Sierra Nevada Hop Splash vs Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher
Battle of the hop waters
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Hop waters are pretty much just that. Hop-infused, carbonated water, with or without added flavors, depending on the brand. Some hop waters, such as Hop Wtr also contain functional properties such as ashwaganda for relaxation and anxiety relief and l-theanine for focus and alertness.
Hop waters usually feature 0-alcohol, 0-sugar, and 0-calories. As such they are a great option for those wanting the taste of hops without the calories. They’re a good beer alternative for those trying a no-carb diet like Keto or Whole30. Imagine a more nuanced, not-so-fruity, flavored sparkling water, that brings your stress levels down a notch (hops have calming properties.)
While there’s a range of hop waters on the market, the two giants of the industry are Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher and Sierra Nevada Hop Splash. I’ll review them side-by-side in this post.
Sierra Nevada Hop Splash is the adult-version among the two contenders. Containing no added flavors beyond hops, there’s no sweetness in this drink. Hop Splash is very fizzy and hoppy bitter. There’s a bit of a musty smell and a mild bitter sensation on the tongue. The hops really shine through in this one, with slight notes of grapefruit, peach, and mango amidst more floral and herbal hop aromas. It’s in line with what Sierra Nevada beer customers would expect from a hop water from this brewery. Nicely done.
Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher is the more adolescent contender, imparting more of a tropical fruit soda experience without being overly sweet. Hoppy Refresher smells sweet like clementines or honey nectar. There’s less fizz, giving this hop water more of a light juice or syrupy feeling. Lagunitas Hop water’s sweetness must come from its added “natural flavors.”There’s hints of strawberry and citrus—perhaps some pineapple and passionfruit. A very refreshing flavored hop water for those who like a little sweetness—and quite unlike the bitter hoppy beers this brewery is otherwise known for.
Despite their higher price point compared to other seltzer waters (hop waters tend to be priced like beer), they’re rising in popularity. According to Nielsen: “non-alcoholic hop water beverages have pulled in $5.5 million sales in the U.S., jumping from $2.3 million just two years before—up by a huge 142.5%.“ The likely reason: “these new hop water trends are part of a wider fashion for lighter and generally healthier alternatives to traditional beer and even non-alcoholic beer. Source: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/insights/education/2022/hop-water-a-new-non-alcoholic-beverage-trend/
My review of Hop Wtr’s main flavors (they just launched a new one which I already ordered and can’t wait to try—ginger limeade):