Los Angeles-based Calidad Beer, known for its Mexican-inspired lager, launched its first brand extension today: Agua Fresca, a line of hard seltzers.
Agua Fresca – a 5% ABV, 100-calorie, sugar-based hard seltzer, inspired by the popular Mexican non-alcoholic blended fruit beverage of the same name – is available in three flavors: Hibiscus Watermelon, Guava Pineapple and Prickly Pear Pomegranate.
The creation of Calidad’s new offering was spearheaded by former professional baseball player Adrián González, who was named a co-founder of the company in February. González collaborated with flavor specialists from Mexico City who “understood the spirit of agua frescas” and went through “many interactions of each flavor combo,” according to a press release.
“Growing up in Mexico, agua frescas were a staple of daily life and the best way to cool down on a hot summer day,” González said in the release. “While working to identify the next big move for our brand, this classic Mexican beverage instantly came to mind.”
Calidad Agua Fresca is available in a 12 oz. can variety 12-pack, first in California and Arizona, followed by Texas and Colorado. The “most popular flavor” will also be available on draft later this year, according to a Calidad spokesperson.
González and Calidad co-founder and CEO Josh Zad teased the Agua Fresca release to Brewbound in February. At the time, Zad said the line was meant to “respect and honor the heritage and the flavors and the zest of Mexico” through the Calidad lens.
“[Agua Fresca] fits in line with what we’ve always sought out to do, which is not reinvent anything, but just make it a little bit better, a little bit more accessible, and create a brand that people feel like they’ve seen before,” Zad said. “There’s some nostalgia with it.”
Calidad produced nearly 7,500 barrels of beer in 2021, up from 2,500 barrels in 2020. Zad said the brewery is targeting 15,000 barrels in 2022.