Gatorade is going deeper than just themed labels for its Stranger Things 5 collab. Alongside the return of the cult‑favorite Citrus Cooler flavor in stores, the brand is dropping a Gatorade x Stranger Things “1987 Hawkins” capsule that includes something fans have been begging for: a glass Gatorade bottle.
Inside the 1987 Hawkins Capsule
Set to go live on December 4 at 10 a.m. EST on Gatorade’s site, the $70 capsule is a limited merch bundle that includes:
A retro heavyweight T‑shirt with an upside‑down Gatorade logo and Stranger Things graphics
A co‑branded sideline towel inspired by Gatorade’s 1980s look
A collectible Lemon-Lime Gatorade in a vintage‑style glass bottle
The glass bottle is the hero piece here—a throwback to old‑school sideline bottles that also taps into the “drinks taste better out of glass” nostalgia wave.
Meanwhile, Citrus Cooler Is Back in Stores
Separately from the glass‑bottle capsule, Gatorade has brought back Citrus Cooler, a fan‑favorite 1980s flavor, as part of its Stranger Things campaign.
Those bottles:
Come in Stranger Things 5–branded packaging featuring Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas and Dustin
Include a special “Upside Down” edition with flipped lettering and darker, ominous design
Are available nationwide for a limited time through the end of the year, aligning with the show’s multi‑part finale
Put together, you’ve got:
Mass retail nostalgia via Citrus Cooler plastic bottles
Collector‑grade nostalgia via the limited glass Lemon‑Lime bottle in the online capsule
Why Glass Bottles Hit So Hard
This collab leans into a few things at once:
The ‘80s setting of Stranger Things
Gatorade’s own “No Ordinary Thirst Quencher” campaign from 1987, reimagined as “No Ordinary Athlete” for the new ads
The idea that some drinks just feel more special in glass, especially for collectors and older fans who remember that era
For today’s athletes, the functional beverage is still the same. For fans, the packaging is where the magic is.
Final Take
If you just want a hit of nostalgia while you hydrate, track down the Citrus Cooler bottles at regular retailers. If you’re the type who lines up special‑edition bottles on a shelf, the 1987 Hawkins capsule, and that glass Gatorade, might be the more interesting play.
Either way, Gatorade is proving it knows how to tap its heritage in a way that feels fun, not forced.
Citations
“Gatorade x Stranger Things 1987 Hawkins Capsule” – Gatorade
https://www.gatorade.com/drops/stranger-things-1987-hawkins-capsule“How Gatorade is embracing its heritage to connect with the current generation” – PepsiCo
https://www.pepsico.com/newsroom/stories/2025/how-gatorade-is-embracing-its-heritage-to-connect-with-the-current-generation“Gatorade Is Bringing Back a Fan-Favorite Flavor From the ’80s” – Allrecipes
https://www.allrecipes.com/gatorade-citrus-cooler-return-2025-11837549“Gatorade and Stranger Things Take Us Back to 1987” – Muse by Clio
https://musebyclios.com/film-tv/gatorade-and-stranger-things-take-us-back-to-1987Social and fan coverage of Stranger Things glass bottles
https://www.threads.net/@goatedlifestyle/post/DRsFyvHgOfj