Who Makes Kirkland Hard Seltzer? (Quality, Review + More)

Lindsey, do you know who makes Kirkland hard Seltzer? This is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered.

Kirkland Hard Seltzer made waves in 2020 when it hit Costco warehouses across the United States. If you’ve purchased this Seltzer in the two years or so since it’s been available and is curious how Costco created such a delicious drink, we’ve got you covered!

Kirkland Hard Seltzer is likely made by Patco Brands from their production facility in Hood River, Oregon! Just as other Kirkland alcoholic beverages are made through strategic partnerships, Costco repeated this process with their new hard seltzer. And perhaps unsurprisingly, it was a hit!

In this article, we will describe the Kirkland hard seltzer currently sold through Costco as well as some information on Patco Brands.

Table of Contents

What Kind Of Hard Seltzer Does Costco Sell?

Costco’s private label Kirkland hit the nail on its head once again with their new hard seltzer they introduced in the fall of 2020. Kirkland hard seltzer comes in a 24-pack variety of grapefruit, black cherry, lime, and mango.

The 24-pack is sold for only $17.99, fairly close to the price of a 12-pack of Whiteclaw or Trulys. This makes the Kirkland brand a stiff competitor against these big brands. Each 12oz can contain 5% alcohol and only 100 calories.

The alcohol base in the Kirkland hard seltzer is fermented sugar, which means it is technically considered a beer. It also includes carbonated water, cane sugar, and natural flavors.

The flavor profile of Kirkland hard seltzer is similar to the Mystic Reef hard seltzer sold at Target. In fact, the variety pack of Mystic Reef contains the same flavors as the Kirkland pack.

Is Kirkland Hard Seltzer Good?

While this may be obvious to point out, Kirkland Seltzer is a fan-favorite among Costco shoppers. Many white claw fans claim it is comparable, some claim it is even better, and the lower price point certainly doesn’t hurt.

The black cherry flavor is slightly tart and acidic, the lime is zesty and refreshing, the grapefruit is a mixture of ruby and classic rolled into one, and the mango is full-bodied and acidic. The variety pack is sure to have at least one flavor anyone will enjoy, as long as you are a fan of hard seltzers.

A marker of how much Costco members enjoy Kirkland’s seltzer is how often it will sell out! Although most members report that their local Costco currently has their hard seltzer in stock, you will have to check with your nearest store for availability.

Does Patco Brands Make Kirkland Hard Seltzer?

Unfortunately for us, Costco has not explicitly confirmed their partnership with Patco brands like they have with their beer. It is well known that Kirkland beer is brewed by Hopfen Und Malz Brewing Company, but the maker of their seltzer remains a speculation.

Many believe that the hard seltzer is made by Patco Brands simply because of the correlation between Target’s Mystic Reef hard seltzer variety pack and Kirkland’s hard seltzer variety pack.

Both brands include the same ingredients and same flavor profile.

Where Is Patco Brands Located?

Patco Brands actually has a few different distribution centers across the United States, including:

Oregon,
Nevada,
Texas,
Wisconsin,
Florida, and
Mexico.

Many speculate that the hard seltzer sold under the Kirkland Signature brand is made in their Hood River, Oregon facility.

Why Doesn’t Costco Make Their Hard Seltzer In-House?

If you’re surprised that Costco doesn’t manufacture their Kirkland hard seltzer we have some news for you! Costco actually doesn’t manufacture any of their Kirkland Signature products.

When you think of this logistically it makes a lot of sense. Costco would be unable to produce the wide variety of items they sell under their private label. They sell everything from baby formula to shampoo, and the likelihood of owning facilities able to produce these goods is not high.

Costco does what other major corporations do and partner with other name-brands to produce their products for them. Since they have such high-sales under the Kirkland brand they are often able to negotiate deals with the name-brand companies to make them unique products.

All Costco has to do when they receive the products is package them with Kirkland Signature labeling and put them out for sale!

It would also be difficult for Costco to develop their own recipes and professionals to manufacture these products.

It makes much more sense for them to purchase from companies already established in the fields they want to excel in.

And so the partnership between Patco and Costco was born, so they could make their own mark in the booming hard seltzer market.

Conclusion

Although Costco hasn’t confirmed their partnership with Patco brands as they have with some of their other brands, it is still likely that their Kirkland hard seltzer is made by Patco.

Costco tends not to confirm partnerships when it comes to their Kirkland Signature products as a way to maintain anonymity and avoid any negative connotations that other brands may carry.

This also allows their products to stand-out alone and not just because of their association with another popular brand.

However, due to the similarities between Mystic River hard seltzer sold at Target and the Kirkland hard seltzer, many believe Patco Brands to be the manufacturer. It is no secret that Patco Brands makes Mystic River, in fact it is even listed on their website.

When comparing the two types of seltzers there are just too many similarities for it to be a coincidence, and many customers feel the same way.

If you’re not concerned with the gray area around the Kirkland hard seltzer manufacturer you should go pick some up at your nearest Costco before they sell out again!

References

https://www.bartendingbarista.com/kirkland-hard-seltzer/

https://patcobrands.com/our-brands/mystic-reef-hard-seltzers/