Lulz Hopped Hard Seltzer 6Pk

Lulz Hopped Hard Seltzer 6Pk is a dry-hopped hard seltzer from Phase Three Brewing in Illinois, packaged as a six-pack at approximately 5% ABV. What distinguishes this release from the crowded seltzer category is its use of Medusa and Citra hops, borrowing technique from the craft IPA world to deliver genuine hop character in a light, carbonated format.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~5%  |  Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois  |  Style: Dry-Hopped Hard Seltzer  |  Brewery: Phase Three Brewing

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing operates out of Lake Zurich, Illinois, where the brewery has built a reputation for hand-crafted, quality-driven releases across multiple styles. The Lulz Hopped Hard Seltzer starts with a clean, light seltzer base and is then dry hopped with Medusa and Citra hops — two varieties prized in the craft beer world for their tropical and fruity aromatics. Dry hopping a hard seltzer is an unconventional move that bridges the gap between the easy-drinking appeal of seltzers and the aromatic complexity beer drinkers expect from hop-forward styles.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Tropical fruit leads the nose, with ripe mango and citrus zest emerging from the Citra hops. Medusa hops add a layer of melon-like sweetness and a subtle floral quality that keeps the aroma inviting rather than aggressive.

Taste: The entry is crisp and clean, immediately recognizable as a seltzer in terms of body and carbonation. By mid-palate, the hop character asserts itself with tropical and stone fruit notes that recall a session IPA. There is no significant bitterness — the dry-hopping technique imparts flavor and aroma without the harsh bite of a boil-side hop addition.

Finish: Short and refreshing, with a faint grassy, herbal echo from the hops. The carbonation lifts everything cleanly off the palate, making it easy to reach for another.

How to Drink Lulz Hopped Seltzer

Best served ice-cold, straight from the can or poured into a chilled glass to appreciate the hop aromatics. This seltzer is designed for straightforward drinking, but it also works as a creative mixer. Try it in a Seltzer Shandy — combine with lemonade for a low-ABV summer sipper. Use it as the carbonated component in a Hop Paloma, pairing with grapefruit juice and a salted rim for a refreshing twist. It also substitutes well in a Ranch Water variation, where its tropical hop notes complement lime juice and a splash of agave.

Best For

• IPA fans looking for a lighter, lower-calorie alternative with real hop character
• Backyard cookouts and warm-weather gatherings where sessionability matters
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to the hard seltzer category without sacrificing complexity
• Stocking a mixed cooler with something that stands apart from standard seltzers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lulz Hopped Seltzer taste like? It drinks like a light, fizzy hard seltzer with a pronounced tropical and fruity hop character reminiscent of a session IPA. The flavor leans toward mango, citrus, and melon without significant bitterness.

How does Lulz Hopped Seltzer compare to White Claw or Truly? Standard hard seltzers like White Claw and Truly rely on fruit flavoring added to a neutral base, while Lulz achieves its tropical character through actual dry hopping with Citra and Medusa hops. This gives it a more complex, beer-adjacent aromatic profile that mainstream seltzers do not offer.

Is Lulz Hopped Seltzer good for IPA lovers? Yes — the dry-hopping process delivers recognizable hop aromatics in a format that is significantly lighter in body and lower in calories than a typical IPA, making it an appealing crossover option.

Where is Lulz Hopped Seltzer made? It is brewed by Phase Three Brewing at their facility in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago known for a growing craft brewing scene.

What foods pair well with Lulz Hopped Seltzer? Grilled shrimp tacos work well, as the tropical hop notes echo citrus-based salsas. Light fish like ceviche complements its crisp carbonation. Spicy Thai salads benefit from the seltzer's palate-cleansing fizz. Fresh fruit and soft cheeses also pair naturally with its melon and citrus aromatics.

What sizes does Lulz Hopped Seltzer come in? It is available as a six-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this release.

Is Lulz Hopped Seltzer worth the price? It positions as a craft-tier hard seltzer, priced above mass-market brands like White Claw but justified by its use of premium hop varieties and small-batch production at an independent Illinois brewery.

Why Lulz Hopped Seltzer?

The defining move here is the dry-hop addition of Medusa and Citra — two hop varieties that Phase Three knows well from their beer program — applied to a hard seltzer base. This is not a flavored seltzer with artificial hop extract; it borrows directly from craft brewing technique to create something genuinely different in the category. For drinkers who find mainstream seltzers too plain and IPAs too heavy, Lulz Hopped Seltzer occupies a specific and appealing middle ground. It is a product that could only come from a brewery with real hop expertise, and it delivers on that premise.