Whether you’re testing out Sober October or you avoid alcohol all year round, the search for non-alcoholic bevs — that aren’t orange juice — has become a lot easier in recent years. From that non-alcoholic six-pack in your local grocery store to zero-proof tequila in your favorite bar’s mocktails, your choices are getting bigger and better.
But as with most drinks that aren’t straight-up water, you might have trouble finding a non-alcoholic treat that won’t load you up on calories and carbs. In your search for the perfect alcohol-free drink, wading through the nutrition labels can be disheartening. Your search might be over once you find HOP WTR.
The company has created a line of non-alcoholic sparkling water fully equipped with the same hops you would get in your favorite IPA. HOP WTR nixes the sugar and calories, opting instead to fill your cup with nootropics (l-theanine) and adaptogens (ashwagandha) to help soothe all that daily stress — minus the alcohol.
HOP WTR
Throughout Sober October, BarBend has teamed up with HOP WTR to bring you our taste tests of their four available flavors. This week, we’re checking out HOP WTR Lime.
Tasting HOP WTR Lime
There are few combinations as delightful as lime and hops — or, for that matter, lime and sparkling water. HOP WTR delivers both.
In HOP WTR Lime, you’ll find a blend of Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, and Azacca hops, which are — in case you’re not in the know — the same hops you’ll get in IPAs with a delightfully bitter tone. Here’s how the experience of the Lime variety shakes out.
Aroma
When you crack open a can of HOP WTR Lime (we recommend you grab it directly from the fridge), it’ll be the scent of lime that hits you first and most strongly. If you’ve got a sensitive sniffer, you might be able to detect some bitter undertones — that’ll be the hops.
Appearance
In contrast to the frothy sensation you expect with a non-alcoholic beer, this drink looks and pours just like a seltzer. Yes, you’ll get a bit of foam on top when it goes from can to glass, but that’ll just be from the carbonation — it’ll fizzle away almost as quickly as it forms, and it won’t give you a thick, full sensation on your first sip.
Instead, HOP WTR Lime is thinner and translucent. Think more sparkling water, less light beer.
Taste and Mouthfeel
Expect stronger notes of lime than hops — HOP WTR Lime is pretty lime-dominant, with the citrusy tang largely overpowering any hop-like sensations. But once the carbonation goes down the hatch, you’ll get that slightly bitter aftertaste that you yearn for in a non-alcoholic beer.
Still, the aftertaste is very subtle. Unless you’re looking for it, you’ll get a very seltzer-heavy experience.
The same goes for the mouthfeel. The drink is bubbly but super thin, so it goes down a lot more like a seltzer than like a beer.
Food Pairings
If you’d drink a lime seltzer with it — or squeeze some lime onto it — this drink will likely make a solid pairing. Think tacos, burritos, and even pad Thai. If you’d eat it alongside seltzer, you can eat it alongside this HOP WTR. And you won’t have to worry about it adding to your calorie count, so enjoy with really anything you want.
Why Drink HOP WTR?
First things first: if you’re turning to HOP WTR instead of beer or hard seltzer, it’s likely that you’re trying to avoid alcohol, at least for the time being. And, all things being equal, that may well be a great choice for your health.
Per the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), drinking alcohol in excess can lead to a host of health problems, including high blood pressure, liver disease, heart disease, digestive issues, and a greater risk of stroke. For cis men, “excessive” is regarded as 15 or more drinks per week. For cis women, that weekly number drops to eight or more. Guidelines have not been released for trans and nonbinary people at this time.
Even if your alcohol intake is generally in check, there are a number of other reasons to check out HOP WTR. For one, it’s got zero sugar and zero calories, which may sync better than a non-alcoholic beer with any weight loss goals you might have.
And if you’re looking for a non-alcoholic way to take the edge off after a long day, HOP WTR contains the nootropic L-theanine and the adaptogen ashwagandha.
L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, may help increase your focus and cognitive performance, potentially by helping promote better sleep and relieve stress. (1) For its part, research suggests that ashwagandha may be able to relieve anxiety and stress with the bonus benefit of boosting athletes’ cardiovascular endurance. (2)
Hop Sober
If you’re ready to get your Sober October on — whether that’s during the actual month or throughout different seasons of the year — try out HOP WTR Lime. You’ll be treating yourself to a zero-sugar, zero-calorie non-alcoholic seltzer. It’s inspired by your favorite hops, has that crisp, refreshing vibe, and can help ease you into a relaxing evening.
HOP WTR
References
- Baba Y, Inagaki S, Nakagawa S, Kaneko T, Kobayashi M, Takihara T. Effects of l-Theanine on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. J Med Food. 2021 Apr;24(4):333-341.
- Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. Cureus. 2019 Dec 25;11(12):e6466.
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