HOP WTR Unsponsored Review | Is It Really Good?

HOP WTR Review Overview

Sparkling Hop Water also branded as HOP WTR is a non-alcoholic beverage meant for hydration and refreshing benefits. But, hydration is not only the thing it does, HOP WTR also has some nootropic and adaptogenic advantages as the brand claims.

HOP WTR packs in Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, and Azacca hops making it taste similar to your fav ipa drink by giving it a piney earthy flavor. 

Why HOP WTR? The founder of HOP WTR, Nick and Jordan wanted a healthy way to hop by creating something that is booze-free and doesn’t make them foggy and full-belly after a few rounds. 

Thus, they came up with an alcohol-free beverage containing hops to get the same feeling in a healthier way.

HOP WTR is sugar-free and has zero calories which makes it an ideal substitute for carbonated drinks. All of it combined makes HOP WTR an interesting drink to try out.

The HOP WTR review will guide you through all the queries related to this non-alcoholic hops beverage. You’ll come to know if it can have nootropic benefits or adaptogenic effects. Or does it have any side effects? 

What’s Inside Of HOP WTR?

Before digging into the benefits and other kinds of stuff, why don’t we look into the ingredients inside HOP WTR, and how good are they with the claims? 

HOP WTR contains the following list of ingredients. 

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We find HOP WTR to contain minimal ingredients thereby ensuring it to not have a complicated ingredient profile. 

The non-alcoholic beverage uses carbonated water as its main ingredient. Besides that, it has hop essence and natural flavors.

Hop essence is a water-soluble ingredient mostly seen getting used in beer, however, it can be also added to sparkling water, kombucha, and other soft drinks. 

This ingredient is studied for its potential benefits in the treatment of conditions like insomnia, hot flashes, and mood enhancement. A 2018 study shows that Hops extract is used as a sedative for anxiety, tension, and difficulty sleeping. 

Few other studies showed that Hops can be useful for anti-inflammatory properties and have neuroprotective benefits. (1,2)

Coming to the use of natural flavors, we do have some safety concerns, since these flavors do not seem to carry any value for your health. 

Are you thinking about the nootropic ingredient in HOP WTR? Well, Ashwagandha and L-theanine are two ingredients that can have cognitive benefits or advantages. 

Ashwagandha root extract has several times proven effective as a nootropic and in improving symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease (3,4,5).

However, we have one objection. In most of these clinical trials, the dose of Ashwagandha used was 200-300mg. So, does HOP WTR have the same dose of Ashwagandha?

We don’t know, because no clear dose of this ingredient is mentioned. Hence, this keeps us doubtful if you’ll experience the same level of nootropic benefits from HOP WTR. 

The same is with L-theanine. This amino acid can boost GABA levels and other brain-calming chemicals. Also, it can help relieve anxiety and promote sleep, but in dosage between 200mg-400mg. HOP WTR fails to mention the dose of this active ingredient.

Thus, there could have been chances that HOP WTR showed results and provided nootropic benefits but the lack of dosage information.

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HOP WTR Benefits

HOP WTR is marketed as a healthy alternative to traditional sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages. It contains only natural ingredients, including hops, water, and a touch of organic lemon juice. 

As a non-alcoholic beverage, the main benefit of HOP WTR is that it can help you get rid of alcohol addiction in any form. The use of hops makes it taste similar to your beer. 

The benefits of HOP WTR include:

• Has nootropics that might promote stress relief and sleep. 
• Helps get rid of addiction to beer since HOP WTR contains hops. 
• Free from any IPA.
• HAs No-Calorie and sugar-free. 
• Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that can help calm your brain.
• L-theanine is often used as a nootropic for enhancing memory and focus. 

Also, while we read some real HOP WTR reviews, we find users report feeling more focused and energized after consuming HOP WTR.

Does It Have Nootropic And Adaptogenic Advantages?

HOP WTR has nootropic and adaptogenic properties since it contains or uses brain-boosting nootropics and adaptogens ingredients such as Ashwagandha and L-theanine.

Nootropics are compounds that work to boost your mental function or moods, whereas adaptogens assist the body adapt to stress. Hops include ingredients that have both nootropic and adaptogenic properties.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry concentrated on persons suffering from schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. L-theanine was discovered to reduce anxiety and relieve symptoms by researchers.

According to certain studies, ashwagandha may help some people reduce the signs and symptoms of depression and other mental health concerns.

In one study, researchers looked at how ashwagandha affected 66 people with schizophrenia who were experiencing despair and anxiety.

They discovered that those who took 1,000 mg of ashwagandha extract daily for 12 weeks had lower levels of anxiety and depression than those who received a placebo.

While there is research and evidence-based information on the above mention two ingredients in HOP WTR, the doses of the ingredients are not specified on their ingredient labels.

For example, both of the above studies show their effectiveness at that dose, and without knowing the dose, it is hard to assess the efficacy of these two active ingredients.

Furthermore, HOP WTR uses raw ashwagandha powder, whereas the above-mentioned and majority of the research available on ashwagandha or we evaluated uses ashwagandha extract, which is more potent and standardized.

Takeaway: HOP WTR contains nootropics and adaptogens, which offer benefits such as reduced stress and anxiety, among others. However, for these two ingredients to work, they must be present at an effective dose or have any evidence that these compounds specify dosage.

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The Side Effects Of HOP WTR

HOP WTR is generally safe for healthy people, with the exception of maybe experiencing withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop drinking your favorite alcoholic beverages. It does contain ingredients that are free of common allergens.

HOP WTR is considered safe, the most serious side effect included with HOP WTR are

Drinking more than four cups of black tea each day may be unsafe. Because of the caffeine content, large amounts might cause side effects such as  Headache and irregular heartbeat, which range from mild to serious (6).

Too much 5-HTP in HOP WTR can cause a spike in your serotonin levels, resulting in side effects such as:

• Anxiety.
• Shivering. 
• Serious heart problems.

If you’re also taking other drugs that raise serotonin levels, such as SSRI antidepressants and MAO inhibitors, then you shouldn’t take 5-HTP. Use caution when taking Carbidopa, a medication for Parkinson’s disease.

5-HTP is not recommended for people with Down syndrome due to its link to seizures. Furthermore, avoid taking 5-HTP within two weeks before surgery because it may interact with some drugs commonly used during surgical procedures.

Also, had other possible side effects from taking 5-HTP supplements. stop using immediately and see a doctor if you experience drowsiness, digestion problems, muscle problems, and sexual dysfunction.

Taking Maca root powder has been linked to jitteriness, sleeplessness, digestive issues, acne, and heartburn. These side effects can be mitigated by adjusting the dosage or using a different type of Maca.

HOP WTR also contains L-theanine, and because green tea includes caffeine, consuming L-theanine can have the following negative effects such as stomach discomfort, irritability, and nausea.

Pregnant or lactating women should limit their tea drinking to avoid overcaffeination.

As you know that doses of the active ingredients of HOP WTR aren’t published so, the chances of these side effects occurring are relatively high.

Lastly, as with any supplement, be sure to consult or check with your doctor before beginning something new.

HOP WTR Real User Reviews

Customer response on the Hopwtr website is mostly positive, with reviewers stating that the drink tastes similar to a light beer, that they like flavors, it’s refreshing, has 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 sugars, and has no alcohol.

Other sites, such as Amazon, have mixed reviews; some customers say it tastes like a session IPA and sparkling water hybrid, allowing them to replace the ritual of a post-work beer with something healthier; plus, the taste is super refreshing, and despite the lack of alcohol, they get a productive buzzy boost after drinking it.

Others claim that the pack is too pricey for the number of cans included. Works in the same way as skullcap.

While negative-rated customers complain that it’s essentially lightly flavored soda water that it costs around $40 for 12 cans, it’s simply absurd to promise that a little l-theanine and ashwagandha will give you a buzz. This has no flavor and is merely lightly carbonated. It tastes like someone milked a pine tree and mixed it with seltzer water. 

Here are some of the positive and negative customer reviews of HOP WTR from Amazon:

Parker Reid says – Refreshing and Fresh Feeling

“I’ve tried the classic, the blood orange, and the mango, and I love them all. I originally thought mango was my favorite but recently I’ve been really liking these classic ones. I don’t drink alcohol anymore, so these give me the opportunity to replace the ritual of a post-work beer with something healthier. The taste is subtle and pleasant and the feeling I get from them is subtle too- just a nice relaxing/enjoyable feeling. Definitely recommend giving them a try and seeing what flavor you like best!”

Cassandra says – Slight hop flavor but pricey

“Tastes like you filled your empty beer glass with water. Slight hoppy flavor. Not sure about “thickness” but it’s water. We got this for dry January to see if we could still have beer “flavor” with out beer calories. Obviously it’s not beer but definitely gives you a hop flavor. Pretty expensive though. I think we would only buy again if the price came down”

Amazon Customers says – Awful Taste

“I bought this recommended by an online influencer. HUGE mistake!!! I have bee drinking near beer and enjoy it. But this has no flavor and only mild carbonation. The only good thing is I got it on sale and didn’t pay full price. And the added supplements are pure snake oil! Maybe they actually worked as I am now smarter and won’t buy this stuff again”

Cris says – Not for me… bad flavor and no “buzz”

“I don’t know what I was expecting? Maybe “buzz” had my expectations too high, or the hopes for an IPA flavor, so I ignored the water part. But I really hate these. Such a bummer! $40 is expensive and now I have 10 cans of something I hate”

Are Their Alternatives To HOP WTR?

There are several other brands of Hopeed drinks on the market. When it comes to picking between these drinks or beverages, it will come down to your preference in the following drinks, Here’s how HOP WTR compares to five non-alcoholic hopped drinks alternatives.

Hoplark Sparkling Water

Hoplark sparkling water is a popular and great option to HOP WTR and is available in several flavors and varieties. Like HOP WTR, it has no calories, no sugars, and 0 grams of carbs. Sabro, Mosaic, and Citra are its three primary flavors; each of them uses only one type of hop. 

You can purchase directly from their official stores or from Amazon. It also is gluten-free, Non-Gmo, vegan-friendly, Whole 30, and Non- alcoholic.

Whitestone HOP WTR

Whitestone HOP WTR Water contains zero carbs, calories, or alcohol, and sugar-free alternative to HOP WTR perfect to mix with your favorite spirit! Their HOP WTR can only be purchased at your local store.

Their HopWater is packed with dry-hopped for an all-natural fruit flavor without any bitterness.

Run Wild IPA (by Athletic Brewing Company)

Run Wild IPA is similar to HOP WTR, offering a proprietary blend of ingredients containing water, malted barley, oats, hops, wheat, and yeast.

These beverages are made with a blend of premium hops sourced and distributed by Northwest Hops from British Columbia and other world-class growing regions.

Both, HOP WTR and Run Wild IPA come with four fruity flavors. However, one key difference between the product is that Run Wild contain calories and carbohydrates. So, if you’re looking for a product that is low in carbs and calories, Run Wild IPA may be a better fit.

Free & Easy NPA IPA

Free & Easy also incorporates natural flavors in this product, which tastes similar to an alcoholic IPA. However, unlike HOP WTR, it has a distinct bitter taste that fades quickly.

In addition to natural flavors, Free & Easy NPA contains calories and carbohydrates, which HOP WTR does not.

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Summary: Is HOP WTR Worth Buying?

Now, is HOP WTR really worth watching out for and consuming? Honestly, we think that compared to regular beer, it can be a good friend to get rid of its addiction while getting a great taste due to hops. 

But, if you are consuming it because it will provide you with nootropic and adaptogenic benefits, you might be sorry for it later. Because there is no data on the dosage of individual ingredients. 

Thus, it’s safe to consume HOP WTR as a non-alcoholic beverage to help you get rid of alcohol addiction.

Even though not completely nootropic, HOP WTR can show some benefits due to the wise choice of ingredients. But, it is clearly a not recommended product due to lacking dosage information and use of natural flavors. 

There are better substitutes out there that do not have natural ingredients and can help you feel the benefit of hops too. 

That was all for the Hop WTR review from us.