I’ve long been obsessed with hop water, one of my favorite non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy. When done right, it’s the perfect blend of seltzer water goodness with aromatic hop flavoring. Not beer, and definitely not LaCroix, hop water is (and I stress this, when done right) a delightful drink that I wish more taprooms served.
HOPWTR (which I can only assume is pronounced “Hop Water”) is one of the most widely available seltzer waters that embraces hop flavor. Marketed as a beer alternative, it’s definitely a seltzer water and not a beer. That being said, HOPWTR is much closer to beer than most other hop waters that I’ve tried.
Here’s what I thought of HOPWTR.
HOPWTR: A Closer Look
I normally only find hop water on tap at select breweries, so seeing it in a can was a nice change of pace. And it turns out, so was being able to drink at home! But more on that in a moment.
Here’s what HOPWTR is: it’s water, so no calories, carbs, or sugar, and it’s non-alcoholic, so no booze. Each can has tons of Vitamin C, adaptogens, and nootropics, so you could make the argument that HOPWTR is actually healthy to drink. After all, it is water.
What makes HOPWTR unique is that it uses a blend of hops, including some of my favorites like Amarillo, Mosaic, and Citra, that provides an authentic hop aroma and flavor. As far as accessibility goes, it’s easy to get pretty much anywhere in the United States (they ship to your door), and there are different flavors to choose from, including iced teas, lemonade, and apple juice. But I’m going to stick to talking about the sparkling hop water.
HOPWTR Flavor and Profile
I tried the Blood Orange flavor, hoping for a more natural-tasting alternative to my precious San Pellegrino Aranciata Rossa. What can I say, I’m a sparkling drink junkie.
HOPWTR Blood Orange checks pretty much every box I have when it comes to sparkling water. It’s fresh, with a subtle flavor from the hop varieties, which is perfect. I feel like any more flavor might make this too hop-heavy, and any less would make it taste like unflavored water. What HOPWTR isn’t is fake-tasting; there’s no weird syrupy sensation you get with some sparkling waters, and the flavors aren’t forced in an unnatural way.
As for the flavors, HOPWTR Blood Orange definitely smells like blood orange, but it doesn’t really come through as strongly flavor-wise. I imagine that this is the result of the hops kind of dominating the flavors, but I’ll have to try some of the other flavors before I make a final judgment on that.
All in all, HOPWTR is a clean, sparkling water with hop flavor that doesn’t push anything too far.
Final Thoughts: HOPWTR Blood Orange
I’m incredibly supportive of the non-alcoholic beer alternative movement, and I’m already a big fan of hop water. Today, right now, HOPWTR is one of the best hop waters that I’ve had, but I didn’t expect how much I would enjoy having this at home. Having hop water at the brewery is fun, but opening a can of hop water at home during football? Or in the afternoon after a slew of meetings? Or after going on a walk in the sun? HOPWTR scratched that not-quite-time-for-beer-but-something-tastier-than-water itch perfectly.
The biggest downside I can think of is the price. No, HOPWTR isn’t terribly cheap, with a 12-pack of the Blood Orange flavor running about $30. This isn’t super far off the cost of beer, which I think is just a reflection of the cost of hops. In any case, I know that’s going to be a turn-off for people, which is understandable.
Again, I can really only speak to the Blood Orange flavor, but I’ve already recommended it to friends in person, and I’d happily recommend it here.
Rating: 4/5
- HOPWTR Review: Best Hop Water On The Market? - October 28, 2026
- 13 Best Light Beers, Ranked - October 7, 2026
- What Is Skunked Beer? (And How to Prevent It) - October 1, 2026
