is a beer-flavored almost

non-alcoholic An alcohol-free or non-alcoholic drink, also known as a temperance drink, is a version of an alcoholic drink made without alcohol, or with the alcohol removed or reduced to almost zero. These may take the form of a non-alcoholic mixed drink (a "vi ...

drink (0.8% alcohol) that Kokuka Beverage Company began producing and selling in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

in 1948; it is most available in and associated with

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

. Kokuka subsequently changed its name to Hoppy Beverage Co., Ltd. Hoppy is a registered

trademark A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from others ...

of Hoppy Beverage Co., Ltd. Despite its beer-like flavor, Hoppy contains no purine bases."Product guide"
, Hoppy Beverage Co., Ltd. (Retrieved on April 29, 2010) At the time of its launch, Hoppy mixed with '' shōchū'' (a Japanese distilled beverage) was considered a substitute for

beer Beer is one of the oldest and the most widely consumed type of alcoholic drink in the world, and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from ce ...

, which was beyond the reach of ordinary people. The mixed drink is referred to as Hoppy as well. It is still a staple among some Tokyo residents, and has experienced a retro revival of late.Hoppy, Denki Bran and Hoisu: 3 unique Tokyo drinks
, ''CNN Travel'', by Matt Alt, 27 November, 2009 It is a popular item at

izakaya An () is a type of informal Japanese bar that serves alcoholic drinks and snacks. are casual places for after-work drinking, similar to a pub, a Spanish tapas bar, or an American saloon or tavern. Etymology The word entered the English la ...

(Japanese-style pubs), especially within the suburban old town area along the

Keisei Main Line {{Infobox rail line , name = Keisei Main Line , native_name = 京成本線 , native_name_lang = ja , color = 005aaa , logo = {{KSLS, KS, 50 , logo_width = , image = Keisei-Series3000-3042.jpg , image_width = 3 ...

Products

* Hoppy (original) * Black Hoppy (tastes bitter and sweet with aroma) * 55 Hoppy (memorialized with its 55th birthday) * Hoppy 330 (bottled in a single-use bottle for home use) * Hoppy Black (same as Black Hoppy for home use)

Recommended use

Legally speaking, Hoppy is a non-alcoholic drink; however, it does contain about 0.8 percent alcohol. It is often added to ''shōchū'', a Japanese distilled beverage. The company recommends a detailed way of using it as follows:"The way of drinking Hoppy (Three coolings)"
, Hoppy Beverage Co., Ltd. (Retrieved on May 1, 2010) #''Shōchū'' should be '' kōrui shōchū'' (or ''shōchū kōrui'', 焼酎甲類), which is distilled two or more times, and should contain 25 percent alcohol. #Beforehand, the Hoppy and ''shōchū'' should be chilled in a refrigerator, and glasses should be chilled in a freezer. The company calls this "''sanrei''" (三冷, literally "three coolings"). #Five parts Hoppy should be added to one part ''shōchū''. This will give a resultant drink which has about 5 percent alcohol. #The ''Shōchū'' should be ready in glasses first, and Hoppy should be added vigorously so that the drink foams up, without stirring, which is not recommended. #Ice should not be added, because it detracts from the taste of the drink. When Hoppy is ordered at a pub, a glass or mug of shōchū is brought along with a bottle of Hoppy. The shochu will be referred to as , and the Hoppy will be called . If another bottle of Hoppy is needed, the phrase "another 'soto'" is used. It is also possible to order just "naka," in which case a shōchū shot will be served on its own. Some establishments will place the mug and shōchū in a freezer and allow it to turn into a frozen slush before serving it with Hoppy. The use of ice is sometimes looked down upon, but it is possible to find places that serve Hoppy and shōchū with ice.

References

External links

Hoppy Beverage Co., Ltd.
{{in lang, ja Soft drinks Japanese drinks Non-alcoholic drinks Soft beers and malt drinks Products introduced in 1948

Products

Recommended use

See also

References

External links