As seen in this week’s review roundup, we live in the hybrid beverage era, where sparkling waters can also be sodas (MADPOP), cocktails can be booze-free (De Soi), and hops can go in anything (see HOP WTR and Hoplark). To submit your beverage product to BevNET for review, click here. And to browse past reviews, check the archive here.
MADPOP is a new line of flavored sparkling waters that blend fruits, herbs, and spices to create bold, refreshing flavors. Each 12-ounce can contains only 35 calories and 7 grams of sugar (from apple juice), with no artificial ingredients or preservatives. The brand currently offers three SKUs: Blackberry Lavender Lemon, Pineapple Mint Lime, and Watermelon Basil Habanero. MADPOP’s branding is inspired by pop art, featuring colorful, cartoonish characters that are unique to each SKU.
Things that stand out:
- Eye-catching and unique packaging design: The cartoon face as the primary visual on the can adds an element of fun and curiosity. While we have some concerns on its functionality, it will certainly create an eye-catching shelf presence for the brand.
- Flavor execution is solid across the line, with a nice balance of fruit, herb, and spice elements that give MADPOP a strong and unique identity. We especially like Watermelon Basil Habanero.
Things to consider:
- The absence of a clear logo on the front label makes brand recognition and shelf communication more difficult, especially in a crowded category. While the art approach is novel, having no text on the front of the can feels like something that will hurt rather than help.
- The product identity is somewhat ambiguous; without clearer cues, it may be mistaken for an energy drink or novelty item. And calling it sparkling water feels inaccurate; the nutritional profile and formulation feels closer to soda.
- Nutritional callouts (calories and sugar content, specifically) are not prominent enough and could be easily overlooked.
Rating: 
Hoplark’s “The Margarita One” is part of the brand’s limited edition series of experimental flavors. Hoplark often uses seasonal releases to push boundaries, and this 16 oz non-alcoholic take on the classic cocktail is no exception. At just 5 calories with no sugar, it combines carbonated water, white tea, Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops, lime juice powder, and salt to deliver a refreshing take on the margarita experience, minus the booze and sugar.
Things that stand out:
- The formulation captures margarita’s tangy, citrus-forward character with a salty finish, while integrating subtle hop and white tea notes for added complexity that should have broad appeal.
- This flavor stands as something that’s quite unique in the hop water category – certainly a good thing considering the growing number of players there.
Things to consider:
- A 16 oz package size might be more than necessary; 12 oz could better suit the use case.
- The front label needs clarity; it’s not obvious from the packaging what kind of product this is. There’s a lot of good info on the back of the can that would probably be more appropriate on the front.
Rating: 
HOP WTR’s latest entry is Iced Tea & Lemonade, which, as the name suggests, combines iced tea and lemonade flavors with a base of sparkling hop tea (with citra, amarillo, mosaic, and azacca hops). Like their other SKUs, this one is zero-calorie, zero-carb, sugar-free, and alcohol-free while also getting a boost from adaptogens and nootropics such as ashwagandha and L-theanine.
Things that stand out:
- The SKU mimics the “Half & Half” (half lemonade, half iced tea) flavor that is a proven winner in the iced tea category. It shouldn’t take a lot of convincing to get consumers to give this a try.
- The flavor combination of black tea, lemon flavor, and hops works really well. It’s has a relatively mild taste on all fronts and we like that it’s devoid of any sweetness (and hence sweeteners). The end result is something that tastes new, but also nostalgic and absolutely refreshing.
Things to consider:
- The adaptogens and nootropics feel like they aren’t totally necessary and also complicate the brand’s otherwise straightforward message.
- Visually, the can follows the established HOP WTR aesthetic with a clean, modern look, but offers little indication of the new flavor profile beyond a small hop icon. The packaging lacks visual cues for iced tea or lemonade, which might hinder shelf recognition against more conventional tea beverages.
Rating:
Adult non-alcoholic beverage brand De Soi has launched its latest sparkling apéritif, Haute Margarita. The 1.5 serving, 8 ounce can mixes agave, lime and jalapeño extract with adaptogenic mushrooms, turmeric and L-theanine.
Things that stand out:
- The brand’s minimalist design is always a winner, bringing elegance and an artistic flair to the adult non-alcoholic category.
- Leaning into high-class, using “haute” in the name elevates and differentiates De Soi’s take on a spicy marg.
Things to consider:
- The flavor is not quite what was expected. It is spicy in the beginning with back-notes of lime and agave, but finishes with an overly herbaceous aftertaste that hangs on the palette.
- For an 8 ounce can, 7 grams of added sugar feels like a lot. Less sugar would likely meet a more refined flavor profile.
Rating: 