New line of Quirk Hard Teas are good, but nothing worth getting twisted

Courtesy Boulevard Brewing

Just in time for warmer weather—and the inevitable desire to sip something cold while pretending to be outdoorsy—Boulevard Brewing has dropped a new collection: Quirk Hard Teas.

The lineup includes four new tea-infused flavors: raspberry, pomegranate, peach, and lemonade. Quirk Hard Tea is infused with green tea, while many hard teas are made with black tea.

The most successful flavor of the pack was the Raspberry Tea. It wasn’t stomach-ache-inducingly sweet and balanced the raspberry flavor well while still leaving room for the green tea. It was a good balance of fruity and refreshing.

The pomegranate tea, on the other hand, was… extremely similar. So similar, in fact, that for a brief moment, I was gaslit into thinking there wasn’t a difference between the two. The pomegranate was a touch more tart, but it still danced along the same line of sweet and fruity.

I dread a peach-flavored drink. The flavor is usually painfully artificial and sweet—a recipe for a stomach ache. However, I think this peach flavor might have worked, and only because the green tea flavor was there to mellow out the sweet peach flavor.

Courtesy Boulevard Brewing

The lemonade tea probably falls as my least favorite of the lineup. To be fair, the whole lemonade/tea combo has never been my jam. I find the combo to never be not quite sweet enough, not quite sour enough, and often leaves me wondering what the point is. That being said, the green tea base was still present and consistent, which was a nice touch. Boulevard usually does a good job at infusing bold flavors into their Quirk lineup, and these are no exception.

I can’t help but wish Boulevard had taken a bigger risk with their flavor choices. It’s the same old fruity suspects that most brands lean on. I was hoping for something a little more…dare I say quirky. Maybe a passionfruit or orange flavor? A simple, straight-up green tea flavor could have also been a nice option.

Each can is 100 calories and contains 6 grams of sugar, so it’s a nice treat if you’re looking to keep things light. In fact, I’m already picturing these as a go-to lake day drink. They’re only 4% ABV, so you can sip without worrying about crashing before dinner. And the light carbonation won’t make my stomach want to stage a rebellion while I’m frolicking around and swimming.

Overall, the new Quirk Hard Teas lineup from Boulevard Brewing is a refreshing option for those looking to enjoy a lighter alternative to the typical hard seltzers and beers. While the flavors are solid, there’s room for more experimentation. But if you’re just looking for something crisp, easy to drink, and perfect for a sunny day, these teas hit the spot.