What The Heck Is Hop Water?
As nonalcoholic options have expanded in recent years, one option is still trying to find its identity. Despite its simplicity, hop water is still somewhat misunderstood. With just two main ingredients, people still aren’t entirely sure what hop water is supposed to be. The more this beverage category expands though, the more confident the producers become in their offerings.
Simply put, hop waters are designed for those who love the taste of hops but are avoiding alcohol. In some cases they’re just sparkling waters that have been flavored with hops. Then some others have added flavors like mango, or lime, or even teas adding to its complexity.
Part of the confusion is that some producers are pushing their hop water as a beer alternative. While it could be a good alternative, that doesn’t mean hop waters are synonymous with nonalcoholic beer. A non-alcoholic beer undergoes an entirely different process and uses ingredients you won’t typically find in hop water. While hop water may be a nonalcoholic alternative to drinking beer, they’re most certainly two different products.
Still though, there may be a hop water on the market that gives you the flavor you’re looking for. Plus, they’re typically produced with zero calories!
Why Hop Waters Exist
As interest in nonalcoholic drinks continues to surge, producers are looking for ways they can capitalize on the current interest. Producing a beer and then removing the alcohol is not only complicated but it’s also super expensive. Dealcoholization technology is still long way off from being accessible to all. Breweries wanting to offer an in-house nonalcoholic beverage need to find ways to create something unique while not busting their own budgets.
Infusing a sparkling water with hops is a cost effective method of producing a beverage in house.
Hop Waters In Upstate New York
As the nonalcoholic options in Upstate New York continue to diversify, a few local folks have started producing their own hop waters. So far breweries seem to be the ones offering hop waters, which kind of makes sense. They already have the hops if they’re brewing beer, and likely already have the knowledge of how different hops varieties will perform when added to the carbonated water. As simple as it sounds though, there’s a reason you aren’t seeing it all over the place. It’s way harder than it seems to get the recipe just right.
Race Ready Refresher – Finger Lakes
Race Ready Refresher is made by Grist Iron Brewing Company on Seneca Lake in Burdett. You can get it cans on site while you’re hanging out, or in six packs from their gift shop. These are also starting to pop-up in other places. I first found it in the cooler at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center in Geneva and the tasting room at the NY Kitchen in Canandaigua carries it, too.
Belgian Inspired Hop Water – Central New York
Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown has created a hop water using the aquifer right on site at their brewery. Then add the carbonation and hops, but they’ve also included ginger and lemon peel, giving their version a bright, refreshing finish. They also set themselves apart by packing it into a 16 oz can.
Their website says it’s only available on site at the brewery, but they’ve been selling it in four-packs all the over the place. Wegmans sells it, AJ Beer Warehouse in Henrietta has it, too. Though you can get it many places, kicking back in Cooperstown is tough to beat.
Ever-Hop – Hudson Valley
While some others on this list have just a single offering, this brand is only making hop water, and they have four offerings in their line. Their original is a hop-only flavor, then they have citra mango, lime spritz, and rose lemonade. It’s for a sale here and there (One Stop Brew Shop in Greece has it) but in March 2024 they landed a spot on the shelves at Whole Foods, too.
