

What separates this release from the growing field of flavored hard seltzers is its dual-form strawberry technique—using both purée and concentrate of the same fruit to build layered sweetness and body that a single addition cannot achieve. As Untitled Art's debut pastry seltzer, it set a template the brewery has since expanded upon, and a 4.0 Untappd rating across thousands of reviews confirms broad consumer approval. The collaboration with Pulpit Rock Brewing adds a second perspective to the recipe, and the 9% ABV delivers genuine strength without aggressive booziness. For anyone curious about where the craft seltzer category is heading, this Strawberry Shortcake expression remains a benchmark.