Zima
Zima is a clear, carbonated malt beverage first released by Coors in 1993. Despite being brewed from malted barley like beer, it's filtered and treated to remove color and most of the malt flavor, leaving a light, citrusy, slightly sweet drink around 4.7% ABV. It was discontinued in 2008, briefly brought back as a limited release in 2017, and is not in regular year-round production, so availability is inconsistent depending on region and season.
Varieties
Zima Cranberry, released as a limited flavor variant, adds cranberry juice for a tart, pink-tinted version rather than the fully clear original formula.
Buying tips
Because Zima isn't in continuous wide distribution, check specialty liquor stores or online retailers rather than assuming a standard grocery store will stock it; availability tends to spike around nostalgia-driven promotional releases.
Substitutes
Mike's Hard Lemonade (original) — 1:1
Similar sweetness and carbonation level, though it has more lemonade flavor and a slightly yellow tint rather than being fully clear.
White Claw or another hard seltzer — 1:1
Lower sugar and lighter citrus flavor than Zima, but matches the clear appearance and easy-drinking carbonation closely.
Vodka, lemon-lime soda, and club soda mixed 1:2:2 — 1:1 by total volume
A homemade approximation. Combine 1 part vodka with 2 parts lemon-lime soda and 2 parts club soda over ice to mimic Zima's ABV and citrus fizz.
Smirnoff Ice — 1:1
Sweeter and more citrus-forward than Zima with a similar clear color, works well in the same serving contexts.
Storage
Store unopened bottles or cans upright in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight; refrigeration isn't required until ready to drink. Once opened, carbonation drops quickly, so finish an open bottle within a few hours and keep any leftover portion capped and chilled if saved briefly.
How to use
Serve ice cold, straight from the bottle or over ice in a chilled glass. It's also used as a mixer base in place of lemon-lime soda or seltzer in cocktails calling for a lightly alcoholic, citrusy, carbonated component, since adding it already contributes alcohol content on top of flavor.
What it pairs with
Works well alongside citrus-forward snacks like lime-dusted chips or ceviche, and pairs naturally with backyard barbecue foods where a light, sweet, low-intensity drink suits grilled meats and corn.
Nutrition
A standard 12-ounce bottle has around 150 calories and roughly 21 grams of carbohydrates, most of it from sugar, with about 4.7% alcohol by volume.
FAQ
Is Zima beer or a cocktail?
It's technically a malt beverage, brewed from barley malt like beer, but it's filtered and processed to strip out color and most malt flavor, so it drinks more like a soda-based cocktail than a beer.
Why is Zima clear instead of golden like beer?
The brewing process runs the malt liquor through a charcoal filtration step that removes color compounds and much of the malty taste, leaving a clear base that's then flavored with citrus.
Can Zima go flat if stored too long?
Yes. Unopened bottles typically stay carbonated for many months when stored cool and out of light, but carbonation and flavor both fade noticeably within a year or two past the printed date.
Is Zima the same thing as a hard seltzer?
They're similar in clarity and lightness, but Zima has more sugar and a stronger citrus-soda flavor profile, while most hard seltzers are lower in sugar with a more neutral, fizzy-water base.