Many outlets credit the year 2010 as the official starting point of “Sober October,” a monthlong challenge where people forgo all alcohol. Thanks to various podcasters and influencers boasting the positive effects of the “sober curious” movement, the concept has stuck.
Fast forward to 2023, and 63 percent of 1,000 participants in a survey said they heard about sober curiosity through social media. According to the same survey, 34 percent of people said they are trying to drink less in 2023, 28 percent said they want to “break up” with alcohol, and 24 percent said they aren’t drinking at all.
If you’re interested in cutting back on or giving up alcohol completely, there are plenty of booze-free drink options. For the month of October, BarBend has teamed with HOP WTR — the producers of non-alcoholic sparkling hop water — to taste and detail their four flavors each week. And for this article, we’re checking out their mango flavor.
HOP WTR
Tasting HOP WTR Mango
A fruity and refreshing sip, HOP WTR’s mango flavor contains four hops — Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, and Azacca. These are the same four hops featured in the brand’s Classic variety, and they’re also often used in many traditional pale ales and IPAs on the market. The mango flavor turns this non-alc bevy into more of a seltzer than a pure beer replacement. Here’s what you can expect:
Aroma
The carbonation will tingle your nose, and instantly, you’ll get a whiff of classic mango with a bit of the forestry notes that a hoppy pale ale typically provides. If you’re partial to malt-forward lagers or stouts, this is off-base from what you’re probably looking for.
Appearance
HOP WTR definitely skews heavily toward the seltzer category when you pour it into a glass. The bubbles erupt due to the carbonation; a small, one-inch(ish) head develops quickly but dissipates as the liquid settles. Mango’s coloring is nearly transparent.
Taste and Mouthfeel
Bubbles coat your tongue, leaving you with a semi-strong, but not overly sweet, mango flavor. Let about two seconds go by, and the hop taste should jog onto your palette, which brings an ever-so-slightly bitter note that compliments the sweet nature of the mango.
Due to its thinner body, this drink goes down like a seltzer, not beer. Compared to a type of beer, this feels most like a light lager (think any “Light” version of a major beer brand). If you’re looking for viscosity that leaves you feeling full, you’ll be left wanting more. But another way to think about it is you can reach for hop flavors with none of the bloat.
Food Pairings
Considering this drinks more like a seltzer than beer, you can enjoy this beverage with a wide range of foods. After giving this a try, we think the mango flavor pairs particularly well with meals such as fish tacos, a chicken Caesar wrap, and any bowl from your local Mediterranean joint.
The Benefits of HOP WTR
Let’s start with the obvious — by opting for a HOP WTR (or any non-alcoholic beverage) over an alcoholic beverage, you can curtail the undeniably negative impact that alcohol has on your health.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), excessive alcohol use can lead to heart disease, stroke, liver disease, digestive issues, and high blood pressure. The CDC defines heavy drinking as 15 or more drinks per week for men and eight or more weekly drinks for women.
More specifically, HOP WTR contains two unique ingredients — ashwagandha and l-theanine.
Ashwagandha has been shown to help decrease stress in humans. One small study featuring 58 participants showed that the people who took either 250 or 600 milligrams of ashwagandha extract for eight weeks had less anxiety and stress. (1) The researchers measured anxiety using the Hamilton-Anxiety Scale and the participant’s cortisol at baseline and the end of eight weeks. Their stress was measured using a PSS (perceived stress scale) at four and eight weeks.
Though this is a small study, the findings indicate that the adaptogen could be beneficial in reducing stress and anxiety.
L-theanine may also have stress and anxiety-reducing benefits, and a 2021 study in the Journal of Medicinal Food shows that it may contribute to improving attention, bolstering one’s ability to remember better and perform tasks related to work. (2)
Hops for All
If you’re sold on or tempted to try Sober October (or nixing alcohol at any time), you can turn to HOP WTR for a hop-inspired, seltzer-light drink that’ll satisfy your desire to imbibe. You’ll save calories (the mango flavor contains zero) and possibly reduce your anxiety and stress thanks to the added l-theanine and ashwagandha.
HOP WTR
References
- Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. Cureus. 2019 Dec 25;11(12):e6466.
- Baba Y, Inagaki S, Nakagawa S, Kaneko T, Kobayashi M, Takihara T. Effects of l-Theanine on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. J Med Food. 2021 Apr;24(4):333-341.
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