Zima
A discontinued clear malt beverage from the 1990s, occasionally called for in retro cocktail recipes.
Origin
The United States, launched by Coors in 1993 as one of the earliest widely distributed "clear malt beverages," aimed at drinkers wanting a lighter alternative to beer.
History
Coors introduced Zima in 1993 amid the broader early-1990s trend toward clear, lightly flavored malt beverages, marketed as a crisp, citrusy alternative for drinkers who found beer too heavy or bitter but still wanted something carbonated and alcoholic. Despite an aggressive initial marketing push, it developed a reputation (fairly or not) as an easy target for jokes about being a weak or unserious drink, and Coors discontinued it in 2008, though nostalgia eventually drove a brief, limited 2017 revival.
Flavor profile
Light, crisp, and mildly citrusy, with very little of beer's characteristic malt or hop bitterness.
Tasting notes
A clean, lightly sweet, almost soda-like character with faint citrus notes, notably milder and less complex than beer, historically used as an easy, low-commitment mixer or standalone cooler.
Substitutes
- A hard seltzer, for a modern equivalent with a similarly light, clean profile.
- A radler or shandy, for a related citrusy, low-intensity malt beverage substitute.
- Sparkling water with a splash of vodka and lemon-lime soda, as a rough homemade approximation.
