KAW! Hop Water - Independence Brewing Co. Review
Hop waters are everywhere on the scene nowadays, and they are the absolute perfect way to kill a beer craving with hop flavor and aroma but without the alcohol or calories. Sometimes a beer (or six) just isn’t in the cards, and this is the importance of hop waters. They were invented (or so we assume) by brewers so they would not find themselves eternally drunk, and that helps folks like us who crave that hoppy flavor and those looking to stay sober for October or any other time of year.
But what makes a good hop water?
Great question. And with them being so new, what does a drinker look for? Well, for us, a good hop water has to have a distinctly hoppy aroma, a light effervescence on the tongue, and it needs to be without any bitterness to let those hop aromas and flavors linger lightly, like a gentle palate cleanser.
This week we’re looking at KAW! hop water from Independence Brewing Company out of Austin, Texas. Independence brings us some other favorites like Stash IPA, Twine Time Hazy, Red Bud Berliner Weisse, and Highboy Double IPAs, but this time they’re bringing up something light and aromatic with their KAW! hop water. They packed it with Mosaic and Citra Cryo hops, and added a little immunity boost with a kick of vitamin C from organic acerola cherry extract.
Sounds like what we’re looking for, so let’s give it a try.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--In our opinion, all hop waters should be clear and bubbly as a bubble bath. It is. Moving on.
On the Nose--Gentle hop aroma. I was expecting a little more considering the use of cryo hops which are essentially a version of hop pellets with concentrated amounts of hop oils to create fantastic aromatics. Don’t get me wrong, gentle hoppiness in a hop water is not a bad thing, but I was expecting slightly more. Overall, it is slightly fruity (which might come from the acerola extract as well) and citrusy with the promise of a bright, refreshing sip.
On the Palate--Light in the mouth with a great bite on the tongue from the brilliant effervescence, a necessary component in a hop water. The hoppiness remains bright, fruity, and citrusy. It does have an almost earthy cherry-like flavor, likely from the added extract.
Final Thoughts:
KAW! is not as distinctly hoppy as some hop waters, but it is still refreshing and ‘spritzy’ as Independence describes it. A great complement to brighten salads, it’s also effervescent enough to cut through fatty foods. The idea of adding the acerola extract to get an immunity boost is also a great idea. We certainly know we need the immunity boost while out drinking or while pondering the happenings of the night before.
No calories, no booze, mildly hoppy and with an immune boost, KAW! is worth a try if you’re cutting back on the sauce.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew