![]() ![]() I did both without adding any salts or acids.įor the dry hop method, I collected one gallon of filtered water and then added four grams of Cascade into a hop sock and added it into the water. The first one would be the dry hop method and the second one would be the hot steep method. To start, I made separate one-gallon batches. ![]() I had to find out if this was indeed the best way to make hop water and, not only that, I would also test whether or not you need to add those salts and acids to finally get to the bottom of this. So, maybe that’s why their products are smoother and more fruity. Wow, that certainly sounds cool, although I’m not sure how that technically works. They even add a pinch of brewer’s yeast to biotransform the hops. Lagunitas version is made with Citra, as well as Equinox and Centennial Hops, and they also dry hop the water. I haven’t really seen any recipes online that mention this. They start with carbon-filtered, pH-adjusted water and say they dry hop the water for a brief amount of time, which is interesting. On their site, they have a segment about the recipe. Sierra Nevada’s version is made with Citra and Amarillo, which they say gives a medley of peach, mango, and grapefruit flavors. Two of the most popular ones near me are Sierra Nevada’s Hop Splash and Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher. If we stop and take a quick look at the pro versions, we can gain some insight into how they do it. This is how I did it for a long while since it seemed like this was the only way it could be done, but then I tried a pro-brewed hop water, and my idea of what a good hop water should be started to change. Many of the popular hop water recipes online look pretty similar and they infuse hops into warm water around 170 degrees, then chill, add gypsum, sometimes even calcium chloride, and add some form of acid, then carbonate in a keg and syrup. If you’re not familiar with either of these, you can easily get them at any homebrew store for a few bucks or find a link in the description to pick some up online if you want to test them out yourself. Using something like gypsum or calcium sulfate should really make the hops pop, at least when we brew beer and add this, it tends to promote hop character and prominence.Īdding some acid, either in the form of lactic acid or even some citrus, should make the water even more refreshing and quenchable, at least in theory. Well, we can look to beer salts to see how they might be able to amplify the hop character. But is there anything that can be done to heighten the experience? I think this goes without saying, but the best-tasting water will make the best-tasting sparkling water. Citra, Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, Mosaic, and really any hop that you like in a hazy IPA are great choices. So, when choosing hops, you should be picking one that has flavors you like.ĭon’t expect Fuggle hop water that tastes like pineapples. I want a citrusy and tropical-tasting hop water as opposed to a floral and woody one, but if that’s your jam, then go for it. So hurdle one is trying not to extract too much astringent bitterness, and the hop character that comes through should be more fruity and juicy, or at least in my mind. If the hop water is super bitter, it won’t be enjoyable.īitterness works in beer because the sweet wort balances it out, but in water, there’s nothing to balance it. Hop water is first and foremost a refreshing sparkling water that has the essence of hops. ![]() There’s more to it than that.įor one, it’s not about how bitter it is. It’s just water and hops mixed together with some bubbles, right? Well, I bet if you go to your home brewery right now and toss a hop pellet into a cup of water, I guarantee you’ll have a hard time putting that back. I plan to crack the code by testing several recipes and putting them head to head to find once and for all the ultimate hop water recipe to rule them all. It’s like beer-flavored LaCroix-what’s not to like?īut how come the stuff from the store tastes so much better than the sparkling hop water I make at home? What’s the trick? Whether you’re doing Dry January, Sober October, or just want a refreshing alcohol-free drink, it’s hard to deny the greatness of hop water. ![]()
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