Polar Seltzer’s Summer 2018 Flavors Have Arrived

Polar Seltzer’s summer 2018 flavors are here and ready to party. / Photo by Madeline Bilis

In between pollen-induced sneezes, perhaps you’ve noticed that Polar Seltzer has introduced its latest lineup of seasonal seltzer flavors.

The 2018 summer series—in Polarland, summer begins May 1—brings back two former favorites: last summer’s raspberry rosé, and cucumber melon, which was first introduced (with an old-style label) in 2013. Three new flavors are, to quote Polar directly, “the tarty-licious Pineapple Lemon Twist, the delightfully bright Mango Cherry Bliss, and the seriously refreshing Blueberry Tangerine.”

We just found one-liter bottles of all five varieties for sale at a convenience store in the Symphony neighborhood this week, but Polar will also debut them in sleek, 12-ounce cans, a new packaging format for the Worcester bubblemakers.

The summer seasonals arrive on the heels of three, new permanent additions to the lineup of lemonade-bolstered Seltzer’ade flavors, as well as the debut of Pineapple Pomelo, a year-round seltzer flavor.

And they also join Polar Seltzer’s first foray into craft beer. You heard us.

Image provided by UFO Beer

UFO, the fruity hefeweizen-focused brand made at Boston’s Harpoon Brewery, just announced an unfiltered wheat beer “brewed with the essence of Polar Blueberry Lemonade.” UFO Blueberry Lemonade is officially launching in six-pack, 12-ounce cans in the coming days, per a press release, and will be available “for a berry limited time.”

Who’s to say these new sips are the final fizzy surprises of the season? Last July, half-pint cans of flavors Unicorn Kisses, Mermaid Songs, Dragon Whispers, and Yeti Mischief appeared as if by magic. Those whimsical drinks made such fun summer cocktails, we hope to see them return.

In the meantime, these summer flavors give us plenty to sip on (and we haven’t even tried the beer yet). As is tradition here at Boston, we gathered a group of thirsty editorial staffers to try them out, and here we share our extremely thoughtful and scientific flavor analysis.

Raspberry Rosé

Smell:

• Skittles.
• Cherry cough syrup.
• It smells like Gatorade, but the sugar-free [kind].
• I get a lot of fake raspberry scent—that juicy Lip Smackers [flavor].
• It’s totally freeze-pop.

Taste:

• It smells more than it tastes like anything.
• The taste is kind of floral.
• Sort of like the lemonade ones [Seltzer’ade], [I think the rosé flavor adds] another level to it.
• Raspberry Crystal Light.
• Bubble Tape. It tastes like the powder on the Bubble Tape.
• It reminds me of my aunt and uncle’s raspberry soap they had in their bathroom for years and years. Not in a bad way.

Cucumber Melon

“I want that [as] wallpaper in my bedroom. Whoever’s doing their labels, major props to them.”

Smell:

• Very melony.
• This is like, EXTRA Jolly Rancher.
• Richie’s Watermelon Italian Ice.

Taste:

• I think it’s delightful.
• It tastes like real cucumber.
• This does not taste like Bath & Body Works to me. I’m shocked, really.
• The taste is so different from the smell.
• Super fresh, green.
• I could drink this all day.
• I like this way more than I thought I would.
• It really doesn’t taste like watermelon.
• It tastes like drinking salad.

Pineapple Lemon Twist

Smell:

• We’re definitely back in Gummy Bear territory.
• Jamba Juice.
• Malibu Rum.

Taste:

• I get a lot of lemon.
• Lysol. Pinesol. Cleaning products.
• Again, nothing like it smells like.

Blueberry Tangerine

Smell:

• Something from the dentist’s office. Like, laughing gas. Fluoride. Fruity floss?
• Smarties.
• Baby aspirin on the nose.

Taste:

• Fruity Pebbles! Yes.
• I like it. Not overpowering.
• It’s really citrusy, and the blueberry is more on the end. It’s subtle.

“Are we all a fan of this one?” Nodding. “Wow! Consensus.”

Mango Cherry Bliss

“What does ‘bliss’ taste like?”

Smell:

• Whoa.
• It smells like a beach party. I see beach balls bouncing…
• Ooh wow. The pink medicine [Penicillin].

Taste:

• Exactly! It does smell like Penicillin. I think it tastes like it. I can’t.
• No, no, no, straight pink medicine.
• I like it. Tastes like Tropicana Twister.
• Whoa. Whoa. It’s really intense.
• Definitely too much cherry for my taste. The cherry, like, coats my tongue.
• Too much bliss.