Crafting Sobriety: The Refreshing Tale of NoDa Brewing Co.'s Hop2O

Welcome to another exciting edition of Work For Your Beer's brewery spotlight! NoDa Brewing is no stranger to the Work For Your Beer blog, but today we're delving into the refreshing world of their innovative non-alcoholic offering, Hop2O. 

Before we dive too deep into the interview, NoDa is giving away a FREE year of Hop2O to one lucky winner — head to their website to enter today!

We are super grateful to Addie, NoDa Brewing’s Marketing Coordinator, for taking the time to chat with us today.

Work For Your Beer (WFYB): Can you provide a brief overview of Hop2O for our audience members who may be unfamiliar with it?

Addie (A): Hop2O is a 100% non-alcoholic sparkling water from NoDa Brewing Company. Each flavor features a blend of fruit and hop flavors for a refreshingly unexpected twist. It boasts 0 alcohol, 0 sugar, and 0 calories, and is perfect for any time and any place.

WFYB: Take us back to the origins of Hop2O. What inspired the creation of a non-alcoholic option, and what challenges and successes did you encounter during its development?

A: I pulled Chad (NoDa Brewing's Head Brewer) in for this one and he said, “I was inspired to do Hop2O partially because I’m a sparkling water fan and also because we wanted to offer non-alcoholic options at the brewery, but I didn’t want to cross into no/low ABV beers. I wanted something to hydrate and refresh but that also captured one of my favorite beer ingredients, hops. When conceptualizing the brand, I wanted to pair the hops with fruit since I felt that the fruit would make the brand more approachable to people who weren't familiar with hops. Part of the challenge was finding the best practice in hop addition and the rate to hop the water. We also had to play around with picking the right fruit to pair with each hop.”

WFYB: Hop2O has a variety of unique flavors. Could you walk us through the current offerings, and are there any exciting new flavors in the pipeline?

A: Our current flavors are Lemon Lime Citra, Mango Mosaic, Grapefruit Galaxy, and Citrus Centennial - those 4 flavors are available in a mixed 8-pack. We don’t have any concrete plans for new flavors, but I’ve heard cherry and peach being thrown around, which excites me because those are two of my favorite sparkling water flavors.

WFYB: NoDa Brewing is known for its exceptional craft beers. How does Hop2O complement the existing lineup, and what role does it play in providing options for a diverse audience?

A: Hop2O is an essential addition to our beer lineup. We strive to make NoDa Brewing a place that is truly open to every person and we offer non-alcoholic options to ensure that everyone has a drink when they walk through our taproom doors. And since brewing is in our name, it only made sense that one of those options be brewed by us.

WFYB: As someone who has seen the inception of Hop2O, what personally resonates with you the most about this non-alcoholic option? Any memorable stories or experiences related to having this offering available?

A: Hop2O was my favorite addition to our lineup in 2023 because I am a sparkling water fanatic. I drink at least one Hop2O a day and I love getting the taste of hops without having to always reach for a beer. A fun little anecdote that a few NoDa Brewing employees have shared is drinking a Hop2O while driving - They come in 16oz cans which is the typical craft beer packaging, so to be driving while drinking a 100% non-alcoholic drink in a 16oz can can feel a little risqué. But no worries, officer, we promise it’s water!

A huge thank you to Addie at NoDa Brewing Co. for letting us peek behind the curtain and learn more about Hop2O. It's evident that this non-alcoholic gem is not just a beverage; it's a testament to innovation and inclusivity within the craft brewing industry. 

Whether you're a craft beer enthusiast or exploring non-alcoholic options, you need to try Hop2O! Cheers to options other than beer at breweries!