Hop Water Recipe - Soda Water with Hops!

This blog provides information for educational purposes only. Read our complete summary for more info.

how to make hop waterThis is a hop water recipe, which is like LaCroix flavored with hops. It's super light and refreshing and tastes a bit like beer. However, it doesn't contain any sweeteners, gluten, or alcohol. This means that you can chug hop water without getting tipsy or tired. Some people want to get tipsy, and those people should check out one of our homebrew recipes. For those who don't, read on.

Hop Water Ingredients

The beauty of this hop water recipe is how simple it is to make. Here's what you need to get started.

1. Water
2. Hops

    lemon drop hop label

    We used Lemon drop hops, feel free to use any hop variety you prefer.

    3. Lemon juice

    lemon juice

    Equipment Needed 

    Our hop water recipe is super easy to make, but make sure you have the right equipment before starting. Don't have a home brewing system? Check out our brewing equipment.

    1. Brew Kettle

    2. pH Meter

    3. Cheesecloth or Mesh Bag

    4. Carbonation Equipment

    How To Make Hop Water - Full Recipe Video

    Watch the below video to follow our recipe step by step. You'll see how easy it is to make your own hop water at home. (LaCroix, who?)

    Making The Hop Water Recipe

    1. Add water to brew kettle.
    2. Boil for 10 minutes.
    3. Chill to 170F (76.7C).
    4. Lower pH by adding lemon juice (to 4.6 or lower) - just a small squirt of lemon juice should be enough.

    adding lemon juice to hop water

    Adding lemon juice while monitoring pH with a meter.

    5. Add hops (2g per gallon) and let stand for 20 mins (FYI: We used lemon drop hops).

    hops in water

    Your hops will start dispersing and dissolving after a while.

    6. Filter out hops with cheesecloth or a mesh bag.

    straining hop water with a mesh bag

    7. Cool to serving temperature.
    8. Carbonate.
    9. Drink!

    pouring finished hop water

    The final product was surprisingly clear and extremely refreshing!

    Final Thoughts

    This hop water recipe is super easy to make and is a great alternative beverage for folks who either don't want to or can't drink alcohol. We highly recommend making some of this stuff! Let us know how your hop water turned out!

    Portrait of Kyle Brown

    Kyle Brown is the owner of Clawhammer Supply, a small scale distillation and brewing equipment company which he founded in 2009. His passion is teaching people about the many uses of distillation equipment as well as how to make beer at home. When he isn't brewing beer or writing about it, you can find him at his local gym or on the running trail.

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    22 Comments

    • S
      Comment Author: swarthout

      I’VE DONE THIS RECIPe numerous times with different hops. low alpha “citric” hops work best.
      styrian golding, tettnang worked well..
      azacca ctz summit did not.
      i think its hard to dial in the appropriate bitterness on high alpha hops.
      grassy non citric hops dont do well either. fuggle was awful! thanks for the recipe!
      i want to try huell melon, hallertau blanc and that french one that tastes like cherry (loral?)

    • A
      Comment Author: Arturo

      What about hop oxidation? Is the co2 carbonation enough to get rid off oxygen?

    • ML
      Comment Author: Mike Longo

      I used about 1/8 lime per liter to get ph to about 4.2. I used 2 grams whole hops (cascade) for a one liter batch. I hooked a liter bottle to a carbonation cap. Will be doing bigger batches in the future. You could do a lot with this recipe: flavorings, sweeteners, fruit, etc. skies the limit!

    • C
      Comment Author: Carl

      Do you hold the temp at 76.7 for the whole 20 mins?

    • BG
      Comment Author: BRUCH Gretsch

      If I was to use fresh hops ,how much do you think is needed per gallon of water ?