Judge’s Seltzer Review: 75 Rating – NÜTRL Cranberry Vodka Seltzer by Anheuser-Busch

Fruited Seltzer | Year-Round | Canada

By Alex Sheftel

Judges Rating: 75
Aroma: 14
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 32
Mouthfeel: 9
Overall Impression: 14

NÜTRL Cranberry Vodka Seltzer by Anheuser-Busch is being evaluated as per The Beer Connoisseur Hard Seltzer Definitions & Judging Guidelines (2022) as a Fruit Seltzer. This is an invitingly fruity and refreshing seltzer with a dash of unnatural sweetness. Note that this is listed as a “vodka seltzer,” in contrast to seltzers from breweries that ferment their seltzers and do not include a distilling process.
Sweet red berry on the nose with some funky estery note that quickly dissipates. The aroma is overpowered by fruit, comprising mostly strawberry and peach with some sweet red grape and moderate cranberry.
Clear pinkish salmon appearance with large soda bubbles that quickly dissipate and do not form any head.
The flavor is moderately sour sweet red grapes developing into cranberry and then a chemical sweetness. Clean fermentation and a slightly sweet finish. Drier than the apple-cranberry version of this series of vodka seltzers.
Medium-to-light body with medium-to-high carbonation and no carbonic bite.
Overall, a clean and refreshing beverage, slightly tarnished by the synthetic, sweet accent that comes in at the end. Although called “cranberry,” the fruit character is mostly other fruit.