We Tried Lightstrike, the New Boozy Hydration Drink

There’s something counterintuitive about an alcoholic hydration drink. Alcohol is notorious for being a dehydrating agent. So would a hydration drink that’s 5% ABV (much like a beer) just cancel itself out? Are these new Lightstrike drinks bonkers or brilliant?  

Either way, I can’t pretend it’s the most novel idea. People have been mixing Gatorade with vodka for generations. One time I broke my Blackberry Pearl by accidentally dropping it into a cup full of grape Gatorade and vodka. Anyway, back to Lightstrike. These alcoholic hydration drinks from New Belgium Brewing (of Fat Tire fame) come in plastic bottles like hydration drinks. They contain coconut water and sea salt, and they’re fizz free, unlike so many other boozified bevs, like hard teas and hard lemonades. I have a strong hunch the concept will catch on (who doesn’t like feeling like they’re doing something good for themselves when they’re doing something a little bit bad for themselves?)—but do they taste good? We tried these new Lightstrike drinks in two flavors to find out.

New Product!

Lightstrike Lemon Lime

Albertsons

Pros: This Lightstrike drink really does taste like a hydration drink, albeit with the slight wheaty flavor of grain alcohol dwelling in the background of the flavor profile. As my colleague Justine Sterling put it, the lemon lime flavor has that “watered-down Jell-o mix thing” going on. If your favorite Gatorade flavor to mix with vodka or everclear is the classic lemon lime, you just might like this. The subtle salinity makes sense in a lime-y drink.
Cons: This Lightstrike flavor smells really bad. This is very specific, but it smells like a salon in the ‘80s when someone is getting a perm. It’s also quite bitter on the finish, and has a bathroom cleanser sort of vibe that lemon lime drinks can have here and there.

Credit: Liv Averett / Lightstrike

Rating:

6/10

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New Product!

Lightstrike Orange Mango

Albertsons

Pros: I like this Lightstrike drink much better than the Lemon Lime. It’s a pretty generic “tropical orange” sort of flavor, but the mango does make an impression. It has a creamy, cooked quality rather than a raw mango sharpness. In general, the flavors blend nicely with the coconut water in the mix. This is a pretty chuggable drink.

Cons: I drank a whole 16.9 oz bottle because I was curious whether the 5% ABV would give me a buzz and it did not. It’s about the same ABV as a beer, but if you have any tolerance whatsoever, you’ll have to drink a couple to feel anything—and I’m honestly not even sure you’re supposed to drink more than one hydration drink in one sitting. If you’re a lightweight (no shade), this might be perfect, though! 

Credit: Liv Averett / Lightstrike

Rating:

7.5/10

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