# Next-Gen Hard Sodas Crooked Pop Features Organic Super Dry Alcohol Derived from Ancient Grains By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2026-03-24 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crooked-pop References: [au.finance.yahoo](https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/crooked-pop-launches-era-clean-130000364.html)  Bai founder Ben Weiss is on a mission to disrupt the alcohol category with Crooked Pop, a breakthrough [alcoholic soda brand](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/citrus-hard-soda) offering adults a refreshingly different alternative to formulations packed with artificial junk and hidden additives. With an approach rooted in transparency, clean ingredients, great taste and convenience, cans of ready-to-drink Crooked Pop differentiate themselves as the world's first [USDA](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mighty-pop)-certified organic, zero-sugar, gluten-free, and vegan hard soda. Uniquely, Crooked Pop is powered by Organic Super Dry Alcohol, a [proprietary fermentation innovation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pineapplebased-beverage) derived from ancient grains like quinoa, amaranth, millet, and cassava. This clean, neutral alcohol base excludes the need for distilled spirits, malt brews, or artificial enhancements, and it forms the base of the brand's debut flavors: smooth and nostalgic Orange Cream, sweet and tangy Blackberry, and juicy, citrusy Cherry Lime. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 8.1/10 - Popularity: 89% | Activity: 89% | Freshness: 66% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Ancient-grain Fermentation:** A revival of quinoa, amaranth, millet and cassava as fermentation bases creates opportunities for novel neutral alcohols with distinct sustainability and provenance narratives. - **Clean-label Alcoholic Beverages:** Growing demand for USDA-certified organic, zero-sugar, gluten-free and vegan formulations opens pathways for transparent ingredient stacks that challenge traditional spirit and malt profiles. - **Nostalgic Flavor Revival:** Reimagining childhood soda flavors in adult-ready alcoholic formats presents potential to capture cross-generational appeal while differentiating on taste and emotional resonance. ### Who This Affects Most - **Ready-to-drink Alcoholic Beverages:** The RTD sector can be reshaped by ready-to-drink hard sodas that pair clean ethanol bases with nostalgic flavor profiles and clear labeling standards. - **Ingredient Supply and Fermentation Technology:** Suppliers and biotech firms focused on ancient-grain processing and proprietary fermentation methods stand to influence formulation flexibility and supply-chain transparency. - **Health-focused Food and Beverage CPG:** Consumer packaged goods companies prioritizing organic, low-sugar and allergen-free products may expand into adult beverage lines that align with health and wellness positioning. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Malt-Based Hard Nectars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/malt-based-hard-nectar.md) - [Nostalgic Hard Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/von-dutch-hard-sodas.md) - [Casual Socialization Hard Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/social-pop-hard-soda.md) - [Better-For-You Hard Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/owls-brew-spiked-pop.md) - [Premium Hard Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dirty-pop.md) - [Nostalgic Hard Soda Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spiked-pop.md) - [Sugar-Free Hard Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hard-sodas.md) - [Festive Tequila Soda Packs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/truly-tequila-soda.md) - [Effervescent Hard Citrus Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hard-citrus.md)