The story of 5 little calories, with no carbs, no sugar, no caffeine, and no alcohol to keep them company
By now, most craft beer aficionados have likely come across fizzy hop water. You’ll typically find it on tap at a brewery taproom or a brewpub, served as a non-alcoholic, hop-forward alternative to beer. Most often, it is created by the brewery itself. Also, you don’t often find it packaged and available away from the source.
This one, on the other hand, is a bit different. Albert’s Dry Hopped Seltzer is produced by the farmers who grew the hops, is available in 12-ounce cans, and you can order it directly; they’ll ship it to you.
Albert’s Dry Hopped Seltzer is a new product from Virgil Gamache Farms, a family-run farm that’s operated in the Yakima Valley for over 100 years and has grown hops since 1932. The farm is known as the birthplace of Amarillo hops. If nothing else, that farm-to-fridge character is what sets this sparkling hop water (seltzer) apart from so many others. That, and the fact that consumers can buy Albert’s Dry Hopped Seltzer directly from the farm.
The skinny, and it is indeed skinny
Albert’s is an alcohol-free sparkling seltzer brewed with nothing but hops, water, and yeast. It is sugar-free, gluten-free, caffeine-free, and carbohydrate-free. A 12-ounce can contains just 5 calories.
They describe it like this: “Refreshing the body, with notable flavors of citrus, apricot, and just enough calories to satisfy. Experience our modern interpretation of the journey Albert Gamache began with his first hop yard in 1932. Our recipe design started by including like-minded individuals from across the farm, adding their unique talents to the team; talents that ranged from years of hop quality control experience, tasting and sensory panel experience, and brewing expertise.“
I describe it like this: The hop aroma is amazing. The first sip bursts with intense, bracing hop flavors. Your palate adjusts immediately, and the next sip is much less jarring. With the palate now trained, it presents a simple, straightforward, but not overwhelming hop character. It is not sweet, per se, but there is something there that balances the hop character. A light, refreshing bitterness lingers. Albert’s is light and refreshing, yet has some body, which is satisfying.
Disclosure: Virgil Gamache Farms sent me a few cans of Albert’s Dry Hopped Seltzer free of charge to try. I liked it, which is the only reason you are reading about it here.
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