I am a fan of non-alcoholic hop drinks, a day rarely goes by without me dipping into my stash of hoppy drinks.
A cross between a sparkling water and a beer, non-alcoholic hop drinks have all the hop aroma and flavors I love about beer but without the carbs and alcohol.
There are different types of hoppy drinks, including hop water and hop tea. All hop drinks have one thing in common – they are made with hops, the green flowers used in beer brewing.
By combining water with hops or tea with hops, brewers are creating zero-calorie sparkling water or tea with a hoppy-beer flavor.
After trying the different types of hop drinks, here’s my recommended list of non-alcoholic hop drinks – and the best non-alcoholic hops drink I think you’ll love!
My Ranking Process
It is not easy ranking the hop drinks, but here’s how I picked my favorites: Do I want to drink this more than once? Is there something unique or different about that hop drink? With these in mind, I have chosen:
- The hop drink I enjoyed the most is Hoplark HopTea The Mile-High-Biscus One. The other HopTea flavors are delicious too, but this hibiscus HopTea is my favorite.
- If I want a refreshing hop water, it’s probably going to be Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher.
Overall Best: Hoplark HopTea The Mile-High-Biscus One
This is, by far, the best tasting non-alcoholic hop drink I’ve tasted.
It combines one of my favorite drinks – tea – with hops, and the use of hibiscus petals gives the drink a refreshing, floral taste.
There’s a gentle note of citrus from the Cashmere and Lemondrop hops, and the flavors feel perfectly balanced. This is quickly becoming a staple non-alcoholic beverage in the house.
Read our full review of the Mile-High-Biscus One for all my tasting notes.
Order online from non-alcoholic drinks retailers Proof No More (within the United States)
Best Hop Water: Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher
Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher was my introduction to the world of hop water, and it still remains my favorite hop water brand. Compared to other hop waters I’ve tried, this one has a sweeter taste and a relatively mild bitterness.
I like the fruity notes, particularly the taste of mango with a hint of peach. The texture is refreshing and airy, complemented by appropriate levels of fizziness.
Read our full review here to get my full tasting notes.
Order online from non-alcoholic drinks retailers Proof No More (within the United States)
Best Functional Hop Drink: HOP WTR
I’ve never had an adaptogenic hop water until I tried HOP WTR, and I can see why there is so much hype around this brand. It has a unique infusion of nootropics and adaptogens like L-theanine, which is supposed to help me feel calmer and less stressed.
While I’m not sure if I do feel less anxious after drinking a can of HOP WTR, I do feel more refreshed and that’s all I need, really. The classic flavor is my favorite, with mango and blood orange being the subsequent top choices. The hop flavor is mild and not overpowering.
Read our full review here to get the tasting notes.
Order online from HOP WTR (within the United States)
Hoplark HopTea The Calm One
The chamomile gives this HopTea a pleasant taste, and it balances the unique but pleasant mix of bitter citrus notes and floral flavors from the Citra hops. It is naturally caffeine-free so you won’t feel jittery from drinking caffeinated tea.
Read our full review of the Calm One for all my tasting notes.
Order online from non-alcoholic drinks retailers Proof No More (within the United States)
Hoplark HopTea The Green Tea One
I like the uniqueness of brewing green tea with hops, and here, I get a rich, nutty, and fruity taste with a touch of natural sweetness. It’s hop-forward yet light, with a taste of tropical fruits and citrus from the Mosaic hops. The can says it is low caffeine, but you may only want to drink it in the morning if you are sensitive to caffeine.
Read my full review of The Green Tea One for my tasting notes.
Order online from non-alcoholic drinks retailers Proof No More (within the United States)
Sierra Nevada Hop Splash
Sierra Nevada Hop Splash is the most subtle-tasting hop water I’ve tasted, and the bitterness level reminds me of a hoppy non-alcoholic IPA. There is even an odd note of pepper which adds some spice. It feels like I’m drinking a bitter IPA with a very thin body, which sounds worse than it tastes. I actually enjoyed drinking this hop water!
Read my full review of Hop Splash for my tasting notes.
Order online from Amazon (within the United States)
Hoplark HopTea The Really Hoppy One
The first thing we’ll say is that The Really Hoppy One 100% lives up to its name – this one is bursting with a bitter hoppy flavor. I recommend The Really Hoppy One if you love hoppy IPAs and aren’t sensitive to caffeine. The flavor profile is a mixture of citrus, pine, and tropical fruit, but I’m too overwhelmed by the level of hop bitterness to notice the flavors.
Read my full review of The Really Hoppy One for the tasting notes.
Order online from non-alcoholic drinks retailers Proof No More (within the United States)
What Will Be Your Favorite Non-Alcoholic Hops Drink?
Made with just a few simple ingredients of water and hops, there’s an abundance of choices available if you prefer to skip the booze but still want to enjoy the refreshing and complex flavors of hops.
Hop water or hop tea – these hop-forward drinks might just be your new favorite non-alcoholic hops drink!
Also Read: Hop Water vs Non-Alcoholic Beer: Which Will Satisfy Our Hop Cravings? Reviewed!