Hoppy (ホッピー)

Hoppy is a unique and beloved part of Japan’s drinking culture, offering a refreshing beer-like experience with a twist. Known for its low alcohol content and versatility, it has been a staple in Japanese izakayas and homes for decades. Whether enjoyed on its own or mixed with shochu, this drink brings a nostalgic charm and a creative edge to any drinking occasion. Read on to discover the fascinating history, flavors, and traditions that make Hoppy a true icon of Japanese beverages!

What is Hoppy?

Hoppy is a beer-flavored soft drink that started a unique trend in Japanese alcohol culture: mixing it with shochu. Recently, its distinct taste has gained more attention. When served chilled on its own, it becomes a light, low-alcohol drink with just 0.8% alcohol. You can also get creative by mixing Hoppy with other liqueurs like gin, vodka, or plum wine to make your own original drink. This drink is a low-calorie option, with only about 11 kcal per 100ml—around a quarter of the calories in beer. Black Hoppy has slightly more at 12 kcal per 100ml. Even when mixed with 70ml of shochu, it’s about three-quarters of beer’s calories. Hoppy is also low in carbs, making it a great choice for those on a low-carb diet. It contains just 1.7g of carbohydrates per 100ml, while Black Hoppy has about 1.9g per 100ml.

Reference: Hoppy

Origin of the name

At first, it was called “Hobby” within the company, with the intention of it being a beer-like drink, a non-beer made with real hops, but the name sounded bad, so it was changed to “Hoppy” when it was released. Please use the catchy phrase “Happy with Hoppy!” when inviting people to toast.

What is Hoppy made of?

Hoppy uses two-row barley malt from Germany and Canada, aromatic and bitter hops from Hallertau, Germany—considered the best in the world—and bottom-fermenting yeast carefully selected at the Yeast Bank in Munich, Germany. For water, the manufacture rely on natural sources from the Chichibu mountain range, showing our commitment to the finest ingredients.

Hoppy History

Hoppy’s story began in 1905 when the company was founded by 10-year-old Ishiwatari Hide as a shop supplying mochi sweets to the Akasaka military unit. Later, they expanded to producing Ramune and eventually ventured into non-alcoholic beer during the Taisho era. Despite initial resistance due to poor-quality substitutes at the time, Hide was inspired by Shinshu’s hop fields in 1926 to create a better non-alcoholic beer. After wartime delays, Hide and his brother Kotaro finally succeeded in 1948, developing a natural, hop-based non-alcoholic beer. Named Hoppy, it became a black-market favorite for enhancing low-quality alcohol, revolutionizing Japanese drinking culture with its unique mixability and enduring popularity.

Hoppy became popular as mixer for shochu

Hoppy, developed by the Japanese company Hoppy Beverage, became popular after its creation in 1948 as a beer-flavored soft drink. During the postwar era, beer was too expensive for most people, and low-quality alcoholic beverages dominated the market. It gained fame for its ability to make even poor-tasting alcohol more enjoyable when mixed, leading to the widespread custom of pairing it with shochu. This practice became so popular that any drink mixed with shochu started being referred to as “Hoppy.”

FAQ

What is Hoppy?

It is a beer-flavored soft drink that is popular in Japan and is mainly mixed with shochu. It has a low alcohol content of 0.8% and is enjoyed as an alternative to beer.

How to drink Hoppy?

It is commonly served in a style called “sanrei,” where shochu is poured into a chilled mug, and Hoppy is poured on top. The key to this method is to chill Hoppy, shochu, and the mug well.

Where can I buy Hoppy?

It is available for purchase at many liquor stores and supermarkets in Japan. There are also stores that offer it online. It is especially common to find it served in izakayas and restaurants.

Hoppy Recommended Restaurants

Izakaya Shinjuku Ishikarigawa (北海道ご当地ろばた 石狩川)

This is a robatayaki restaurant in Shinjuku, Tokyo, where you can enjoy the flavors of Hokkaido. They purchase carefully selected ingredients directly from all over Hokkaido. The store’s pride and joy is its draft classic beer, which is only available in Hokkaido and only in a few stores in Tokyo, and the rare “DraftHoppy”

Address: 2nd Seiko Building 4F, 1-15-4 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Phone number: 050-3466-8256
Hours open: 17:00-24:00 (L.O. 23:30)
Website: https://xn--38jwa4c9fz53q4ef53mmzc2s2cqnlopnij5e.com/