Detroit's Atwater Brewery is joining the fast-growing hard seltzer market by launching its own line of spiked sparkling waters this week.

The brewer hopes to carve out market share as the local option for the 5 percent alcohol beverages as national players dominate across the U.S.

"We've been working on this for about eight months," said Mark Rieth, Atwater's owner and CEO. "I've never seen anything like it in my 20 years of business in this industry, something like this come in and completely dominate so fast."

Sales of the fizzy water beverages skyrocketed this year to roughly $550 million and could grow to a market size of $2.5 billion by 2021, according to analysis by investment and financial services firm UBS Group.

White Claw, the hard seltzer brand owned by Mark Anthony Brands, dominates the market with a 50 percent market share. The Mark Anthony Group also owns the Mike's Hard Lemonade brand. The Boston Beer Co., otherwise known as Samuel Adams, is the other major player with its Truly line of hard seltzers.

Comstock Park-based Perrin Brewing Co. , owned by Colorado's Oskar Blues, launched its Clear Cost hard seltzer brand earlier this year. Grand Rapids Brewing Co. also released its own line in June.

Rieth called hard seltzers a "lifestyle choice" as more drinkers are looking for low-calorie, low-carbohydrate choices. Atwater Seltzers have 100 calories for a 12-ounce can.

Atwater will distribute 12 packs of 12-ounce cans to local retailers this weekend, including Southeast Michigan Meijer stores. The seltzers will come in three flavors — mango, cherry and lime — and retail for $14.99.

The brewer is producing an initial run of 7,500 cases for the local market with plans to expand beyond that depending on the drinks' success, Rieth said.

The entry into seltzers was a low hurdle as the process is similar to brewing beer, required no additional equipment investments and uses the fruit Atwater already uses in its beer. The seltzers are brewed at its Jos. Campau location on Detroit's riverfront and at its contract brewer, Brew Detroit.

While Atwater's beer is distributed in 15 states, Rieth doesn't anticipate the seltzer line expanding beyond regional distribution any time soon. The more regional effort is in line with Atwater's renewed strategy. Only a few years ago, the brewer had plans to expand distribution and brewing operations to several states including North Carolina and Texas. It ultimately abandoned that effort to improve margins, Rieth said.

"We pulled out of some markets because there's so much competition," he said. "We regrouped locally. Ultimately, we're more profitable: in fewer states, but selling more product."

Atwater will launch its seltzer product line at an event at 5 p.m. Thursday at its Jos. Campau taproom and brew house.