I believe my first time having hop water was about seven years ago. Back then, I thought it was an interesting idea when you were looking for a non-alcoholic beverage at a brewery. It didn’t seem to take off back then, but now there are local breweries like Empyrean Brewing Co. from Lincoln, Nebraska, reinvigorating this refreshing, sparkling hop-flavored drink! The growth over the past four years has been significant, including a 200% uptick in 2023.
Hop Drops
Empyrean Brewing Co.'s original version of Hop Drops is lemon-flavored. The aroma is that of lemon zest, which transfers into light lemon notes. The carbonated body holds the lemon, which transitions into earthy, floral notes that are slightly bitter, giving a nice dry finish.
Hop profile: Mosaic, El Dorado, and Bru-1
Zero: Alcohol, calories, sugar, gluten
Mango Hop Drops
Empyrean Brewing Co.'s mango version of Hop Drops brings out mango and grapefruit notes. The aroma is mango and citrus. The carbonated body is very refreshing, and the hop bitterness is light.
Hop profile: Mosaic, El Dorado
Zero: Alcohol, calories, sugar, gluten
Hop Drops is a perfect choice for someone like me who is not into sweet, zero-calorie drinks! Both varieties are good, but I am a mango guy and found that one to be my favorite.
I hope you try it, and let me know what you think!
Cheers!