{"id":604530901298,"title":"HOP WTR Review: What's Actually In It?","created_at":"2022-12-21T23:55:15-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"HOP WTR Review: What's Actually In It?\",\n \"keywords\": \"hop wtr, hop wtr review, hop wtr reviews, hop water, hop water review, hop water reviews\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews the ingredients in HOP WTR to give our take on whether the drinks actually have nootropic and adaptogenic effects like the brand claims. We give our take on whether the brand is healthy or not, and highlight one questionable additive ingredient.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/hop-wtr-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"DJ Mazzoni\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.S.\",\n \"R.D.\",\n \"C.D.N.\",\n \"C.S.C.S.\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/dj-mazzoni\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dj-mazzoni-rd-cdn-cscs-00a33038\/\",\n \"http:\/\/djmazzoni.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"exercise, drugs, pharmaceutical, health, workout, strength and conditioning, nutrition, dietetics, medicine, medical research, scientific research, scientific method, healthcare, patient care, wellness\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"State University of New York College Oswego\",\n \"D’Youville College\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/HOP_WTR_Thumbnail_Optimized.png?v=1671685336\",\n\"width\": \"2500\",\n\"height\": \"2500\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8632422\/\", \n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3620743\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8868281\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.fakespot.com\/product\/hop-wtr-sparkling-hop-water-variety-pack-12-pack-na-beer-no-calories-or-sugar-low-carb-with-adaptogens-and-nootropics-for-added-benefits-12-oz-cans-09174434-3e34-4bf1-b199-1b3c5335c544\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"l-theanine\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"ashwagandha\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Heineken 0.0\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Fakespot\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2022-12-22\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/HOP_WTR_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1671684731\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eH\u003c\/span\u003eOP WTR is an interesting brand. It’s a non-alcoholic beverage made from hops, the same botanical used to make beer. However, unlike other non-alcoholic beer brands, HOP WTR positions itself as a health product because it’s “crafted with adaptogens and nootropics.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut what nootropic and adaptogenic ingredients are in HOP WTR and will they actually have health effects? Are hops healthy or unhealthy? Does HOP WTR contain any questionable additive ingredients? And how does it taste?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in two flavors of HOP WTR to give our take on whether the drinks are actually likely to have nootropic and adaptogenic effects, or if this is just a marketing claim.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll also share real, unsponsored user reviews including taste tests.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs HOP WTR Actually Nootropic?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eNootropics are a category of compounds that enhance cognitive function. Adaptogens are a category of compounds that make the body more resilient to stress.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe nootropic ingredient included in HOP WTR is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003el-theanine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, and the adaptogenic ingredient included is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eashwagandha\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/HOP_WTR_Lime_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1671684757\" alt=\"HOP WTR Lime ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOur issue with HOP WTR is the doses of these active ingredients aren’t published. As shown in the ingredient label above, the brand simply lists them without a dosage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt’s impossible to determine the effectiveness of an active ingredient without its dose.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs an example to prove our point, a 2021 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8632422\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that 300 milligrams (mg) of ashwagandha extract improved mental acuity and reduced stress levels. But this doesn’t prove that ashwagandha at any level has those effects; just at that dose.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHOP WTR also uses the raw ashwagandha powder, while most of the clinical research we’ve reviewed uses ashwagandha \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eextract\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, which is a more potent and standardized version.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile HOP WTR does contain nootropic and adaptogenic ingredients, we don’t have any evidence that these ingredients are effectively dosed, so we don’t have any reason to believe these drinks will have adaptogenic or nootropic effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs HOP WTR Healthy or Unhealthy?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHealthiness is subjective, but we typically recommend avoiding food products or supplements that contain questionable additive ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn the case of HOP WTR, there is only one such ingredient in our opinion: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003enatural flavor\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3620743\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eEnvironmental Health Perspectives\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal documented some toxicity concerns regarding natural flavoring compounds. The issue is that this is a broad categorical term, and fails to describe the specific flavoring agents used. Some natural flavoring compounds may be safe, but some may be unsafe.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe recommend avoiding HOP WTR due to the inclusion of natural flavor, but on our list of concerning additives this is low.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt appears that this ingredient is common in non-alcoholic beers. The ingredient list of Heineken 0.0, which is arguably the most popular non-alcoholic beverage on the market, also contains this ingredient as shown below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Heineken_0.0_Ingredients.png?v=1671684790\" alt=\"Heineken 0.0 ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHops\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e may have health benefits, as a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8868281\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eNutrients\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal documented their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall we consider HOP WTR to be moderately healthy due to the hops, but we can’t recommend the product due to the inclusion of natural flavors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow Does HOP WTR Taste?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA TikTok user named Lyndsay Mysior reviewed HOP WTR including a taste test:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@lindsaysjournal\/video\/7133031985429400878\" data-video-id=\"7133031985429400878\" style=\"max-width: 375px; min-width: 325px;\"\u003e\n\u003csection\u003e\u003ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"@lindsaysjournal\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@lindsaysjournal?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e@lindsaysjournal\u003c\/a\u003e Trying Alcohol Alternatives, Part 3 feat. @hopwtr 🤗 \u003ca title=\"hopwater\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/hopwater?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#hopwater\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca title=\"hopwtr\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/hopwtr?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#hopwtr\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca title=\"retokfornature\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/retokfornature?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e#ReTokforNature\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"♬ In Dreams - Sierra Ferrell\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/In-Dreams-6974949835822155777?refer=embed\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003e♬ In Dreams - Sierra Ferrell\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cscript async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHOP WTR Real Customer Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHOP WTR is sold on Amazon, which is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. The brand’s most popular product on Amazon is a 12-pack which includes all of the flavors, and has been reviewed over 300 times.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe product has an average customer review rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, but a “D” grade \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fakespot.com\/product\/hop-wtr-sparkling-hop-water-variety-pack-12-pack-na-beer-no-calories-or-sugar-low-carb-with-adaptogens-and-nootropics-for-added-benefits-12-oz-cans-09174434-3e34-4bf1-b199-1b3c5335c544\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eon Fakespot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, which is a software tool that detects potentially fake Amazon reviews. Fakespot typically issues an “Adjusted Rating” after accounting for potentially fake reviews, but in the case of HOP WTR the tool states that there are “Insufficient reliable reviews” to issue an Adjusted Rating, which is somewhat concerning in our opinion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Jeannette Baldwin” who claims the product is healthy and tastes good:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“I’m sober so I don’t drink alcohol ever… \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ethese have a great flavor and I love the hop taste and such a bonus that there’s no carbs sugar or calories\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e. Definitely worth the money.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Nicole” who claims the product had none of its claimed effects:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eEverything about this drink resembles just another canned seltzer water. Absolutely no zen or relaxing feeling that it claims to do. After 4 drinks in one evening I realized it was just a regular seltzer water.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e The flavors taste about the same as the other canned waters, which is the only good thing I have to say about this drink. It’s very expensive and did nothing for me.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Healthy Non-Alcoholic Beer Recommendation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Non-alcoholic_Beer_Image.png?v=1671684832\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YF0cqZ\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAthletic Brewing Company\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is our top pick for a healthy non-alcoholic beer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe brand uses all whole food ingredients like \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eorganic vienna malt\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eoats\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ehops\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e. Their cans have beautiful branding, and most importantly, their beers are entirely free of questionable additive ingredients like natural flavor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eInterested consumers can check out Athletic Brewing Company \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YF0cqZ\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to the brand’s official Amazon listing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHOP WTR is a decently formulated non-alcoholic beverage. It may be a relatively healthy substitute for people seeking to avoid alcohol, but we have no reason to believe the products are likely to cause any nootropic or adaptogenic effects because the brand fails to publish the dose of those active ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHOP WTR contains natural flavors which is an ingredient we recommend avoiding.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile hops may have health benefits, we believe there are superior options on the market that can provide the health benefits of hops, taste great, and are free of natural flavors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2022-12-21T23:57:01-05:00","updated_at":"2023-02-10T15:01:34-05:00","summary_html":"We review the ingredients in HOP WTR to give our take on whether the drinks actually have nootropic and adaptogenic effects like the brand claims. We give our take on whether the brand is healthy or not, and highlight one questionable additive ingredient.","template_suffix":"","handle":"hop-wtr-review","tags":"_related:nutrition"}

HOP WTR Review: What's Actually In It?

HOP WTR Review: What's Actually In It?


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Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

HOP WTR is an interesting brand. It’s a non-alcoholic beverage made from hops, the same botanical used to make beer. However, unlike other non-alcoholic beer brands, HOP WTR positions itself as a health product because it’s “crafted with adaptogens and nootropics.”

But what nootropic and adaptogenic ingredients are in HOP WTR and will they actually have health effects? Are hops healthy or unhealthy? Does HOP WTR contain any questionable additive ingredients? And how does it taste?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in two flavors of HOP WTR to give our take on whether the drinks are actually likely to have nootropic and adaptogenic effects, or if this is just a marketing claim.

We’ll also share real, unsponsored user reviews including taste tests.

Is HOP WTR Actually Nootropic?

Nootropics are a category of compounds that enhance cognitive function. Adaptogens are a category of compounds that make the body more resilient to stress.

The nootropic ingredient included in HOP WTR is l-theanine, and the adaptogenic ingredient included is ashwagandha.

HOP WTR Lime ingredients

Our issue with HOP WTR is the doses of these active ingredients aren’t published. As shown in the ingredient label above, the brand simply lists them without a dosage.

It’s impossible to determine the effectiveness of an active ingredient without its dose.

As an example to prove our point, a 2021 clinical trial found that 300 milligrams (mg) of ashwagandha extract improved mental acuity and reduced stress levels. But this doesn’t prove that ashwagandha at any level has those effects; just at that dose.

HOP WTR also uses the raw ashwagandha powder, while most of the clinical research we’ve reviewed uses ashwagandha extract, which is a more potent and standardized version.

While HOP WTR does contain nootropic and adaptogenic ingredients, we don’t have any evidence that these ingredients are effectively dosed, so we don’t have any reason to believe these drinks will have adaptogenic or nootropic effects.

Is HOP WTR Healthy or Unhealthy?

Healthiness is subjective, but we typically recommend avoiding food products or supplements that contain questionable additive ingredients.

In the case of HOP WTR, there is only one such ingredient in our opinion: natural flavor.

A medical review published in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal documented some toxicity concerns regarding natural flavoring compounds. The issue is that this is a broad categorical term, and fails to describe the specific flavoring agents used. Some natural flavoring compounds may be safe, but some may be unsafe.

We recommend avoiding HOP WTR due to the inclusion of natural flavor, but on our list of concerning additives this is low.

It appears that this ingredient is common in non-alcoholic beers. The ingredient list of Heineken 0.0, which is arguably the most popular non-alcoholic beverage on the market, also contains this ingredient as shown below.

Heineken 0.0 ingredients

Hops may have health benefits, as a medical review published in the Nutrients journal documented their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.

Overall we consider HOP WTR to be moderately healthy due to the hops, but we can’t recommend the product due to the inclusion of natural flavors.

How Does HOP WTR Taste?

A TikTok user named Lyndsay Mysior reviewed HOP WTR including a taste test:

@lindsaysjournal Trying Alcohol Alternatives, Part 3 feat. @hopwtr 🤗 #hopwater #hopwtr #ReTokforNature ♬ In Dreams - Sierra Ferrell

HOP WTR Real Customer Reviews

HOP WTR is sold on Amazon, which is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. The brand’s most popular product on Amazon is a 12-pack which includes all of the flavors, and has been reviewed over 300 times.

The product has an average customer review rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, but a “D” grade on Fakespot, which is a software tool that detects potentially fake Amazon reviews. Fakespot typically issues an “Adjusted Rating” after accounting for potentially fake reviews, but in the case of HOP WTR the tool states that there are “Insufficient reliable reviews” to issue an Adjusted Rating, which is somewhat concerning in our opinion.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Jeannette Baldwin” who claims the product is healthy and tastes good:

“I’m sober so I don’t drink alcohol ever… these have a great flavor and I love the hop taste and such a bonus that there’s no carbs sugar or calories. Definitely worth the money.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Nicole” who claims the product had none of its claimed effects:

Everything about this drink resembles just another canned seltzer water. Absolutely no zen or relaxing feeling that it claims to do. After 4 drinks in one evening I realized it was just a regular seltzer water. The flavors taste about the same as the other canned waters, which is the only good thing I have to say about this drink. It’s very expensive and did nothing for me.”

Our Healthy Non-Alcoholic Beer Recommendation

Athletic Brewing Company is our top pick for a healthy non-alcoholic beer.

The brand uses all whole food ingredients like organic vienna malt, oats and hops. Their cans have beautiful branding, and most importantly, their beers are entirely free of questionable additive ingredients like natural flavor.

Interested consumers can check out Athletic Brewing Company at this link to the brand’s official Amazon listing.

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Conclusion

HOP WTR is a decently formulated non-alcoholic beverage. It may be a relatively healthy substitute for people seeking to avoid alcohol, but we have no reason to believe the products are likely to cause any nootropic or adaptogenic effects because the brand fails to publish the dose of those active ingredients.

HOP WTR contains natural flavors which is an ingredient we recommend avoiding.

While hops may have health benefits, we believe there are superior options on the market that can provide the health benefits of hops, taste great, and are free of natural flavors.




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