New Haven’s Best-Kept Secret Isn’t Pizza—It’s Gorilla Lemonade by NWO Sparrow

New Haven’s Underground Beverage Scene: How Gorilla Lemonade Is Putting the City on the Map

So , full transparency , I haven’t tried Gorilla Lemonade yet, but I hope to soon. Because if there’s one thing this bold, unapologetically flavorful brand has made clear, it’s that New Haven, Connecticut, is quietly becoming a destination for drinks with personality. Forget what you think you know about this college town (yes, Yale is here, but so much more there beneath the surface). A new wave of indie beverage makers is shaking up the scene, and Gorilla Lemonade , with its just-announced collab with Grammy winner Eric Bellinger, might be its loudest ambassador yet.

The Unlikely Rise of a Beverage Rebel

Gorilla Lemonade didn’t come from a corporate lab or a celebrity backed conglomerate. It was born in New Haven, a city better known more for its pizza than its punchy drinks, until now. Founded by locals who clearly have a knack for both flavor and guerrilla-style marketing (that name isn’t an accident), the brand has built a cult following with vibrant, unsubtle lemonades that refuse to play it safe. And their latest move, a limited-edition Piña Colada flavor crafted with R&B hitmaker Eric Bellinger proves they’re thinking bigger than just the Northeast.

But how did this lemonade brand go from a local secret to catching the attention of artists like Bellinger? The story starts, like so many do these days, with a social media DM and a hotel bar.

If you’ve ever discovered your new favorite drink in a hotel lobby, you’re not alone. There’s something about the vibey, curated nature of hotel beverages that turns us into accidental tastemakers. For Gorilla Lemonade, that moment happened when SYX, a member of Bellinger’s team, tried it at the Cambria Hotel in New Haven and promptly shouted it out online.

Co-owner Kristen Threatt didn’t just send a thank-you note, she personally delivered a case to Bellinger the next day, complete with a Gorilla Lemonade varsity jacket (because merch is the new handshake). By that night, the team was at Bellinger’s show at Toad’s Place, a legendary New Haven venue that’s hosted everyone from The Rolling Stones to local upstarts. The connection was instant.

The collab wasn’t just about slapping a famous name on a bottle. Bellinger got deep into the creative process, taste-testing experimental flavors before landing on Piña Colada as the perfect summer vibe. It’s a tropical escape in a can that no passport requires.

And that’s the thing about Gorilla Lemonade: They treat flavor like a mood. This isn’t just lemonade; it’s a soundtrack. Bellinger put it best: “It’s a celebration of creativity and authentic connection.”

Why New Haven? (And Why Now?)

New Haven isn’t L.A. or New York, but maybe that’s the point. The city’s under-the-radar energy has birthed everything from legendary pizza (shout out to , Pepe’s) to a burgeoning craft beverage scene that doesn’t bother with pretension or 'luxe" branding . Gorilla Lemonade fits right in—unfiltered, community-driven, and packing a punch.

With this collab, they’re not just selling lemonade; they’re selling New Haven’s ethos. And if sipping a Piña Colada lemonade while blasting Eric Bellinger’s latest track isn’t a vibe, I don’t know what is.

The Piña Colada limited edition drops August 8. I’ll be tracking it down , will you?

The Gorilla Colada (A Bartender-Approved Upgrade)

Suggested by my bartender sister, who insists this five-shot recipe is “precious, but worth it.”

Ingredients:

2 oz white rum (or coconut rum for extra tropical vibes)

1 oz pineapple juice

1 oz coconut cream

½ oz lime juice

1 can Gorilla Lemonade x Eric Bellinger Piña Colada Limited Edition

Crushed ice

Garnish: Pineapple wedge + cocktail umbrella (mandatory)

Method:

In a shaker, combine rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and lime juice. Shake hard, like you’re mad at it.

Strain into a tall glass packed with crushed ice.

Top with Gorilla Lemonade Piña Colada (gently—this is a celebration, not a hurricane).

Stab a pineapple wedge on the rim, plant the umbrella, and serve with Eric Bellinger’s “G.O.A.T.” playing in the background.

Bartender’s Note: “If you don’t do a lil 2 step while drinking this, you’re doing it wrong.

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