INTRO:
Solo is a soft drink from my childhood. And now it’s a hard seltzer. I first heard of it at the start of Spring. It’s certainly very enticing. The thought of a childhood favourite now with an alcoholic twist. Solo is a thirst crusher, great on a scorching Australian summers’ day. With a tag line “Light on the fizz, so you can slam it down fast” it lives up to that motto even today.

The addition of alcohol elevates it to an adult drink, and something that could challenge lawnmower beers.

How did I go about making it? Well firstly I made a hard seltzer from inverted sugar. Why inverted sugar? Because inverted sugar is easier for yeast to consume. It is more fermentable and leaves fewer off flavours. Also I find sugar washes leave a slightly sweet flavour even when they ferment dry.

After fermenting the sugar I syphoned it into a keg and force carbonated it at 1ºC. Then I placed 50mL of Solo Soda Stream syrup into a 500mL can, topped it up with the hard seltzer, sealed it and left it for 24 hours to combine.