The Definitive Guide to Austin Hop Water
December 5, 2023
Austin breweries are no strangers to the national trend of better for you beers and beer alternatives. While few local breweries have the capability to make non-alcoholic beers, another booze-free beverage has taken off in Central Texas: hop waters. Hop waters are made by dry-hopping cold water or steeping hot water with hops, optionally adding flavoring to the brew, then carbonating. What emerges from this process is more or less a lupulin-laced La Croix. Non-alcoholic, calorie-free, hydrating, and infinitely customizable, hop waters are popping up all over the Austin area.
Whitestone Brewery: Original and Tropical HopWater
Cedar Park’s Whitestone Brewery was the one of the first breweries in Texas to make hop water, beginning production in April of 2020. The Original combines Centennial and Cascade dry hopping with natural raspberry and lemon flavor. The resulting hop water has pineapple and vegetal notes. The Tropical variant does not list a hop blend or flavoring, but is a little sweeter with a papaya aftertaste.
Red Horn Brewing Side Gig
As a coffee roaster/craft brewery, Red Horn Brewing (locations in Cedar Park and Leander) is no stranger to beer alternatives. Side Gig has one of the gentler flavor profiles of the local hop waters, with a touch of chamomile flower.
Hopsquad Hop Water
North Austin’s Hopsquad is one of the few breweries to put their hop water on tap rather than in cans only. Their product also stands out for the addition of electrolytes. Another subtle hop water, it has a vaguely minty flavor with a hint of citrus.
Independence Brewing KAW!
South Austin’s Independence Brewing is another hop water maker with an eye toward nutritional value. Their KAW! hop water is flavored with Citra and Mosaic Cryo Hops and organic acerola cherry extract, which adds a large dose of Vitamin C and Iron. The water is citrusy with light mineral notes.
Zilker Hop Water
Best known for their hazy IPAs and fruited sours, East Austin’s Zilker Brewing took their hop water in a distinctly different direction. Zilker Hop Water has a flavor profile reminiscent of a Brut IPA: dry, with strong, almost tomato-like vegetal flavor from Cryo Pop and Idaho-7 hops.
Vacancy Brewing Hop Water
South Austin’s Vacancy Brewing only serves their hop water on tap. The hop blend of Citra, Chinook, Sabro, and Simcoe yields a fruity flavor profile with an extremely clean finish.
Austin Beerworks Hop Water
Austin Beerworks (locations in North and East Austin) has a reputation for cutting-edge experimentation with hops and thiolized yeast. Their innovative techniques and flavors are on display in this hop water, which uses hops, flavor extract, and citric acid to produce a uniquely Pez-like flavor.
Rick’s Crispy Hop Water
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Rick’s Near Beer in Central Austin is the city’s only fully non-alcoholic brewery. Their hop water includes citric acid, which gives it a bit of zip to go along with a gentle, floral hop flavor.
St. Elmo Hop Water
South Austin’s St. Elmo Brewing was one of the earliest breweries in Central Texas to make a hop water. Grassy and herbaceous, the hop water has a lively bit of citric acid sourness.
