Originally published at https://www.cityofvista.com on July 20, 2021.
Local Craft Beverage Community is all the Buzz
Alcoholic seltzers are now a multibillion-dollar industry, with over $4.5 billion in sales in 2020. This is a major increase from an industry that had $39 million in sales in 2017.
The popularity of hard seltzer drinks has generated a plethora of craft hard seltzer start ups across the country; even big name alcohol companies are getting in the game.
One new startup in Vista, Kookslams Hard Seltzer, not only hopes to get a piece of the national market, but also plans to add to the City’s award-winning craft beverage and food community.
“We chose Vista because we wanted to be in an up and coming city while also being close to the Kookslams Hard Seltzer community,” said Co-Founder Tyler Branch. “Our hope is for Kookslams Hard Seltzer to bring something totally different and unique to the beverage and food community. Ultimately we’re just trying to have fun with it and do what we’re passionate about.”
Kookslams’ entrance into the hard seltzer market is the result of about a year’s worth of brand and product development between Branch and his two partners - brother Scott and Luke Becklund. The startup currently sells its hard seltzer online and via local delivery, with a plan to open its Vista tasting room and distribution facility by the end of August. The trio also brews their hard seltzer in the Vista facility.
“We hope our hard seltzer stands apart both in taste and unique flavor,” Branch said. “Our product is a 6- or 12-variety pack with Pineapple Mango, Blood Orange, and Passionfruit Orange Guava as the flavors. Our tasting room will have lots of crazy flavors and off the wall tasting experiences we’re currently working on. We’re really excited for that.”
Kookslams Hard Seltzer originated from a popular Instagram account created by Branch and his partners called Kookslams, whose funny videos have kept its 1.6 million+ followers laughing for the past few years - from shorebreak wipeouts to wakeboard mishaps.
With backgrounds in web development, brand development, brewing, alcohol sales, photography, and art direction, the trio - all of whom grew up surfing in SoCal - decided to launch their own hard seltzer company this year, playing off the Instagram name.
“We’re really big on branding,” Branch said. “We’re kids that grew up on the beach and so we stay true to those roots as the creators of Kookslams.”
Kookslams Hard Seltzer - whose tagline is “Brewed with Poseidon’s Tears” - is sure to make a splash with fellow surfers and the like, with fun names such as Party Wave, Over the Falls, and Rest in Beach. The brand also includes creative and fun descriptions such as, “ Our POG flavor will propel you and your squad on an expedition to Flavortown, USA. Combining passionfruit, orange, and guava brings you the party wave that lasts forever.”
As for its new Vista “shredquarters,” the folks at Kookslams are sure to live up to their hard seltzer mantra, “No sugar, no shoes, no shirt, no problem.”
“We’re stoked to be in Vista,” Branch said. “Everybody in the City has been super cool and supportive. We’re going to be partnering with the Vista Chamber of Commerce, which we are also excited about.”
Kookslams Hard Seltzer is one of dozens of craft beverage companies, distilleries and wineries in Vista - which also boasts the most breweries per capita than any other US city.
“Kookslams perfectly complements Vista’s thriving craft culture and cadre of entrepreneurs who have settled into our City for its laid-back, yet business-friendly vibe,” said Vista Mayor Judy Ritter. “We look forward to helping to grow these important economic engines in our community.”