Lulz SMOOTHIE: R+R

Lulz SMOOTHIE: R+R is a 5% ABV smoothie-style hard seltzer from Phase Three Brewing, loaded with pineapple, coconut, guava, and orange. This release exemplifies the Lake Zurich, Illinois brewery's reputation for pushing fruit-forward beverages to their thickest, most decadent extreme.

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

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing was founded in 2018 in Lake Zurich, Illinois, and has quickly built a devoted following for its aggressively fruited beers and seltzers. The Lulz SMOOTHIE line represents the brewery's flagship smoothie-style hard seltzer series, distinguished from conventional seltzers by the sheer volume of real tropical fruit purée incorporated during production. The R+R expression features a four-fruit blend of pineapple, coconut, guava, and orange, resulting in a texture far thicker and more viscous than a traditional carbonated seltzer — closer to an actual drinkable smoothie. The finished product is both dairy free and gluten free.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe pineapple and fresh guava lead immediately, followed by a creamy coconut sweetness and bright orange zest. The overall impression is unmistakably tropical, with the coconut providing a rich, rounded backdrop.

Taste: The entry is thick and pulpy, dominated by tangy pineapple and juicy guava. At mid-palate, coconut cream smooths everything into a lush, dessert-like sweetness, while orange provides a citrus lift that keeps the blend from becoming one-dimensional. The mouthfeel is notably heavier than any standard seltzer — dense, smoothie-like, and fruit-saturated.

Finish: Short to medium, with lingering tropical fruit sweetness and a gentle coconut fade. The low 5% ABV ensures there is virtually no alcohol presence on the close.

How to Drink Lulz SMOOTHIE R+R

Serve this one cold, straight from the can or poured into a chilled glass — it needs no embellishment. The thick texture and intense fruit profile make it essentially a ready-made cocktail alternative. For those who want to experiment: blend it into a Piña Colada riff, using R+R as the fruit base in place of traditional pineapple juice and cream of coconut. It also works as a float base poured over vanilla ice cream for an adult dessert drink. Mixed with a splash of white rum and served over crushed ice, it becomes an effortless Tropical Rum Punch.

Best For

• Summer barbecues and poolside drinking sessions where low ABV is a priority
• Craft beverage enthusiasts exploring the smoothie-style seltzer category
• Stocking a beach cooler with something more flavorful than conventional hard seltzers
• Introducing non-beer drinkers to the Phase Three lineup with an approachable, fruit-driven option

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lulz SMOOTHIE R+R taste like? It delivers an ultra-thick, smoothie-like burst of pineapple, coconut, guava, and orange with a creamy mouthfeel and minimal alcohol presence at 5% ABV. The texture is noticeably denser and more fruit-saturated than a typical hard seltzer.

How does Lulz SMOOTHIE R+R compare to White Claw? White Claw is a light, crisp, lightly flavored hard seltzer, while R+R is a completely different drinking experience — opaque, thick, and loaded with real fruit purée. The two occupy the same broad category but target very different palates, with R+R prioritizing maximum fruit intensity over refreshing simplicity.

Is Lulz SMOOTHIE R+R good for people who don't like beer? Absolutely — at 5% ABV with no discernible hop or malt character, it drinks much closer to a blended fruit smoothie than any traditional beer or seltzer. Its dairy-free and gluten-free composition also makes it accessible to drinkers with common dietary restrictions.

Where is Lulz SMOOTHIE R+R made? It is brewed by Phase Three Brewing in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago. Phase Three was founded in 2018 and has become known for heavily fruited beers, stouts, and smoothie-style seltzers.

What foods pair well with Lulz SMOOTHIE R+R? Grilled shrimp skewers complement the tropical fruit with caramelized char. Fish tacos with mango salsa echo the citrus and guava notes. Coconut rice pairs naturally with the coconut element. Light key lime pie or panna cotta mirror the creamy, dessert-like sweetness. Spicy Thai spring rolls benefit from the fruit sweetness as a cooling counterpoint.

What sizes does Lulz SMOOTHIE R+R come in? Phase Three Brewing typically packages its Lulz SMOOTHIE series in 16 oz (473 ml) cans, sold individually or in limited-quantity packs depending on the release.

Is Lulz SMOOTHIE R+R worth the price? Phase Three positions its smoothie seltzers as premium craft releases, priced above mainstream hard seltzers but justified by the quantity of real fruit used and the small-batch production approach. For drinkers seeking maximum tropical flavor in a low-ABV format, it represents strong value within the craft smoothie-style category.

Why Lulz SMOOTHIE R+R?

What separates R+R from the crowded hard seltzer market is its commitment to a genuinely smoothie-like texture — this is not a lightly flavored sparkling water with a hint of fruit. Phase Three packs an aggressive amount of pineapple, coconut, guava, and orange into each can, creating something closer to a blended tropical drink than anything resembling a conventional seltzer. At 5% ABV, it stays sessionable without sacrificing any of that fruit intensity. For anyone who finds mainstream hard seltzers too subtle or watery, R+R represents the opposite end of the spectrum — thick, decadent, and unapologetically fruit-forward.