New nonalcoholic craft seltzer promotes a more inclusive drinking environment

GARDNER —  Moon Hill Brewing Co. does not promote drinking and driving unless you're drinking a can of their new "serious" seltzer, Dry Water.

Inspired by Dry January, the trendy social media New Year's resolution and public health campaign, Moon Hill, located in the Gardner Ale House, has crafted the non-alcoholic seltzer beverage to take the pressure off of social drinking.

"Being in the drinking business, it happens every January that we lament that people choose not to drink and people call it Dry January," Rick Walton, the owner of the brewery, said. "Sales dip a little bit because of the New Year's resolution which is not bad but we wanted create an option that people could celebrate dry January with or anytime when you want to kind of like get off the booze."

In early February the brewery released Dry Water, which has been a local hit. In the past six months, Moon Hill and Gardner Ale House have seen a fast growth in customer interest and the beverage has become quite popular.

Walton describes the Dry Water as a "serious" flavored drink with a hops taste that will appeal to beer and ale drinkers. Unlike many seltzers, Dry Water does not have the sweet fruity taste that most popular seltzers have.

"We came up with the name Dry Water, which is just a funny riff on dry January," Walton said. "It's a seltzer that has a hops taste and it's got a little bit of citrus in it to give it a little zing and it's enjoyable to drink, it's refreshing and it's not sweet."

Dry Water is available at Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St. The drink comes in a pack of four 16-ounce cans for $8. Walton said Dry Water is also sold at a few liquor stores in Gardner but advised customers to come to the Ale House as it is always in stock.

"The fizz is a huge part of it, because flat water is boring but this seltzer just has a zing to it especially when you throw hops in it," Walton said. "I just hope people will be able to choose a nonalcoholic drink whenever they feel like they shouldn't be drinking. It's just it's another choice for them."

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Dry Water from Moon Hill Brewery newest nonalcoholic seltzer Gardner