Hard Seltzer, Iced Tea, Kombucha, and Cider

Introduction

Even now, after more than fifteen years of doing homebrewing and fermentation projects, I still feel like the transformation of relatively bland sugary liquids into tasty, effervescent, boozy beverages is pure magic. It’s even more amazing that you can do this right in your own kitchen with minimal equipment and just a handful of ingredients. There is no greater satisfaction than popping the cap off a bottle of something you made yourself, hearing that happy pffft! of carbonation, and taking your first sip.

The fact that you are holding this book in your hands and reading these words tells me that this magic, this amazement, and this satisfaction are all things that you crave for yourself. Welcome!

With the right equipment and a basic understanding of fermentation, you can absolutely make your own homemade hard seltzers, hard iced teas, hard kombuchas, and hard ciders at home. And I’m not talking about sketchy stuff brewed in a bathtub that tastes like nail polish remover. I’m talking about real, honest-to-goodness, flavor-packed drinks that taste just as good—if not better—than what you can buy at the store.

Are you ready? Let’s do this!