With its unique blend of hoppy flavors and crisp carbonation, hop water is becoming one of our favorite non-alcoholic drinks at One Club Sober! It’s tasty, refreshing, and drinkable any time of the day – no wonder our writer Audrey is polishing a can of hop water each day.
But what is hop water, and how does hop water differ from non-alcoholic beer? Read on as we dive into the taste and nutrition difference between hop water vs non-alcoholic beer!
What is hop water?
Hop water is a non-alcoholic sparkling water brewed with hops. Just like in beer, hops are used for bittering and flavoring, and they allow the hop water to have notes of floral, fruity, or citrus flavor and aroma.
We share more about hop water in our full guide to hop waters here.
Is hop water the same as non-alcoholic beer?
While hop water and non-alcoholic beers use hops in the brewing process, hop water is not the same as non-alcoholic beer.
The brewing process and ingredients of hop water are different from non-alcoholic beers. Non-alcoholic beers are brewed primarily with four main ingredients: water, yeast, malts, and hops. Hop water is brewed only with water and hops.
That is why hop water contains zero calories and zero alcohol since it does not contain carbohydrates from the grains and does not go through a fermentation process, avoiding any traces of alcohol created.
On the other hand, non-alcoholic beers contains carbohydrates from the malted grains and have between 40 – 100 calories per serving on average. Many non-alcoholic beers also contain traces of alcohol of up to 0.5% ABV.
One of the benefits of hop water is that it is gluten-free, because it is not brewed with gluten-containing ingredients such as malted barley. Most non-alcoholic beers contain gluten and would not suit someone with gluten intolerance.
Another difference between hop water and non-alcoholic beer is the possibility of using hop water as a mixer in cocktails, adding a depth of flavor and complexity to any drink.
Hop Water vs Non-Alcoholic Beer: Taste
Since we do consume lots of hop water and non-alcoholic beers for this website, we’ll dive into the differences in taste between hop water vs non-alcoholic beer.
Does hop water taste like beer?
When it comes to the taste, think of hop water as a seltzer meets a non-alcoholic beer. Hop water tastes more like carbonated water with softly-infused hop bitterness and flavor than an actual beer.
The flavors and aromas range from fruity to floral, and even herbal or spicy notes depending on the hops used. Since hop water is just water with hop flavor and aroma, you can drink multiple cans of hop water throughout the day without feeling bloated or heavy.
Is hop water bitter?
Most hop waters have a soft bitterness from the hops instead of the harsh or bitter notes you would get from a non-alcoholic beer. The types of hops used also depend on whether the hop water is sweeter or bitter, fruity or floral.
Our hop water reviews
HOP WTR
HOP WTR might be our favorite brand of hop water. Unlike other hop waters, HOP WTR is infused with nootropics and adaptogens like L-theanine, a naturally occurring, non-protein amino acid, to promotes relaxation by reducing stress and anxiety levels.
Our favorite is the classic, followed by the mango and the blood orange. The hops are subtle and come through without being too bitter, and we love the familiar hop aroma when we crack one open. Read our full review here to get the tasting notes.
You can order directly through HOP WTR (within the United States).
Sierra Nevada Hop Splash
Sierra Nevada Brewing is yet another big-name brewery to join this trend, releasing Hop Splash in January 2022. This hop water is brewed with Citra and Amarillo hops, and features notes of peach, mango, and grapefruit.
This hop water is more bitter than others. In fact, we’ll even say that Hop Splash gets closer to bitter IPAs than most of its competitors brewing non-alcoholic IPA-style beers. Read our full review here to get the tasting notes.
If you’re in the United States, you can purchase the 6-pack Hop Splash from Amazon.
Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher
Independent brewery darling Lagunitas was one of the first companies to introduce a hop seltzer when it released Hoppy Refresher in 2019.
Our first reaction to the taste was that it was very fruity. Specifically, we tasted mango and a bit of peach. The mouthfeel is light and crisp, with just the right amount of carbonation.
It tastes sweeter than other hop waters, and is on the lower end of bitterness. Read our full review here to get the tasting notes.
Hoppy Refresher is available in the United States from online retailer Proof No More. You can purchase singles, 4-packs, 6-packs, 12-packs, or 24-packs.
Hop Water vs Non-Alcoholic Beer: Nutrition
The best thing about hop water is that they are zero calories, zero carbohydrates, and usually zero sugar unless additional sugar is added. This makes hop water a great drink you can drink throughout the day.
In comparison, non-alcoholic beers contain calories and carbohydrates, and even low-calorie non-alcoholic beers have some calories included.
Frequently asked question about Hop Water
What is the point of hop water?
Hop water is a great non-alcoholic drink option for those who love the taste of hoppy beers but don’t want to or can’t consume alcohol or gluten. It is also a great low-calorie drink because it does not contain any calories.
Hop Water vs Non-Alcoholic Beer – which is better?
Hop water and non-alcoholic beers serve different needs, so it’s hard to say that one is better than the other.
If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic hoppy drink that tastes light, contains zero calories, and helps you stay hydrated throughout the day, hop water is the perfect drink. After all, hop water is simply sparkling water infused with hop bitterness and flavor.
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