Mike’s Hard Lemonade, ah yes, the adult version of lemonade! It’s sweet, refreshing, and is offered in a variety of flavors, but is Mike’s Hard Lemonade gluten-free?
Mike’s Hard Lemonade is gluten-free. It contains no wheat, rye, or barley ingredients, and is made with naturally gluten-free ingredients, so it is an acceptable beverage for those with celiac disease, or gluten intolerance to consume. Other gluten-free alternatives include High Noon Sun Sips Pineapple, Rogue Spirits Cranberry Elderflower Vodka Soda, and Bon V!v Clementine Hibiscus Spiked Seltzer.
When it comes to being able to enjoy a hard beverage, Mike’s Hard Lemonade combines the always tasty flavor of lemonade with other fruits. In this article, we’ll take a look at these flavors, the ingredients and nutrition facts for Mike’s Hard Lemonade, as well as some of the healthier alternative brands of hard lemonade.
Contents
About Mike’s Hard Lemonade
Mike’s Hard Lemonade was first introduced in the States on April Fool’s Day, 1999, in Boston. It is considered one of the first “Ready-to-Drink” beverages, and provides a variety of flavors with an equal alcohol content to beer. According to their parent company, The Mark Anthony Group, Mike’s Hard Lemonade was created as a beer alternative because “25% of men didn’t particularly want to drink beer, but couldn’t be seen holding anything else in their hands.”
Flavors of Mike’s Hard Lemonade
Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer Lemon
Ingredients:
- Purified carbonated water
- Alcohol
- Natural flavors
- CItric acid
- Cane sugar
- Concentrated lemon juice
- Sodium citrate
- Stevia leaf extract
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 90 mg – Sodium
- 1 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 1 g – Total Sugars
- Includes 1g Added Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer Strawberry
Ingredients:
- Purified carbonated water
- Alcohol
- Natural flavors
- CItric acid
- Cane sugar
- Concentrated lemon juice
- Sodium citrate
- Stevia leaf extract
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 90 mg – Sodium
- 1 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 1 g – Total Sugars
- Includes 1g Added Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer Mango
Ingredients:
- Purified carbonated water
- Alcohol
- Natural flavors
- CItric acid
- Cane sugar
- Concentrated lemon juice
- Sodium citrate
- Stevia leaf extract
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 90 mg – Sodium
- 1 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 1 g – Total Sugars
- Includes 1g Added Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer Pineapple
Ingredients:
- Purified carbonated water
- Alcohol
- Natural flavors
- Citric acid
- Cane sugar
- Concentrated lemon juice
- Sodium citrate
- Stevia leaf extract
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 90 mg – Sodium
- 1 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 1 g – Total Sugars
- Includes 1g Added Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Questionable Ingredients
There are some questionable ingredients in the flavors of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, with the exception of the Lemon variety, since it actually contains lemon juice. Out of the other three flavors–strawberry, mango, and pineapple–none of them actually have within the list of ingredients these flavors. “Natural flavors” is listed, but this is a broad category. Many of the food and beverage manufacturers use chemically-created flavorings to “naturally flavor” their brands, without including any of the actual flavor from the fruit.
Another questionable ingredient is the stevia leaf extract. The green stevia leaf is from the Stevia Rebaudiana plant, and is completely natural. However, with the way it is treated by the beverage manufacturers, it is chemically processed and sometimes has a lot of additives put with it, which can make it an unhealthy ingredient.
Considering these different ingredients, and their negative health concerns, let’s take a look at some of the alternative, more healthy brands of flavored seltzers.
Alternatives to Mike’s Hard Lemonade
High Noon Sun Sips
The High Noon brand of hard seltzer is made with real vodka, fruit juices, and sparkling water. It is low in calories, has zero added sugar, and is gluten-free. The use of real vodka is a plus, considering that the alcohol in many other hard seltzers comes from distilled spirits, fermented cane sugar, or brewed malt. The vodka used for High Noon Sun Sips has been distilled five times for a much smoother beverage.
High Noon Sun Sips Pineapple
Ingredients:
- Sparkling Water
- Vodka
- Juice
- Natural Flavors
- Citric Acid
- Potassium Citrate
- Potassium Sorbate
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 mg – Sodium
- 2.9 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 2.9 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
High Noon Sun Sips Mango
Ingredients:
- Sparkling Water
- Vodka
- Juice
- Natural Flavors
- Citric Acid
- Potassium Citrate
- Potassium Sorbate
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 mg – Sodium
- 2.6 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 2.6 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
High Noon Sun Sips Grapefruit
Ingredients:
- Sparkling Water
- Vodka
- Juice
- Natural Flavors
- Citric Acid
- Potassium Citrate
- Potassium Sorbate
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 mg – Sodium
- 2.6 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 2.6 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
High Noon Sun Sips Peach
Ingredients:
- Sparkling Water
- Vodka
- Juice
- Natural Flavors
- Citric Acid
- Potassium Citrate
- Potassium Sorbate
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 mg – Sodium
- 2.3 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 2.3 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Rogue Spirits
The Rogue Spirits brand of canned cocktails are made with 100% natural ingredients, are 7.5 alcohol by volume (ABV), and gluten-free. The base of their cocktails is also vodka, their own brand, Bayfront, which is pot distilled in small batches. An award-winning liquor, it makes for a smooth base to their sparkling cocktails.
Cranberry Elderflower Vodka Soda
Ingredients:
- Rogue Spirits Bayfront Vodka
- Cranberry
- Elderflower
- Lime
- Raw cane sugar
- Sparkling water
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 180 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 mg – Sodium
- 10 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 10 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Grapefruit Vodka Soda
Ingredients:
- Rogue Spirits Bayfront Vodka
- Grapefruit
- Elderflower
- Raw cane sugar
- Sparkling water
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 190 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 mg – Sodium
- 11 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 11 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Ginger Lime Vodka Mule
Ingredients:
- Rogue Spirits Bayfront Vodka
- Ginger
- Lime
- Raw cane sugar
- Sparkling water
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 180 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 mg – Sodium
- 10 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 10 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Lemonade Iced Tea Vodka
Ingredients:
- Rogue Spirits Bayfront Vodka
- Meyer Lemon
- Darjeeling Black Tea
- Raw cane sugar
- Sparkling water
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 180 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 mg – Sodium
- 10 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 10 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Bon V!v Spiked Seltzer
Containing no barley or wheat, the Bon V!V brand of spiked seltzer is totally gluten-free, low calories, and has zero added sugars.
Pear Elderflower Spiked Seltzer
Ingredients:
- Purified Water
- Cold-Fermented Corn Syrup
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Citrate
- Malted Rice
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 90 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 45 mg – Sodium
- 1 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Clementine Hibiscus Spiked Seltzer
Ingredients:
- Purified Water
- Cold-Fermented Corn Syrup
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Citrate
- Malted Rice
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 90 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 45 mg – Sodium
- 1 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Raspberry Dragonfruit Spiked Seltzer
Ingredients:
- Purified Water
- Cold-Fermented Corn Syrup
- Natural Flavors
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Citrate
- Malted Rice
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 90 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 45 mg – Sodium
- 1 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Coconut Pineapple Spiked Seltzer
Ingredients:
- Purified Water
- Cold-Fermented Corn Syrup
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Citrate
- Malted Rice
Nutrition facts (per 12 oz serving):
- 90 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 45 mg – Sodium
- 1 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Total Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Final Thoughts
Mike’s Hard Lemonade is one of the most popular brands of hard seltzer. The company focuses on a small number of brands so they can provide quality products and a return-on-investment for their investors. They opt for innovation and connecting with consumers, in an industry where beer is rapidly falling to the bottom of the market. Using their neutral malt-based technology, they make a clean-base alcoholic beverage, using real lemon extract and fruit flavors, to create different variations of the classic lemonade drink. Mike’s Hard Lemonade is a gluten-free beverage, but using stevia leaf extract and the “natural flavorings,” there are alternative brands which are healthier for you.
Related Questions
Is Mike’s Hard Lemonade vegan?
Mike’s Hard Lemonade is not certified vegan, but their products are not made with any animal by-products.
What alcohol is added to Mike’s Hard Lemonade?
The alcohol used in Mike’s Hard Lemonade is ethanol. The alcohol is produced by a process that is crafted to remove gluten, and the beverages contain this seal. The process for this removes gluten to less than 5 parts per million.
Is Mike’s Hard Lemonade bad for you?
According to the website for Mike’s Hard Lemonade, their products contain 5% alcohol by volume. In moderation, while not a healthy beverage containing any nutrients, the product can safely be consumed. However, drinking alcohol in excess amounts can cause short and long-term harm.