Non-Alcoholic Hop Water: Innovating with Advanced Hop Products
A huge thank you to James and Montana from Wooden Hill Brewing for putting this amazing article together and sharing their brewing knowledge on advanced hop products. We hope this sparks some creativity and encourages you to add a hoppy NA refresher to your taproom!
<SNAG SOME EUPHORICS FOR YOURSELF>
Introducing: Le Hop Euphoric Non-Alcoholic Hop Water
Wooden Hill’s new non-alcoholic hop water is here!
Crafted in collaboration with Yakima Valley Hops, featuring the Euphorics™ Peachy Keen extract, an exciting new development in the world of advanced hop products. These hop extracts are paving the way to even more innovation in the world of alcohol-free adult beverages, and helping us kick off Dry January strong!
Advanced Hop Products: A New Era for Brewers
As brewers, we have an unwavering love for hops. Whether it’s coaxing out juicy, aromatic notes in a hazy IPA or striking a delicate balance of earthy flavors in a crisp pilsner, hops are at the heart of our craft. While we all have our favorite varieties (ahem Citra), the quest for the next innovation never stops.
It’s an exciting time to be a brewer, whether you’re a seasoned professional or a passionate homebrewer. Access to high-quality ingredients has never been easier—one tap of a smartphone and you’re set to brew something special.
The Nitty-Gritty: Advanced Hop Products and Alcohol-Free Adult Beverages
One of the most thrilling developments in the world of hops has been the rise of advanced hop products. These aren’t your grandfather’s hop extracts. Thanks to modern technology, manufacturers have found ways to preserve the full, vibrant flavors of our favorite hop varieties.
This is a game changer, especially for the growing non-alcoholic (NA) beverage market. Traditionally, dry hopping—adding hops directly to fermenting or conditioning beer—relies on alcohol to achieve maximum hop utilization. The higher the alcohol content, the more effectively hops can infuse the beer with flavor and aroma. But now, with these new products, we can replicate the essence of hops without the alcohol.
Modern hop extracts and non-alcoholic hop water
Hops are no longer just for beer. In recent years, we’ve seen an explosion of non-alcoholic hop water, hoppy teas, and even THC-infused beverages that leverage advanced hop products to deliver the familiar hop experience—without the buzz.
One of our favorite suppliers, Yakima Valley Hops, has been at the forefront of these innovations. They’ve long been our go-to for premium hop products, and we couldn’t resist diving into their latest recommendation: Euphorics, specifically the Peachy Keen variety.
Brewing Le Hop Non-Alcoholic Hop Water: Our Process
For our latest batch of hop water, we’ve teamed up with Yakima Valley Hops to create something truly special. Here’s how we do it:
- Water is Key: We begin by filling a sanitized brite tank with water from our reverse osmosis filtration system. This ensures the water is pure and free from any unwanted flavors.
- Infusion and Carbonation: Using our mobile pump, we set up a recirculation loop to evenly mix the Euphorics extract into the water. This step serves double duty: it ensures a thorough infusion while also providing inline carbonation to give the hop water that refreshing fizz.
- Flavor Perfection: Once we reach the desired dosage and the flavor profile is just right, we adjust the pH with citric acid (the tangy stuff you taste on sour candy) to create a crisp finish and improve preservation.
- Le Hop is Born: And just like that, Le Hop version two is ready. It’s crisp, refreshing, and bursting with peachy hop character—without the alcohol.
Try It for Yourself
So, whether you’re taking a break from alcohol or simply looking to quench your thirst with something new, come down to the taproom and grab a pint or a four-pack of Le Hop to go. Cheers to the future of hops—and to a whole new world of possibilities!
James Ewen: Co-Founder & Director of Brewing Operations
Montana Davis: Head Brewer
