Surfside Iced Tea & Vodka Starter Pack 8Pk is a non-carbonated ready-to-drink variety pack made with real brewed tea and Stateside Vodka at 4.5% ABV. The Surfside line earned a Gold Medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, establishing it as a serious player in the booming RTD category built on genuine ingredients rather than malt-based shortcuts. Quick Facts: ABV: 4.5% | Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Style: Vodka-Based RTD Iced Tea | Distillery: Stateside Urbancraft Vodka Production & Heritage Surfside is produced by the team behind Stateside Vodka, a Philadelphia-based brand that built its reputation on a clean, grain-forward spirit. The base vodka is distilled seven times from 100% GMO-free Missouri corn and run through a proprietary freeze-filtration system that chills the spirit to sub-zero temperatures before blending. Unlike the majority of hard iced teas on the market — which rely on malt liquor bases and artificial tea flavorings — Surfside uses real brewed black tea, real juice, and no carbonation, resulting in a drink that genuinely resembles a glass of iced tea. The liquid is finished with a unique blend of electrolytes, and contains zero bubbles. Tasting Notes Aroma: Authentic brewed black tea leads, with subtle tannic depth and a hint of natural sweetness. There is no artificial or syrupy character on the nose — it reads clean and tea-forward. Taste: The entry is crisp and refreshing, with convincing black tea flavor that carries subtle astringency and natural tannins through the mid-palate. Sweetness is well-tempered and never cloying, allowing the tea character to remain the focal point. The vodka base is virtually transparent, contributing body without harshness. Finish: Clean and brisk with no artificial aftertaste. The tea's natural tannins linger briefly, leaving a dry, refreshing close that invites another sip. How to Drink Surfside Iced Tea Straight from the can over ice is the ideal serve — the still, non-carbonated format makes it drink exactly like a cold glass of iced tea on a hot day. For those looking to mix things up: a Long Island riff works well by combining a can with a splash of fresh lemon juice and a half-ounce of triple sec over crushed ice. A Spiked Arnold Palmer pairs a can with fresh-squeezed lemonade and a lemon wheel for an effortless summer drink. A Peach Tea Punch blends two cans with peach nectar and fresh mint for a crowd-ready pitcher serve. Best For Beach days, pool parties, and warm-weather outdoor gatherings Introducing friends to the Surfside lineup with a multi-flavor sampler Stocking a cooler for tailgates or barbecues where convenience matters Drinkers seeking a cleaner, vodka-based alternative to malt-based hard teas Frequently Asked Questions What does Surfside Iced Tea taste like? Surfside tastes like genuine brewed black iced tea with balanced sweetness and subtle tannins, backed by a clean vodka base that stays in the background. There is no carbonation and no artificial aftertaste. How does Surfside Iced Tea compare to Twisted Tea? Twisted Tea uses a malt liquor base and carbonation, while Surfside is built on seven-times-distilled corn vodka and is completely still. Reviewers consistently note that Surfside delivers a more authentic, less cloying tea flavor with a cleaner finish than Twisted Tea. Is Surfside Iced Tea good for beginners? At just 4.5% ABV with a smooth, familiar iced tea profile, Surfside is exceptionally approachable for anyone new to ready-to-drink cocktails or spirit-based beverages. Where is Surfside Iced Tea made? Surfside is produced in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the makers of Stateside Vodka. The base spirit is distilled from GMO-free corn sourced from Missouri. What foods pair well with Surfside Iced Tea? Grilled chicken or pulled pork sandwiches complement the tea's tannins nicely. Fried seafood like shrimp or fish tacos match the drink's crispness. Light salads with citrus vinaigrette echo its refreshing profile, and spicy dishes like Nashville hot chicken benefit from the tea's cooling, slightly sweet character. What sizes does Surfside Iced Tea come in? The Starter Pack is available as an 8-pack of cans, and individual Surfside flavors are also sold in single-serve and smaller multi-pack formats. Is the Surfside Starter Pack worth the price? The Starter Pack positions as a premium entry-level RTD offering, priced competitively within the hard iced tea category but delivering meaningfully better ingredients — real vodka, real tea, no carbonation — than most malt-based competitors at similar price points. Why Surfside Iced Tea? The hard iced tea category is crowded with malt-based products leaning on artificial flavoring and heavy carbonation. Surfside takes a fundamentally different approach: real brewed tea, a seven-times-distilled corn vodka base, freeze filtration, and zero bubbles. That commitment to genuine ingredients earned it a Gold Medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a Brewbound Rising Star Award the same year. For anyone who has been disappointed by hard teas that taste more like flavored seltzer than actual iced tea, the Starter Pack is the most direct way to experience what a vodka-based, still, real-tea RTD can deliver.
