Malt liquor is a delicious drink that undergoes a similar production process as your favorite beer. There are endless flavored varieties of this spirit, infused with just about any flavor you can imagine. 

This may sound surprising, but beer producers invented malt liquor. In the America of the 1950s and 1960s, people were mostly drinking spirits, and beers lost their popularity. To stay competitive, brewers found the smart solution of creating a liquor with the same fermentation process as beer. This is how malt liquor came into being.

At first, producers tried to market the new drink to middle-class people, but it didn’t have much success. So they targeted the inner city areas, where the liquor became extremely popular. This unexpected success was probably thanks to the liquor’s higher alcohol by volume (ABV) in comparison with most other popular spirits.

Malt liquor is theoretically an ale, lager or seasonal beer, even if most producers market it as a novelty drink. It undergoes a fermentation process that is almost the same as producers use for beers. However, during the fermentation process of the liquor, they use the yeast is on the bottom of the tank. This technique produces a sweet flavor and high alcohol content.

Varieties of this liquor can feature every infusion you can think of. Most contain fruit aromas: For example, think about the Smirnoff Ice Raspberry. If you’re still unsure which flavor you would like to try, choose variety packs with different options. Of course, there are also unflavored versions, if you’re not too keen on trying the fruity varieties. Whatever the liquor of your choice, it’s best served ice-cold. 

Want to try one of these delicious drinks? Shop Driz or see if we’ve made it to your city. Click these handy links to search for Drizly in your city, and look for liquor stores on Drizly near you.