Grab-and-Go: Best Canned Cocktails and RTDs for the Last Days of Summer

Late August in Texas still means plenty of heat left to burn through, and this year it comes with a bonus: the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals run August 25 through 27, giving Texas soccer fans one more reason to keep the cooler stocked before the calendar turns toward fall. Whether you’re closing out summer at the lake, hosting one more backyard gathering, or settling in for a knockout-round watch party, grab-and-go canned cocktails and hard seltzers are the easiest way to keep everyone happy without much effort.

Zipps Liquor carries one of the largest RTD and hard seltzer selections in Texas, all at 10 to 30 percent savings compared to local competitors, so stocking up for whatever’s left of summer doesn’t mean overpaying to do it. With 35-plus communities served statewide, a well-stocked cooler is never far out of reach.

If you’re searching “hard seltzer near me” or “canned cocktails near me” this week, here’s the roundup.

Why RTDs Make Sense for End-of-Summer Gatherings

By late August, most people are running on the last stretch of summer energy, juggling back-to-school schedules, tailgate prep, and whatever’s left of vacation plans. RTDs and canned cocktails fit that moment better than a full bar setup for a few simple reasons: no mixing, no cleanup beyond a recycling bag, and a consistent pour every time, whether it’s the first can out of the cooler or the last. For a household already stretched between school schedules and the start of football season, that convenience matters more in late August than at almost any other point in the year.

They’re also simply easier to transport. Whether you’re headed to a lake house, a tailgate, or a Leagues Cup watch party, cans travel better than bottles and mixers, and nobody’s worried about spilling a full bar setup in the back of the car.

What to Check on an RTD Label

With so many options on the shelf, a few label details make it easier to pick the right can for the occasion:

ABV (alcohol by volume). Most hard seltzers land between 4.5 and 6 percent ABV, while canned cocktails built around a full spirit pour can run higher. Checking this number matters more than most people realize, since two cans that look similar on the shelf can have noticeably different strength.

Calories and sugar. Lighter hard seltzers typically run 90 to 100 calories per can with minimal sugar, while flavored canned cocktails built around real fruit juice or syrup tend to run higher on both counts.

Base ingredient. Whether a can is built on a malt base, real vodka, or real tequila changes both the flavor and how it’s classified. This matters if you’re trying to match a specific spirit request, like a guest who specifically wants a tequila-based drink rather than a malt seltzer with tequila flavoring.

Comparing Strength and Style

Product Type	Typical ABV	Best For
Standard hard seltzer	4.5-5%	Guests who want something light and easy over a long afternoon
Higher-strength seltzer	6%+	Guests who want a stronger pour without switching to a full cocktail
Vodka or tequila soda	4.5-5.5%	Guests who prefer real spirit flavor over a malt base
Canned cocktail (margarita, paloma)	5.5-9%	Guests who want a full mixed-drink experience without any prep

Hard Seltzers: The Lightest Option in the Cooler

Hard seltzers remain one of the most popular ways to keep a cooler stocked through the end of summer, especially for guests who want something refreshing without a heavy flavor or a lot of sugar.

White Claw Surf Variety Pack brings four newer flavors, including Citrus Yuzu and Tropical Pomelo, to the classic White Claw lineup, giving guests something a little different from the original flavors without straying from the brand’s reliable, easy-drinking profile.

White Claw Refresher Lemonade Variety Pack leans into a lemonade-forward direction, with each can landing around 100 calories, a solid option for anyone still watching what a long afternoon of drinks adds up to.

The Beast Unleashed Hard Seltzer takes a different approach entirely, built for guests who want a stronger pour at 6.0 percent alcohol by volume with no added sugar without giving up the light, seltzer-style format.

Meta Hard Elixir rounds out the lineup with a different flavor profile for guests who’ve already worked through the more common seltzer brands and want something new to try before summer wraps up.

Vodka and Tequila-Based RTDs

For guests who want a bit more flavor than a straight seltzer, vodka and tequila-based RTDs cover the middle ground.

White Claw Vodka & Soda Variety Pack and White Claw Vodka & Soda Watermelon bring real vodka into the mix rather than a malt-based seltzer, giving the drink a slightly different character while keeping the same easy, carbonated format.

High Noon Lime Vodka Hard Seltzer, made with real vodka and real fruit, is a reliable single-flavor option for anyone who already knows they prefer lime over a full variety pack.

High Noon Tequila Hard Seltzer Variety brings the same real-ingredient approach to a tequila base, a good pick for a Leagues Cup watch party where a tequila-forward drink fits the occasion better than a straight vodka seltzer.

Canned Cocktails for a Fuller Flavor

If your group wants something closer to an actual mixed drink rather than a seltzer, canned cocktails fill that gap without requiring anyone to mix a thing.

BeatBox Party Pack offers a range of flavored, ready-to-drink options built specifically for group gatherings, an easy pick if you’re hosting a bigger crowd for a Leagues Cup Quarterfinal watch party.

Topo Chico Spirited Tequila & Grapefruit Paloma, made with real tequila blanco and real fruit juice, gives you a genuine paloma in a can, which pairs naturally with a Liga MX-themed gathering as the knockout rounds get underway.

Stocking Up Wherever You’re Watching in Texas

Whether you’re closing out summer near Lake Livingston, hosting a watch party in Conroe, stocking up in Willis, or gathering with friends in an East Texas community along Highway 59, the same cooler-stocking approach works everywhere. Searching “liquor store near me” turns up a Zipps in most of these communities, and with 35-plus locations statewide, a well-stocked RTD selection is rarely more than a short drive away, even compared to a trip into a bigger metro area. Shop the full RTD and hard seltzer selection online ahead of time, and you won’t be scrambling on the morning of a match.

For shoppers in smaller Texas communities without a full-selection liquor store nearby, a single Zipps trip covers hard seltzers, canned cocktails, ice, and snacks in one stop, all at the same 10 to 30 percent savings compared to local competitors that Zipps offers statewide, which beats piecing together a cooler from multiple stores.

Finding Zipps Near You Along the Way

Zipps Liquor stores across Montgomery County and East Texas make it easy to grab RTDs and hard seltzers no matter which route you’re taking this weekend. Shoppers near Willis can find a Zipps right off FM 3083, while those closer to Conroe have locations along Highway 105 and FM 1488. Just west in Magnolia, a Zipps sits off Highway 242. Farther east, stores serving Nacogdoches, Marshall, and Jacksonville keep the same RTD and hard seltzer lineup in stock, so the selection doesn’t shrink the further you get from a major metro area.

This kind of coverage matters most on a weekend like the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals, when a last-minute run for the watch party shouldn’t mean driving out of your way. Searching “hard seltzer near me” or “beer near me” from almost any of these communities points back to a nearby Zipps, stocked with the same statewide savings.

Storing and Serving Tips for a Multi-Day Weekend

With quarterfinal matches spread across three days, a few storage tips help keep everything fresh and cold through the whole window:

Keep cans cold, not just cool. RTDs taste best served cold, and a partially chilled can straight from a warm garage won’t deliver the same experience as one that’s been properly iced down.

Rotate stock if you’re buying in bulk. If you’re stocking up once for the whole weekend, keep newer purchases toward the back of the fridge or cooler so older cans get used first.

Separate by type if you’re serving a big group. Sorting hard seltzers, vodka and tequila RTDs, and canned cocktails into different sections of a large cooler makes it easier for guests to find what they want without digging through a mixed pile.

Plan for ice refills. A three-day weekend of watching matches means more ice than a single afternoon gathering. Buying extra bags upfront saves a mid-weekend supply run.

Which RTD Fits Which Occasion

Not every gathering calls for the same cooler mix. A quick guide to matching the drink to the occasion:

A relaxed lake day calls for lighter hard seltzers like White Claw Surf or White Claw Refresher Lemonade, since guests are likely spread out over several hours in the sun and want something easy to sip slowly.

A Leagues Cup or football watch party works well with tequila-forward options like Topo Chico Paloma or High Noon Tequila Hard Seltzer Variety, matching the occasion with a slightly bolder flavor profile.

A bigger backyard gathering benefits from variety packs like BeatBox Party Pack or White Claw Vodka & Soda Variety Pack, since a mix of flavors in one case covers more guest preferences without buying several separate cases.

A smaller, low-key get-together is a good time to bring out something like The Beast Unleashed or Meta Hard Elixir, options with a bit more character for a group that’s already familiar with the more common brands.

Building a Cooler for Quarterfinals Weekend

With the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals landing August 25 through 27, right in this window, here are a few practical tips for stocking a cooler that covers a multi-day stretch of matches:

Mix strength levels. Between standard hard seltzers, a stronger option like The Beast Unleashed, and full canned cocktails, covering a range of alcohol content means guests can choose what fits their pace over a match that might run into extra time or penalties.

Buy enough for more than one match day. If you’re planning to watch multiple quarterfinal matches over the weekend, stocking up once rather than making repeat trips saves time, especially since most of these products keep fine in a cooler or fridge for several days.

Keep a lighter option on hand. Not every guest wants a full-flavor canned cocktail for an afternoon match. Rounding out the cooler with lower-calorie hard seltzers means everyone has an option that fits how long they’re planning to stay.

Don’t forget the essentials. Ice, cups for anyone who prefers pouring over a glass, and a cooler big enough to keep everything cold through a full match, especially if extra time or penalties stretch things longer than expected.

Simple Snacks for a Quarterfinals Watch Party

A cooler full of RTDs pairs well with easy, shareable food that doesn’t require much prep between matches:

• Chips and salsa or guacamole, a natural match for tequila-based cans like the Topo Chico Paloma
• Wings or sliders, easy to make in batches for a multi-day gathering
• A simple fruit tray, especially useful on hot late-August afternoons
• Queso, which holds up well over a long watch party and pairs with almost anything in the cooler

Keeping the food simple means less time in the kitchen and more time actually watching the matches.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals? 

The Leagues Cup 2026 Quarterfinals are scheduled for August 25 through 27, following Phase One group matches that ran August 4 through 13.

What’s the difference between a hard seltzer and a canned cocktail? 

Hard seltzers are typically made from a fermented malt base or plain alcohol combined with carbonated water and light fruit flavoring, while canned cocktails are built to replicate an actual mixed drink, like a margarita or paloma, using real spirits and juice.

Which RTD has the lowest calorie count? 

Among the options covered here, White Claw Refresher Lemonade Variety Pack lands around 100 calories per can, making it one of the lighter choices for a long afternoon of drinking.

How much should I stock for a multi-day watch party weekend? 

Planning for two to three cans per guest per match day is a reasonable starting point, with more on hand if the gathering runs long or includes food and other activities beyond just watching the match.

Can I mix hard seltzers and canned cocktails in the same cooler? 

Yes. Stocking a mix of both gives guests options depending on how strong or flavorful they want their drink, and it’s a common approach for larger, multi-day gatherings like a Quarterfinals watch party weekend.

Do RTDs go bad if left in a cooler for a few days? 

No, as long as they stay cold. Canned RTDs are shelf-stable and don’t spoil the way fresh food does, so leftover cans from earlier in the weekend are perfectly fine to serve on the next match day.

What’s a good option for someone who doesn’t like a strong alcohol taste? 

Standard hard seltzers at 4.5 to 5 percent ABV are generally the mildest-tasting option in the cooler, since the flavor leans toward fruit rather than a noticeable spirit taste.

Stock Your Cooler for Quarterfinals Weekend

Between the last stretch of Texas summer heat and a Leagues Cup Quarterfinals weekend worth watching, late August calls for a cooler that’s easy to stock and easy to enjoy. Zipps Liquor carries hard seltzers, vodka and tequila RTDs, and canned cocktails across a wide range of flavors and strengths, all at savings of 10 to 30 percent compared to local competitors.