Summer is right around the corner and people are hitting Austin lakes and trails daily. Whether you prefer exploring Austin on land or water, hydration is vital to staying outdoors and healthy. So grab some of these local canned beverages to keep you hydrated, while you get all outdoorsy and stuff!
These refreshing drinks are featured for their flavor, portability, and ease of use. Each one comes in packaging that’s safe for the trail or the lake.
My friends call me hydration queen. I’m always either hydrating myself or mother-henning them into drinking more refreshing drinks. Here are my favorites!
Note: Some of these brands provided complimentary product for me to test for the purposes of this article.
Drinks With a Kick
Some of us prefer to hydrate with something ripe with flavor. These Austin-based drink options give you anything but boring choices.
1/ Greenbelt Kombucha
Kombucha is all the rage in Austin since it fits into our healthy lifestyles. Greenbelt Kombucha is fast becoming my favorite for a few reasons. It comes in cans, so it’s easy to throw in your Yeti cooler for the day’s adventures.
Greenbelt Kombucha comes in four delicious flavors:
- Peach Blossom White Tea
- Blood Orange Yerba Mate
- Hibiscus Berry Black Tea
- Strawberry Fields Rooibos Tea
I like them all, but the Peach Blossom White Tea and Hibiscus Berry top the list.
One thing I’ve noticed about kombucha is the sugar content varies a lot. Greenbelt Kombucha boasts the lowest sugar content among local options. It doesn’t add any sugar after fermentation. It’s also vegan and non-GMO.
2/ CLEAN Cause Yerba Mate
CLEAN Cause Yerba Mate hit the Austin scene with a refreshing drink for a great cause. This sparkling yerba mate drink, sweetened with organic cane sugar and stevia, comes in four flavors:
- Peach
- Lemon-lime
- Blackberry
- Raspberry
Founder Wes Hurt fought drug addiction and opted for recovery. Once clean, he decided to do something to help others with their recovery efforts. CLEAN Cause donates 50 percent of profits to Sober Living Scholarships. These are 30-day scholarships in high-accountability homes that help people re-integrate into society and get settled into sober living.
You can see CLEAN Cause drinks all over Austin, as people grab a can and opt outside.
➡️ Keep reading: CLEAN Cause: Fighting Addiction With Sparkling Yerba Mate
3/ Shade Tree Lemonade
Shade Tree Lemonade began in 2002 as a freshly-squeezed lemonade stand of sorts, hydrating music festival attendees in person. The demand grew and Shade Tree started bottling its lemonade.
Shade Tree Lemonade comes in original, blueberry, and strawberry flavors. What I like about Shade Tree is its tartness. It’s refreshing and reminds me of my childhood, but with less sugar. It’s lovely for a day at the lake.
All Hail the Mighty Hydrator: Water
Water is the ultimate hydrator. Looking for a local sparkling or still water option to take wherever you roam? These Austin brands have got you, boo.
4/ Rambler Sparkling Water
Here’s a nice choice for those who prefer non-flavored sparkling water. Rambler Sparkling Water sources its water locally and sustainably. The business uses a limestone filtration process and selectively re-mineralizes the water, for the desired taste and health benefits.
Inspired by the many swimming holes across Texas, the Rambler website states, “Rambler was inspired by the Texas road trips that defined our childhoods.”
Rambler earns bonus points by donating to Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation and its conservation efforts.
5/ Waterloo Sparkling Water
Waterloo Sparkling Water has an array of delicious flavors with no added sugar, sweeteners, or synthetic ingredients. This canned drink is every bit as effervescent as that big name brand, and the flavors come from fruit essences and oils.
By now, most people have picked a favorite flavor. I’m partial to the black cherry and grapefruit. You can also choose watermelon, coconut, lime, lemon, mango, grape, or original. The cans are also BPA-free.
Waterloo uses reverse-osmosis purified water. It’s verified non-GMO, kosher, and gluten-free. The Austin-based company took the motto “Go big or go home” to heart with national distribution.
6/ Richard’s Rainwater
Richard’s Rainwater, as the name suggests, comes from real rainwater, captured in Dripping Springs before it hits the ground. The water is triple-filtered, treated with ultraviolet light, and then put through reverse osmosis. The result is as clean a water as you can find anywhere.
Richard’s Rainwater comes in both still and sparkling varieties, although only the still water comes in plastic bottles that are safe for outdoor activities. The sparkling comes in glass bottles, so try that one at home or a restaurant.
I have to give Richard’s a shout-out for jumping in during the boil-water notification in Austin last year. The local business donated and delivered water to local hospitals, animal shelters, and elementary schools. It also supports Turk and Christy Pipkin’s wonderful nonprofit, The Nobelity Project. We love that.
7/ Big Swig Sparkling Water
Big Swig Sparkling Water is a newer contender to the Austin sparkling water market. This water comes in original, key lime, and the always popular ruby red grapefruit flavor.
8-13/ Cold Brew Coffees
Coffee: where would we be without it? In bed, I’m guessing. We writers would carry around an IV of the stuff if we could. Make it a local cold brew, and it’s game on!
In short, Austin loves its cold brew. We are fortunate to have several legimate cold brew options in town. Here are some great, portable options. They all have their virtues, and we all have our favorites.
Some cold brews come in flavors and have an unsweetened version. They all have a canned option. I’ve listed these in alphabetical order, because they’re all good choices.
- Cuvee Coffee
- Heyday Coffee
- High Brew Coffee
- Kohana Coffee
- Ruta Maya Coffee (now in cans!)
- Third Coast Coffee Roasting Company
We hope you’re already planning your outdoor adventures for the season. Remember to hydrate, preferably with these fantastic local brands. Ain’t nobody got time for heat stroke.
@theAustinot wants to know:
How do you stay hydrated while being active in Austin?
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