Cheers to Chilling Out: Here Are Houston’s Newest Hard Seltzers

Cheers to Chilling Out: Here Are Houston’s Newest Hard Seltzers

Mom Water, new to the Houston market

FOR THE SECOND installment of our Chill Out series (our first was on ice cream, in case you missed it), we are popping the top on refreshing hard seltzers and spritzers because, well, it’s August. From ranch water to tongue-tingling spritzers and Mom-approved vodka cocktails perfect for the pool, we say, yes we can!


That's Tight

Watertight Cocktail Co.'s new canned drinks (photo courtesy of Dani Parsons)

The founders of Houston’s Yellow Rose Distilling and Austin’s Revolver Brewing have cracked open a cool new collab. Watertight Cocktail Co.’s agave-sweetened canned cocktails launched exclusively in Texas this spring, and will soon go national. Each drink is 130 calories with 6 percent ABV. Try sipping the Beach Margarita, Guava Paloma and Mango Sipper to make August a bit more bearable.

Europe in a Can!

Bright, eye-catching and eco-friendly Lila offers gently sparkling wine in varietals including French rosé, Italian pinot grigio, and Italian sparkling frizzante made with prosecco. The latter is full of refreshing citrus and tropical fruit aromas, mixed with a hint of honeysuckle and juicy nectarine. All wines contain zero added sugar and are low in calories and carbs.

Oh Yes, on Sundays We Brunch

Ohza, “the original canned mimosa,” is an impressive line of sparkling canned wines created for brunch wherever you may wander. Think instant mango mimosas, grapefruit mimosa, fizzy red sangria, fizzy white sangria, and classic bellinis, for the beach, the lake house, the back yard, that outdoor concert or pool party. Note: Classic Bellini was the best we tried due to its true peach and prosecco flavors. Happy Sunday Funday!

This One Is So Cliché

Cliché is a wine-based seltzer for wine lovers seeking a more elevated seltzer option. The new brand is being launched in Houston, Austin and Dallas. Unlike malt-based seltzers, Cliché stars California white wine, sparkling water, and meticulously sourced natural flavors. Renowned Napa winemakers Dave Phinney (creator of the wine brands The Prisoner, Orin Swift and Locations) and Joe Wagner are the team behind the brand. Cliché is available in two flavors: lemon with blueberry and Mirabelle plum and hibiscus.

Roseade Is Summer Aid

She’s svelte, lemony and bubbling with rosé. Roseade spritzer is packaged in (cute!) slim pink cans that are easy to pack, and its flavors of rosé and tart lemonade are spot-on fresh sans the canned taste. To cool down fast, try it over ice. Its four-pack box makes a fun hostess gift!

Karbach Goes Ranch

Texas-based Karbach Brewing Co. is on the hunt for a Karbach Ranch Water Wanderer to celebrate the expansion of its Ranch Water Hard Seltzer, an iconic, refreshing Texas beverage that recently debuted. The official Karbach Ranch Water Wanderer will win $10K to travel across Texas and the Southwest spreading the word about the Ranch Water and encouraging folks to do some exploring in their own region. Ice down some Ranch Water and prepare for a thirst-quenching bubbly drink much like beer, but lighter with a hint of lime.

Be a Cool Mom

Mom Water is a ready-to-drink cocktail made with lightly fruit-infused vodka and water. Unlike many hard seltzers, it has zero carbonation, zero sugar and zero carbs, and weighs in at just 90 calories per can. After enjoying a similar drink on vacation and not finding anything else on the market like it, founder (and mom!) Jill Morrison left her lifelong career in healthcare to bring her new drink to life. With several flavors with girl names like Julie, Sandy and Karen, Mom Water is rapidly expanding across the U.S. and just launched in Texas. Find it at major retailers.

Food

Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Frann Lichtenstein, Monica Hartland, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell

IN WHAT HAS been described as a friend-raiser — as opposed to a fundraiser, since the intimate group of VIP guests weren’t asked to pay to be there — Children’s Memorial Hermann took over a big swath of Memorial Park’s verdant, still new Clay Family Eastern Glades for an over-the-top evening promoting the hospital’s mission and its “world-class orchestra of pediatric specialists,” per a rep. Dubbed Faire la Fête, the fabulous to-do boasted French theme.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties

Aylsworth's interactive installation at Inman Gallery

ON VIEW THROUGH Jan. 13, 2024 at Inman Gallery is Houston artist David Aylsworth’s Something Nice With Swans. It’s a charming, sublime exhibit of Aylsworth’s instantly recognizable abstract oil on canvas paintings, complemented by an installation of domestic objects and tchotchkes pulled from his studio, including a rocking chair, art books, vinyl records, and a working record player with speakers. This cozy nook is filled with clues to the origins of Alysworth’s mysterious shapes and unique combinations of colors and allows visitors to relax, put on a record, and perhaps see his paintings with fresh eyes.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment