Quote:
Originally Posted by that_pope
Does it really have vodka? I'm never sure how those malt beverages are given their alcohol.
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As with Smirnoff Ice, Mike's hard Lemonade in Canada and Europe is actually a premixed vodka drink or alcapop.
In America, these drinks start out as un-hopped beers, depending on the state in which they are sold. Much of the malt (and alcohol) is removed (leaving mostly water), with subsequent addition of alcohol (usually vodka or grain alcohol), sugar, coloring and flavoring.
The reason the recipe is slightly different in the US and labeled as a 'malt beverage' is so that it can be classified as a 'beer' which then means they can sell it in gas stations and other stores that are not licensed to sell spirits.