[MarcInDavis]

Has anybody experimented making Lagunitas Hop Water?  Not the stuff with THC just the plain no alcohol, no calorie water - think hop flavored La Croix. Here is what we know:

• Carbonated water
  Citra, Equinox, and Centennial hops
  Lactic acid
  Nutritional brewer's yeast
  liquid stevia
  “Natural flavors”

They claim the yeast is there for hop biotranformation but I suspect it just adds a beer smell/taste.
Not sure what natural flavors they are referring to or even if that is an additional ingredient or simply refers to the flavors of the other ingredients.

I’d love to have some of this on tap for non drinkers and “spacer” beverage to have between beers. Before I start experimenting hoping someone here has started the processe.

[Robert]

Nutritional yeast is dead, so no biotransformation there, you're probably right about it giving a beery flavor.  I think the real trick is that most of the compounds in hops are not that readily water soluble.  They've got some secret sauce they ain't tellin'.

[hfidek]

did you ended trying to make a clone?
i tried a few different brand of hop water and lagunitas is by far the best one.
the only catch is the price 5$ a 4pack.

[MNWayne]

Would hop oils dissolve in grain alcohol? Maybe a little Everclear is involved? Possibly some gypsum to jack the sulfate and hop character?

[chinaski]

Don Osborn gave it a try: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tns5ikNjKOQ

[BrewBama]

I learned to brew by reading Denny’s site, watching Don O and Northern Brewer videos on YouTube. Though I’ve moved on from just the cooler a batch sparging but the underlying system is still there.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[MarcInDavis]

A few places have posted a generic hop water recipe and I am using that and the info I have from Lagunitas to try a 2.5 gallon batch.  I'm using my water with no additions.  Here is what I will be doing:

1. Add water to kettle
2. Boil for 10 minutes to sterilize
3. Chill to 170F
4. Lower pH by adding lactic acid to 4.6 or lower
5. Add hops (3g per gallon) and let stand/whirlpool for 20 mins - Cita (3g), Eukanot (3g), and Centennial (1.5g)
6. Filter out hops with cheesecloth or a mesh bag
7. Cool to serving temp
8. Stevia and nutritional yeast powder to taste
9. Carbonate
10. Drink

I'll be brewing this weekend and pen to any thoughts before my brew.  I'll post the results when I'm done.

Cheers to dry January!

[760cooper]

Would love to hear how it comes out. I want to try making this soon.

[MarcInDavis]

So I made a 2.5 gallon batch. Too bitter and an unpleasant “sweet” taste. Lessons learned:

I’ll cut hops by 1/3
I’ll reduce sweetener by 1/2 (maybe every 3/4)

Trying again this week!

[MarcInDavis]

Here is my "final" recipe for Hop La Croix.

1. Boil 2.5 gallons of water for 10 minutes to sterilize
3. Chill to 170F
4. Lower pH by adding lactic acid to 4.6 or even a bit lower - (get pH set before adding hops and yeast)
5. Add hops (2.5g per gallon) and nutritional yeast (.25g) and let stand/whirlpool for 20 mins - I use Cita (1g), Eukanot (1g), and Centennial (.5g)
6. Filter out hops with cheesecloth or a mesh bag
7. Cool to serving temp
8. Stevia to taste (.5 ml is enough for me - Stevia is very strong and this water is not supposed to be sweet)
9. Carbonate @ about 20-25psi
10. Enjoy

Should come out clear and very refreshing. Enjoy!