Surfside Iced Tea & Vodka Starter Pack 12Pk is a 12-can variety pack of vodka-based iced tea ready-to-drink cocktails at 4.5% ABV. Rated 91 points by Tastings.com, Surfside distinguishes itself from malt-based competitors by building each can on a genuine, Philadelphia-distilled vodka foundation.Quick Facts: ABV: 4.5% | Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Style: Vodka-Based RTD Iced Tea | Producer: Stateside BrandsProduction & HeritageStateside Brands operates its own distillery in Philadelphia, where the vodka at the heart of every Surfside can is produced. The spirit is 7x hand-distilled from 100% U.S. corn in a custom copper pot still, then put through a proprietary finishing process involving carbon, oxygen, and ultra-cold filtration steps. This real-vodka base is what separates Surfside from the crowded RTD field — most competing iced tea cocktails rely on neutral grain spirits or malt bases that carry heavier residual flavors, while the Stateside vodka provides a notably cleaner canvas for the tea and sweetener to shine.Tasting NotesAroma: Sweet black tea rises immediately from the can, followed by a light honeyed quality and a faint citrus brightness. The vodka stays almost entirely in the background on the nose, letting the tea character lead.Taste: The entry is clean and tea-forward, with recognizable black tea tannins providing a dry backbone that prevents the sweetness from becoming cloying. Mid-palate delivers a smooth, sweetened iced tea experience where the vodka is barely detectable at 4.5% ABV. The overall impression reads like a well-balanced, lightly sweetened iced tea with a spirit backbone rather than a boozy soda.Finish: Short and crisp, exactly what a sessionable 4.5% ABV canned cocktail should deliver. A mild tea astringency lingers briefly alongside a whisper of citrus, keeping the palate fresh and ready for the next sip.How to Drink Surfside Iced TeaStraight from the can over ice is the most popular serve — the low ABV and balanced sweetness make it a natural grab-and-go option for warm-weather drinking. For those looking to build cocktails from the cans, try an Arnold Palmer Spiked by mixing a can with fresh lemonade for a classic pairing. A Long Island riff substituting a can as the tea component alongside a splash of citrus juice and cola adds an easy twist. You can also pour a can over crushed ice with fresh mint and a squeeze of lemon for a quick Iced Tea Julep variation.Best For Backyard cookouts and poolside gatherings where easy-drinking refreshment matters Introducing vodka-based RTDs to friends who usually reach for malt-based iced teas Beach or boat days when glass bottles are impractical Stocking a cooler for tailgates, campouts, or outdoor concerts Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Surfside Iced Tea taste like? Surfside tastes like a clean, sweetened black iced tea with a smooth vodka backbone — the alcohol is barely detectable at 4.5% ABV, and recognizable tea tannins keep the sweetness balanced.How does Surfside Iced Tea compare to Twisted Tea? The most significant difference is the base: Surfside uses a real 7x-distilled corn vodka, while Twisted Tea is a malt-based beverage. This gives Surfside a noticeably cleaner finish and lighter mouthfeel, without the residual grain character some drinkers associate with malt drinks.Is Surfside Iced Tea good for casual sipping? At 4.5% ABV, it is designed as a sessionable, easy-drinking cocktail that works well straight from the can over ice — no mixing, garnishing, or bartending skills required.Where is Surfside Iced Tea made? Surfside is produced by Stateside Brands at their own distillery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where the vodka base is distilled in-house from 100% U.S. corn.What foods pair well with Surfside Iced Tea? Grilled chicken or pulled pork sandwiches complement the tea's mild sweetness. Fish tacos with citrus slaw mirror the faint citrus brightness in each can. Sharp cheddar cheese provides a savory contrast to the honeyed notes. Lightly seasoned kettle chips or salted pretzels work as simple snack pairings.What sizes does Surfside Iced Tea come in? This Starter Pack contains 12 cans, and individual Surfside products are also available in other multipack configurations.Is Surfside Iced Tea worth the price? Surfside positions as a mid-range RTD cocktail, but its genuine vodka base and 91-point Tastings.com rating place it above many malt-based alternatives in quality, making it a strong value within the premium ready-to-drink segment.Why Surfside Iced Tea?What earns Surfside its following is something most RTD iced teas simply cannot claim: a real vodka base, distilled in-house rather than sourced from an anonymous contract producer. That 7x-distilled, copper-pot-still corn vodka — finished through carbon, oxygen, and ultra-cold filtration — gives these cans a cleaner profile that Tastings.com acknowledged with a 91-point score and Drinkhacker reinforced with a 4.5-star rating. In a category dominated by malt-based alternatives, the Starter Pack lets drinkers taste the difference that an actual distillery-backed spirit makes in a low-ABV, sessionable format.
