Allagash Brewing Company is releasing their first non-alcoholic beverage, marking their entry into the rapidly growing area of hop waters! Brewed with orange peel, Citra, and Crystal hops, Allagash Hop Water’s ingredients are a nod to the citrus profile found in the brewery’s flagship witbier, Allagash White. Allagash will first introduce the beverage in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans exclusively in their Portland tasting room beginning later this week.
Allagash Hop Water starts with pristine water from Sebago Lake—ranked one of the 50 cleanest surface-water sources in the country and the same lake that Allagash has donated over $50,000 to protect, in partnership with the nonprofit Sebago Clean Waters. During the brewing process, sweet orange peel, coriander, and Crystal and Citra hops are added. The water is then cooled, carbonated, and packaged.
While Allagash may be new to the hop water category, the release aligns with a key pillar of the brand’s brewing process: innovation in both ingredients and approach. Allagash’s Hop Water is also indicative of the brewery’s continued commitment to make their offerings as accessible as possible. “As we continue to evolve as a brewery, we love being able to offer people new experiences,” said Rob Tod, Founder, Allagash. “Our Hop Water is a non-alcoholic beverage that anyone can enjoy, yet it remains uniquely Allagash.”
Hop Water will join other recent brewery-only innovations at Allagash, including Wild Blueberry Wines and Dry Ciders. The wines use wild lowbush blueberries sourced from Maine that are pressed in house and then fermented with a proprietary yeast strain, producing a dry wine with flavors of pie spice and mulled blueberries. Allagash’s dry cider offerings change with the seasons, as the brewing team uses the varieties of Maine-grown apples available at the time, which they then ferment in a variety of containers. Past ciders have been fermented in bourbon barrels, steel vessels, and more. For more on their berry wine and cider program, the Allagash team dove deep on a recent podcast episode!
