How to Make Sparkling Hop Water, Plus 3 Simple Mocktail Recipes

The days are warmer. We’re all reaching for the light and warmth of summer, the hope of new growth in our gardens, and healing for the world around us.

This time of year, I would usually reach for a good, crisp bitter beer, like an IPA (India pale ale). However, due to a recent change in my health journey, I’m limiting alcohol. While I don’t miss the sometimes negative effects it has on me, I do miss enjoying a “special” drink, and I miss the bold flavors and hoppy taste of IPA's!

Then a friend turned me on to hop water—a non-alcoholic, carbonated, hop-infused beverage that hits the spot for that IPA craving, but without adverse effects! As I set out to make my own hop water at home (the grocery store kind can be pretty pricey), I couldn’t find a recipe that didn’t involve complicated methods and require special equipment.

So after some experimentation, I came up with an excellent hop water recipe that is much simpler, more cost effective (under $1 per drink), and just as tasty! I’ve also included three recipes for using your homemade hop water as a base for other refreshing and highly nutritious “mocktails.”

What Are Hops?

Hops (Humulus lupulus) have a fascinating history. Part of the Cannabaceae family, they are most notably associated with flavoring and preservation of beer, specifically the IPAs (India pale ales). When added to the fermentation process, the female flowers of the plant provide that distinct true hop taste: earthy, slightly bitter, subtly floral, with notes of citrus flavor—a very dynamic flavor profile.

Hops (in tea or tincture form) are widely known to promote restful sleep and reduce anxiety. But recent studies into the benefits of hops suggest that the plant may be useful in treating symptoms of menopause and aid in digestive health, reducing body fat, allergies, heart health, pain and inflammation, and a host of other things.1 2 (As with any herb or supplement, you should always consult your health care practitioner about using hops in a medicinal way.)

Want to learn more about the healing gifts of hops? Check out HerbMentor, LearningHerbs' online learning membership site: you'll not only get access to the hops monograph but also can ask expert herbalists questions all about hops, remedy making, and more. Join HerbMentor here for $1. 

To make a batch of amazing hop water, look for hops at your local herb store, which may sell loose hops flowers by the ounce. If shopping online is your preferred method, you can find hops at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Homemade Sparkling Hop Water

This recipe makes a concentrated hop tea or infusion, which is added to sparkling water to taste for a delicious sparkling hops water. This refreshing alternative to traditional IPA's makes for a tasty beverage to enjoy solo or with friends—plus, this nonalcoholic beer alternative has just as much bitter kick as actual beer (IPA's).

What you’ll need…

• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon whole hops flowers
• Fresh lemon (optional)
• Carbonated water (unflavored) to taste
• Need herbs? Visit Mountain Rose Herbs.

1. Heat water to about 170 to 175°F (if you have one of those fancy electric tea kettles, you can select the “green tea” setting).
2. While the water is heating, place the loose hops flowers into a clean teapot or glass measuring cup. I like to use my large Pyrex measuring bowl with pour spout since it’s wide and clear.

3. Pour the hot water over the hops, and let steep for 5 to 10 minutes, gently stirring once or twice. The steep time may vary depending on your desired potency. If you like your brew to have a bite and want it really hoppy, the longer the better. If you prefer a more subtle brew, steep for 5 minutes or less. When in doubt, do a taste test!
4. When the hop tea is brewed to your liking, pour the hop water through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean mason jar. Add a few drops of lemon juice to enhance the flavor, cover with a paper towel or clean dish towel and let the liquid cool down. For quicker cooling, place in the fridge. 

5. When the tea is cooled, combine it with the sparkling water (about 1 part tea to 2 parts water). Enjoy it straight up, or use it as a base for one of the following herbal mocktails!
6. Store the remaining tea in the fridge with a secure lid on the mason jar, and use within 5 days.

Yield: About 8 ounces of hop tea

3 Hop Water-Based Mocktail Recipes

HOP-jito

Here’s an herbal twist on the classic mojito—the lime, mint, and fizzy water are sure to cool you down! 

What you’ll need…

• ⅓ to ½ cup hop tea
• Sparkling water to taste
• Juice from ½ a lime
• ½ to 1 tablespoon coconut palm sugar or other natural sweetener
• 2 sprigs of fresh mint
• 1 lime wedge

1. In a glass, combine the hop tea and sparkling water to make your “base.” Adjust the hop tea to water ratio as desired.
2. In a small glass dish, muddle together the lime juice, sugar, and the leaves of one sprig of mint (5 to 6 leaves). Add this to the hop water base.
3. Gently bruise the leaves of the remaining sprig of mint to release flavor, and stir it into the glass).

Healing Hop Elixir

This is a powerful anti-inflammatory drink with a range of tasty botanical flavors! Sprinkle in some cayenne pepper for an added kick to your finished product.

What you’ll need…

• ⅓ to ½ cup of hop tea
• Sparkling water to taste
• ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ⅓ cup orange juice
• Juice from 1 lemon wedge
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
• Orange or lemon slice for garnish

1. In a glass, combine the hop tea and sparkling water to make your “base.” Adjust the hop tea to water ratio as desired.
2. Add the remaining ingredients to your hop water base.
3. Embellish with a slice of orange or lemon.
4.  

Berry Hoppy

Fruity flavor forward and thirst quenching, you can’t go wrong combining a variety of favorite berries with hop water on a warm summer day. This also makes for a great low-sugar alternative to soda.

What you’ll need…

• ⅓ to ½ cup hop tea
• Sparkling water to taste
• Handful of fresh berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, or better yet, a combo)
• ⅓ cup orange or pomegranate juice
• 1 teaspoon coconut palm sugar or other natural sweetener (optional)
• Orange slice or berries for garnish

1. Combine the hop tea and sparkling water to make your “base.” Adjust the hop tea to water ratio as desired.
2. Muddle the berries and strain the juice through a fine-mesh strainer over a small bowl, saving some pulp.
3. Add the berry juice and pulp, orange or pomegranate juice, and optional sweetener to the hop water base and stir.
4. Embellish with a slice of orange or a couple of loose berries in the drink.

Written by Caitelen Schneeberger

Caitelen Schneeberger has been a “community herbalist” for almost 10 years, beginning as a new mom making a simple salve for diaper rash. Today, Caitelen has ongoing batches of various salves, tinctures, and teas that she uses to care for her family and shares with her friends and community in Santa Fe, NM. When she’s not learning about and using herbs, she’s an independent recording artist, singer-songwriter, producer, poet, and full time mom of two.