One of the four common ingredients in beer, once legally mandated in Germany, is the humble hop. This cone of resin, acids, and other plant matter gives the beer we all love its balance of bitterness and sweetness, imparts wonderful floral flavors, and even hides imperfections in the beer while keeping it tasting fresh.

This ingredient can shine in beverages far beyond beer. As we’ve previously discussed, hopped seltzers are increasingly popular in today’s world – but they are far from a product of modernity.

In this article, we review Lagunitas’ Hoppy Refresher.

Lagunitas is synonymous with bold and adventurous American beers. While they produce almost every style, they revere the Hop (and its close cousin) in ways many have tried to emulate but few have achieved. It makes sense that they’d take this ingredient and figure out how to make it stand out on its own.

The Hoppy Refresher is a delight – the perfect summer non-alcoholic beverage. It’s akin to a beer-lover’s La Croix. The effervescence is assertive yet non-offensive. Those tiny bubbles help carry the flavor of the hops.

Unsurprisingly, Citra, Centennial, and Equinox hops grace this bubbly water. All of these offer excellent floral and citrus flavors. They provide a subtle sweetness that this drinker particularly appreciates. Why reach for a Coke or other soft drink filled to the brim with refined sugars when I can grab one of these? The choice seems obvious and potentially healthier than the alternative.

“But wait!” The reader might say. “If one function of hops is to add bitterness to the drink, is the refresher bitter too?”

While the refresher does have a touch of bitterness, it’s extremely mild. Remember, hops’ bittering properties really kick in during the boil. This is why the earlier hops enter the boil, the more bitterness they impart.

However, perhaps the best thing about this beverage is the cheeky cartoon waiting to greet the drinker on the back of the front label.

Until next time, cheers!