Hoppy (drink) facts for kids
Hoppy (ホッピー, Hoppii) is a special Japanese drink that tastes a lot like beer! But here's a cool fact: it's almost non-alcoholic, with only about 0.8% alcohol. That's super low! It was first made in Japan in 1948 by a company called Kokuka Beverage Company. Hoppy is most famous in Tokyo, the capital city of Japan. The company even changed its name to Hoppy Beverage Co., Ltd. because of how popular this drink became!
When Hoppy first came out, regular beer was very expensive for most people in Japan. So, people started mixing Hoppy with another Japanese drink called shōchū. Shōchū is a strong clear spirit, a bit like vodka. This mix became a popular way to enjoy a beer-like drink without spending too much money. Even today, many people in Tokyo still love this classic mix, especially in traditional Japanese pubs called izakaya. It's like a cool retro drink that's making a comeback!
Different Kinds of Hoppy
Hoppy Beverage Co. makes a few different versions of Hoppy for everyone to enjoy:
- Hoppy (This is the original one!)
- Black Hoppy (This one tastes a bit bitter and sweet, with a nice smell.)
- 55 Hoppy (This special Hoppy was made to celebrate the drink's 55th birthday!)
- Hoppy 330 (This comes in a single-use bottle, perfect for drinking at home.)
- Hoppy Black (This is the same as Black Hoppy, but also for home use.)
How to Mix Hoppy Like a Pro
Even though Hoppy has very little alcohol, it's usually mixed with shōchū. The company that makes Hoppy has some special tips for mixing it perfectly:
- First, make sure your shōchū is a type called kōrui shōchū. This kind is distilled more than once and usually has about 25% alcohol.
- Before you mix, get everything super cold! Put both the Hoppy and the shōchū in the fridge. Even put your glasses in the freezer! The company calls this "sanrei", which means "three coolings."
- The best mix is five parts Hoppy to one part shōchū. This will make a drink with about 5% alcohol.
- Pour the shōchū into your chilled glass first. Then, quickly add the Hoppy so it gets nice and foamy. Don't stir it! Stirring is not recommended.
- Don't add ice! The company says ice can make the drink taste less good.
When you order Hoppy at an izakaya (a Japanese pub), you'll usually get a glass of shōchū and a bottle of Hoppy. The shōchū is called "naka" (中, lit. "inside"), and the Hoppy is called "soto" (外, lit. "outside"). If you want more Hoppy, you just ask for "another 'soto'." You can also just order "naka" if you only want a shot of shōchū.
Some places might even freeze the shōchū and the mug until it turns into a slushy ice before serving it with Hoppy. While some people don't like ice in their Hoppy, you can still find places that serve it that way.