Whether you’re taking the month to reset, beginning a sober (curious) lifestyle, or even if you simply enjoy the aromas and flavors of hops, hop water is for you. For the uninitiated, hop water is exactly as it sounds. A non-alcoholic, effervescent drink that’s flavored with hops.
But it’s also so much more than that.
So... What is hop water?
Known for its piney, hoppy, citrus flavor profile, hop water has all the positives of a well-made IPA without any of the alcohol. At its essence, it’s a sparkling water that’s infused with hops. And on top of not having any alcohol, hop waters often have no sugar or calories, making it the closest thing to a pine needle-flavored health drink as anyone could imagine.
While hop water recipes differ, many are made with water, hops, carbon dioxide, and any added flavors like citrus, berries, vanilla, and other fruity flavors. People imbibe hop waters as a lighter, less filling, alcohol-free alternative to traditional beer.
To help you stock to your refrigerator, I ranked some of the best widely available brands and flavors. They’re ranked on overall hop flavor, thirst-quenching appeal, and balance.
Coming in at number seven…
Photo via HOPWTR
#7 HOPWTR Mango
HOPWTR makes a variety of flavorful, balanced hop waters. One of the best is its HOPWTR Mango. This non-alcoholic sparkling water features tropical mango flavor along with a liberal dose of Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, and Azacca hops. The result is a sugar-free, zero-carb, calorie-free tropical hoppy effervescent beverage. As a bonus, this drink also features adaptogens (ashwagandha) and nootropics (L-Theanine) and Vitamin C.
Photo via H2OPS
#6 H2OPS Grapefruit
H2OPS is another brand that makes a variety of flavors, but its best is H2OPS GRAPEFRUIT. Not only is this hop water flavored with organic Citra and Mosaic hops to give it a citrus aroma and flavor, the addition of organic grapefruit extract really cranks the flavor up to eleven. The result is a perfectly piney, hoppy, grapefruit-filled, carbonated refresher you’ll want to crack open any day of the year.
Buy 12-pack Here (24-pack also avail)
Photo via Fieldwork
#5 Fieldwork Hop Water
Fieldwork isn’t messing around with this hop water. It’s made with the simple ingredients of water, hops, hop terpenes, and citric acid. The hops used are Mosaic and Nelson hops. This creates a memorable, crisp hop water centered on flavors like pine, tropical fruits, and citrus zest. As a bonus, it’s gluten-free, calorie-free, and vegan-friendly.
Photo via Lagunitas
#4 Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher
If you’re looking for a classic, thirst-quenching, no-frills hop water, you’ll love Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher. The popular California-based brewery is well-known for its IPAs, so it should come as no surprise that it makes a balanced, flavorful hop water. Infused with Citra, Equinox, and Centennial hops, it’s known for its flavors of dank pine, orange peels, lemon, mango, and other tropical fruits.
Photo via Hoplark
#3 Hoplark Tropical Hops
Made with simple ingredients. Carbonated water, citric acid, and Sabro hops. This fizzy, hop water is known for its flavors of citrus peels, tropical fruits, and dank pine needles. What it lacks in ingredients, it makes up for in overall flavor. As a bonus, it’s caffeine free, vegan, keto, has no carbs, no sugar, and is made with non-GMO ingredients. It’s the kind of thirst-quencher you’ll enjoy just as much on a humid summer night as a cold winter evening.
Photo via The Denver Beer Company
#2 Easy Living Citrus Hop Water
Some of the best hop waters on the market are made by breweries. It makes sense. They know a thing or two about the best use of hops for aromas and flavors. The Denver Beer Company makes a handful of hop waters in its Easy Living series. And one of the best is its Easy Living Citrus Hop Water. This non-alcoholic, gluten-free, sugar-free, calorie-free hop water is made with a blend of hops and features flavors like pine, lemon, lime, and other citrus.
Photo via Sierra Nevada
#1 Sierra Nevada Hop Splash
Sierra Nevada is well-known for its industry-changing Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It shouldn’t surprise anyone then, that the beloved Chico, California-based brewery makes one of the best, most crushable hop waters. Hop Splash begins with the same carbon-filtered water used to make all of the brand’s beers. Carbonated with sustainable CO2, it’s flavored with steeped Citra and Amarillo hops in a technique similar to dry-hopping. The result is a non-alcoholic, refreshing, gluten-free hop water loaded with flavors like bright citrus and resinous pine.
