A Growing Category on Texas Shelves
If you’ve noticed more THC-labeled cans showing up next to the beer cave lately, you’re not imagining it. Hemp-derived THC beverages have moved from a niche curiosity to a real, fast-growing category over the past two years, and Zipps Liquor now carries several hemp-derived THC brands at select locations for shoppers 21 and older, led by two flagship options: Torch and Willie’s Remedy. Both fall under the same federal hemp framework, both are sold as legal alternatives to alcohol, and both have built a following among shoppers looking for a lower-calorie or non-alcoholic option for a night in.
But the two brands are not interchangeable. They differ in potency options, flavor range, and who they’re built for: curious first-timers or more seasoned hemp beverage drinkers. This guide breaks down what each brand actually offers, so you know what to look for before you shop, whether you’re stopping by a store off Highway 105 in Conroe or checking availability closer to home. If you’re searching “THC drinks near me” or “hemp beverage near me,” this guide is built to answer exactly that question, no matter which part of Texas you’re shopping in.
As always, Zipps Liquor’s promise stays the same no matter what’s on the shelf: everyday low pricing compared to local competitors, 35-plus Texas communities served, and knowledgeable local staff who can answer questions in person. That value extends to newer categories like hemp beverages, not just the bourbon, wine, and beer Zipps has always been known for across its 20,000-plus product selection.
None of this is medical advice. Zipps Liquor is not making health claims about either product. If you have questions about how a hemp beverage might interact with medication or a health condition, talk to a doctor or pharmacist before trying one, exactly as each product’s own label recommends.
Both Torch and Willie’s Remedy are sold at select Zipps Liquor locations rather than chain-wide, so checking with a nearby store before making a special trip is worth the extra step. Zipps’ store locator covers all 35-plus Texas communities and is the fastest way to confirm which location is closest before checking stock, whether you’re typing in “liquor store near me” or looking up a specific town. Shoppers near Conroe, Montgomery, and other East Texas communities can check current stock through the ready-to-drink and hemp beverage section of the Zipps online shop, which reflects what’s currently available at a given location. For shoppers who’d rather not make an extra trip at all, Zipps Liquor delivery covers many Texas communities same-day. It’s worth checking if a specific flavor or brand isn’t on the shelf at your closest location. And if you want the fuller story on how hemp beverages fit under Texas law, the original THC drinks explainer covers that ground in more depth.
What Is a Hemp-Derived THC Beverage?
A hemp-derived THC beverage is a canned or bottled drink infused with Delta-9 THC extracted from hemp rather than marijuana, formulated to stay within the federal hemp threshold that historically allowed these products to be sold outside dispensary channels. Both Torch and Willie’s Remedy fall into this category, which is why you’ll find them sold at a liquor store like Zipps rather than at a licensed cannabis retailer.
Delta-9 THC is the specific cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effect in these drinks. When it’s extracted from hemp rather than marijuana and kept under the federal dry-weight threshold, it’s classified as a legal hemp product rather than a controlled substance, which is the distinction that lets Zipps stock it alongside spirits, wine, and beer.
These drinks are typically dosed in milligrams of THC per can or bottle, with lower-dose options aimed at casual or first-time users and higher-dose options aimed at more experienced consumers. Reading the label for milligram strength matters more with this category than with a typical beer or seltzer, since effects and intensity vary significantly by dose.
Torch: Built Around Flavor Variety and Dose Range
Torch is a hemp-derived Delta-9 THC beverage line built around a wide flavor lineup and two clear potency tiers. Zipps carries several Torch flavors at select locations, spanning both a 10mg lower-dose line and a 60mg higher-potency line, which gives shoppers room to choose based on experience level rather than picking blind.
What makes Torch’s lineup distinct is the flavor range paired with dose tiering. Flavors lean toward classic lemonade and iced tea profiles, the kind of drink that reads as a refreshing summer cooler first and a THC beverage second. The lower-potency options in the Torch lineup are positioned as an easy entry point, while the higher-potency options are built for shoppers who already know what dose works for them.
A few things worth knowing about Torch specifically:
- Flavor-forward positioning. Torch leans into familiar iced tea and lemonade flavors rather than trying to mask the hemp taste with something unusual.
- Two potency tiers on the same shelf. Rather than offering one dose across the whole lineup, Torch splits its flavors between a lower-dose tier and a noticeably higher-potency tier, so the strength you want and the flavor you want are not always paired together. Check the can’s milligram labeling before buying rather than assuming.
- Availability varies by store. Not every Torch flavor or dose tier is guaranteed to be in stock at every Zipps location at all times, so it’s worth a quick check with your local store if you’re set on a specific flavor.
Willie’s Remedy: The Original Zipps THC Offering
Willie’s Remedy was the first hemp-derived THC beverage Zipps introduced, and it remains available at select locations today. It’s worth knowing that Willie’s Remedy and the brand’s separate CBD-only product line share a name but are not the same thing. The original CBD line, including CBD-infused coffee, tea, and tinctures, has no intoxicating effect at all. The THC beverage line is a separate, newer product entirely, and it is the one this comparison focuses on.
Willie’s Remedy is positioned less around flavor variety and more around a straightforward, single-purpose social drink experience. Where Torch spreads its lineup across multiple flavors and two dose tiers, Willie’s Remedy keeps things simpler, a more streamlined choice for shoppers who want one reliable option rather than a menu to choose from.
Torch vs. Willie’s Remedy: The Practical Differences
| Torch | Willie’s Remedy | |
| Flavor variety | Multiple flavors across two lines | Fewer, more streamlined options |
| Dose tiers | Two clear tiers, lower and higher potency | Single approach, less tier splitting |
| Best for | Shoppers who want to choose their strength and flavor separately | Shoppers who want a simple, no-decision option |
| Availability | Select Zipps locations, varies by store | Select Zipps locations, varies by store |
Neither brand is objectively “better.” The right choice depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to control dose and flavor independently and don’t mind reading labels closely, Torch’s tiered lineup gives you that flexibility. If you’d rather grab one familiar option without comparing five different cans, Willie’s Remedy’s simpler lineup is the easier decision at the shelf.
In short: reach for Torch if flavor variety and dose control matter to you, and reach for Willie’s Remedy if you’d rather keep the decision simple. Either way, checking the shop online link above before you drive out saves an unnecessary trip if your local store is between shipments.
Why do THC beverage brands differ so much in potency? Because hemp-derived THC beverages are a newer category without a single industry-standard dose, different brands have taken different approaches to potency, some aiming for a very light, approachable effect and others building toward a stronger experience for more seasoned users. Reading the milligram count on the can is the most reliable way to compare across brands, more reliable than flavor name or packaging alone.
How Hemp Beverages Compare to a Typical Drink
For shoppers who have never tried a hemp-derived THC beverage, the experience differs from alcohol in a few notable ways worth knowing before the first sip.
Onset takes longer than alcohol. Where a beer or a mixed drink starts affecting you within minutes, hemp beverages are typically consumed and absorbed through digestion, meaning effects can take anywhere from thirty minutes to over an hour to become noticeable. This is the single most common mistake first-time buyers make: drinking a second can before the first has fully kicked in, then feeling a stronger effect than expected once both catch up at once.
Effects last longer, too. Once a hemp beverage does take effect, that effect tends to last longer than a comparable alcoholic drink, often several hours rather than the shorter window alcohol typically produces. Planning around that longer window matters more than it does for a beer at a barbecue.
Calorie counts tend to run lower. Most hemp-derived THC beverages, across both Torch and Willie’s Remedy, are formulated with minimal sugar and low calorie counts compared to a standard mixed drink or beer, part of why the category has drawn interest from shoppers looking for a lighter option.
Tips for First-Time Buyers
A few practical tips make the first hemp beverage purchase go more smoothly, whether you’re shopping near Conroe, Nacogdoches, Palestine, or any other Zipps community across Texas:
- Read the milligram count before the flavor name. It’s easy to pick a can based on how good the flavor sounds, but the dose printed on the label matters more for how the experience actually goes.
- Start with the lowest dose on the shelf, even if a higher-potency option looks appealing. You can always try a stronger option next time once you know how your body responds.
- Give it time before deciding you need another. Because onset is slower than alcohol, waiting at least an hour before considering a second drink avoids the most common first-timer mistake.
- Keep them refrigerated once opened, the same as you would a beer or a canned cocktail, for the best flavor and freshness.
- Check with your local store before making a special trip. Since both brands are stocked at select locations rather than chain-wide, a quick look at the online shop or a call ahead saves an unnecessary drive, especially for shoppers in rural communities where the next-nearest option might be a longer drive away.
Shoppers reach for either brand for a handful of common reasons:
- Wanting a lower-calorie alternative to a mixed drink or beer
- Curiosity about a category that’s gotten significant attention in the beverage industry over the past two years
- Interest in a social drink alternative for an evening without alcohol
- Looking for a lighter option ahead of a longer night out, without ruling out a drink entirely
Whatever the reason, starting with the lowest available dose and waiting to gauge the effect before having more is the approach both brands’ own labeling recommends, and it’s good practice regardless of which product you choose or how much experience you have with alcohol or hemp beverages generally.
Also in Stock: More Hemp Beverage Options at Zipps
Torch and Willie’s Remedy are Zipps’ two flagship hemp-derived THC brands, but they’re not the only options on the shelf at select locations. Shoppers who want to explore beyond these two can also find Howdy Sweet Tea 5mg THC, a lower-dose iced tea option, and 8th Wonder Water 10mg THC Sparkling Lime, a sparkling water take on the category.
As with Torch and Willie’s Remedy, availability for both varies by store, so checking the online shop or calling ahead before a special trip is the safest bet. The same buying tips covered above, reading the milligram count, starting low, and giving it time before deciding on more, apply just as much to these options as to the two brands compared in this guide.
Where This Category Is Headed
Hemp-derived THC beverages are still a relatively new category, and the rules governing them at the federal level have been actively discussed and revised over the past year. Zipps Liquor is committed to staying current on any changes that affect which products can be sold and how they’re labeled, and this article will be updated if the regulatory picture shifts in a way that changes what’s available on Texas shelves. For now, both Torch and Willie’s Remedy remain legal hemp-derived products sold under current federal guidelines at select Zipps locations.
This is also a good reminder that the hemp beverage shelf looks different than it did even a year ago, and it will likely keep changing. Shoppers who found a flavor or dose they liked from either brand should not assume it will be available indefinitely in its current form; one more reason checking with a local store before a special trip is worth the extra minute.
Where to Find Both at Zipps
Both Torch and Willie’s Remedy remain part of Zipps’ hemp beverage lineup at select locations, worth a quick check with your local store before making a special trip if you’re set on a specific flavor or dose. For shoppers who’d rather skip the drive entirely, Zipps Liquor delivery is worth checking first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Torch and Willie’s Remedy?
Torch offers a wider flavor range split across two potency tiers, giving shoppers more control over dose and flavor separately. Willie’s Remedy takes a simpler approach with fewer options, appealing to shoppers who want a straightforward choice rather than a full menu.
Are hemp-derived THC beverages legal in Texas?
Hemp-derived THC beverages sold at retailers like Zipps Liquor operate under federal hemp regulations rather than state cannabis licensing. Federal rules around allowable THC content in hemp products have been under active discussion, so shoppers with specific legal questions should check current federal guidance directly.
Do all Zipps locations carry Torch and Willie’s Remedy?
No. Both brands are available at select Zipps locations rather than chain-wide, and specific flavors or dose tiers can vary by store and by week. Checking the online shop or calling ahead is the most reliable way to confirm what’s in stock before visiting, especially if you’re searching “hemp beverage near me” from a town without a Zipps close by.
What dose should a first-time hemp beverage drinker start with?
Both brands recommend starting with the lowest available dose and waiting to see how it affects you before considering more. This is standard guidance across the hemp beverage category, not specific to either brand, and it’s worth following regardless of prior experience with alcohol.
Is a hemp-derived THC beverage the same as a CBD drink?
No. CBD products, including Zipps’ original CBD-only offerings like infused coffee and tea, have no intoxicating effect. Hemp-derived THC beverages like Torch and Willie’s Remedy do contain a psychoactive compound and are intended for adults 21 and older.
How long do the effects of a hemp beverage last?
Effects typically last longer than a comparable alcoholic drink, often several hours, since the THC is absorbed through digestion rather than taking effect immediately. This is also why onset takes longer, often thirty minutes to an hour, which is worth planning around before deciding whether to have a second can.
Can I mix a hemp beverage with alcohol?
Neither Torch nor Willie’s Remedy is intended to be combined with alcohol, and combining hemp-derived THC with alcohol is not something either brand’s labeling recommends. If you have specific questions about combining substances, a doctor or pharmacist is the right resource, not general guidance from a retailer.
