Gone are the days where you’d take a month off drinking booze, and be forced to sip on nothing but soft drink or soda water when out and about. In modern times, we’re lucky to have more than a few options to satisfy that knock-off-beer itch that we all feel when taking some time off the good stuff. While other countries have adopted no/low alcohol products (just look at what BrewDog is doing with their BrewDog AF brand), Australia has been pretty far behind in that category until recent times. Now more than ever, we’re seeing a lot of people taking more time off alcohol, cut back, or just quit it completely, and it’s great that local breweries and beverage companies are putting more consideration into products that are low in or free from booze.
Earlier this year I took two months off alcohol for Febfast, so I delved quite deeply into the world of non alcoholic beverages on the market right now. There’s a lot of really good products out there that maintain the quality and flavour of their alcoholic counterparts but with none of the side effects - from booze free beer, to non alcoholic wine, and even spirits and RTDs - so if you’re thinking about going dry this July, there’s no shortage of flavour for you to still enjoy.
Booze Free Brews
It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago, you’d be hard pressed to find any non-alcoholic beers anywhere outside of dedicated small bottle shops, and even then the choices were few and far between. Today, you can walk into any major supermarket and you’ll find shelves upon shelves of booze free beers right next to the soft drinks! Even the smaller independent breweries are realising that it’s a part of the market that is booming right now, and they’re the guys that are making some of the best non-alcoholic brews in town.
From the likes of Heaps Normal, arguably one of the first independent products to really make the statement of ‘hey, beer can be non alcoholic and still delicious’, to breweries like Hop Nation, Brick Lane, Bridge Road and Big Shed that are known for big, flavoursome, often very boozy beers. You’re no longer missing out on quality products if you decide to cut back or take a time out every now and then. My absolute favourite right now is Hop Nation’s Mind Ya Head, a non-alcoholic hazy XPA that you’d be forgiven for thinking it was actually a full strength pale ale. The first time I tried it earlier this year I was amazed, and it actually took me a second to pick up on the nuances of a non-alcoholic beer because it was so close to the real thing. Coming in a close second is Bridge Road’s Free Time, for the same reason that it just tastes like you’re drinking a regular old pale ale, but without all the side effects!
Beer can be non alcoholic and still delicious
If you’re usually more of a lager drinker, try Sobah’s Finger Lime Cerveza. It’s zesty and refreshing, and perfect when you want that unique tasting craft beer without the booze. They’re also committed to raising positive awareness and promoting First Nations’ culture, language, arts, and history, and are an Aboriginal owned company. There’s even something out there for you stout lovers (wild, I know!) in the form of Upflow’s AF Stout, and as an avid stout drinker myself, it’s actually pretty darn good.
Booze Free: Mixed 6 Pack
Here’s a rockin' 6 pack for you to crack into if you’re doing Dry July like I am.
Hop Nation, Mind Ya Head
This beer trims back the alcohol, without missing that hoppy hit. Packing all the flavour of your favourite XPA, without the booze; so you can dodge hazards with a clear head. This beer is generously dry hopped with Simcoe, Vic Secret and Galaxy to create a refreshing hint of citrus and tropical fruit.
Bridge Road, Free Time
Brimming with vibrant hop aromas and flavour this alcohol-free pale ale has been worked on, refined and redesigned, tested, and mastered by the Bridge Road Brewers for over two years. With low bitterness and a clean finish, this is a beautifully balanced ale. Serve chilled with a smile, and with no fear of hangovers you can reclaim your free time.
Big Drop, Paradiso IPA
This IPA radiates citrus fruit from the moment you pour it to the second you finish that last sip with a satisfied sigh. The bright, sharp twist of bitterness on the end makes you want to dive back in for one more.
Sobah, Finger Lime Cerveza
The Mexican style brew is light, zesty, tangy and hoppy against a sweet yet nutty backdrop. The finger lime, aka 'gulalung' is an Australian native citrus fruit naturally occurring around Northern NSW and SE QLD throughout Bundjalung Nations lands. The fruit is rich in folate, potassium and Vitamins C & E. It's a smashable brew for warm weather or after a sweat session!
Heaps Normal, Quiet XPA
We've created a full-flavoured XPA without the downsides, so everyday legends like you can dial the good times up to 11 and still perform at their best the next day. The Heaps Normal Quiet XPA tastes like a delicious, refreshing beer. Tropical and citrus aroma with a lingering and unmistakably beery finish. Unfiltered, with balanced bitterness and a subtle malt sweetness, reminiscent of your old pals.
Brick Lane, Sidewinder XPA
Sidewinder XPA sings with grapefruit, sumptuous pineapple and peach characters alongside spicy and slightly floral notes. Coming in at a slammin' 0.5% ABV, this no-alc beer is big on flavour and possibilities. Tropical, bitter and refreshing. Live the Sidewinder life.
>> SHOP THE BOOZE FREE MIXED 6 PACK
Wind Down With Non-Alc Wines
Non alcoholic, or de-alcoholised wine has been around a while longer than non-alcoholic beer has, but with the recent boom in alcohol removed beverages in general, there’s naturally been more interest than ever before. I wouldn’t blame you for thinking it’s just glorified grape juice, because that’s definitely what I thought once, but it’s actually much more than that. Almost all non-alcoholic wines on the market are actually de-alcoholised wines, so prior to that process they go through the same fermentation and wine making techniques that any regular boozy wine would, before being de-alcoholised down to a residual <0.5%. This means that the booze free wines you’re drinking have much of the same aromas and flavour profiles that boozy wines do, making them much more complex and nuanced than your supermarket sparkling grape juice.
The booze free wines you’re drinking have much of the same aromas and flavour profiles that boozy wines do...
There’s also wine alternatives on the market that don’t go through a process of fermentation to achieve their flavour profiles and as such are true zero alcohol options. Generally they’re made by steeping several ingredients, from fruits and berries to spices and herbs, in hot water and verjus (an acidic juice made by pressing unripe grapes) to draw out all the delicious flavours from unique natural ingredients. A great example of a wine alternative is NON, who use a plethora of natural ingredients to create some truly unique tasting non-alcoholic beverages with a wild array of flavour combinations.
Non-alcoholic wines exist in droves, and whether you’re a lover of a dry white, robust red, or like a bit of bubbly in your life, there’s plenty of options to choose from. A tried and true Australian brand I’ve personally enjoyed is Plus & Minus, and they’ve got options for all of the above that are just as tasty as their boozy counterparts. I asked Les for some advice on the matter, seeing as he’s our go to wine guy, and he came back with a few belter products for us to try.
Plus & Minus Wines
The Plus & Minus range of wines have been uniquely hand-crafted using only high-quality grapes from premium, dry-grown South Australian vineyards. This ensures the resultant wines remain vibrant and full-flavoured once the process of removing the alcohol has been completed.
Tread Softly, ‘Everything Except’
Tread Softly produces naturally lower alcohol wines, along with their ‘Everything Except’ range of alcohol removed wines. They’re an environmentally conscious winery that seeks to reduce its carbon footprint by employing more efficient production practices. They also plant a native Australian tree for every 6 bottles sold.
Sobriety Society Wines
Sobriety Society wines use premium quality organically grown grapes to make pure and expressive alcohol removed wines. An ultra-membrane filter is used to aid the removal of alcohol ensuring the resultant wines remain vibrant and full-flavoured.
>> SHOP OUR RANGE OF ALC FREE WINES
Drinking In Spirit
Booze free products in the spirits category have finally started gaining popularity as much as their beer and wine counterparts, and I’ve definitely got a few favourites on my purchase list for Dry July. You might be thinking, but how can a spirit be non alcoholic? Isn’t that just flavored water? Not exactly. Some brands choose to make their non-alc spirits with traditional methods with neutral grain alcohol, and then distilling or removing the alcohol content before bottling. This results in a spirit that is less than 0.5% ABV, but has all the complexities of a regular distilled spirit.
Another way of making booze free spirits is to carefully hand craft them with essences and distillates, like Lyre’s does with their products. This results in a product that is very well balanced, and delicious enough to drink over ice (like you would a good whiskey), or mixed with your favourite craft tonic or soda.
My number one non-alc spirit brand so far is Lyres. I’ve used them in more ways than one, and they’re actually really solid choices for non-alcoholic cocktails. I’ve found that their products are a little more robust than other brands, and as such hold up a little better when diluted and mixed with other ingredients. As a bonus, they also make pre mixed versions of a few of their products, like a gin & tonic, Amalfi Spritz, and even a classic sparkling. I'm a big fan of the convenience of a good RTD (I'm talking proper craft spirit tins here), and the Lyres pre mixed range easily stands up to their boozy counterparts.
…This results in a product that is very well balanced, and delicious enough to drink over ice... or mixed with your favourite craft tonic or soda.
My favourite is the Amalfi Spritz, a pre-mixed non-alcoholic aperitivo that's as delicious as an aperol spritz, but doesn't have you dancing on tables after a good session (although don't let me tell you how to live your life). Their London Dry Spirit is also a great gin replacement, and mixes well with Long Rays Australian tonic water. Grab their Italian Bitter and some of their vermouth and you're on your way to a top notch booze free Negroni. As the Lyres say, libations!
Here's a couple of recipes to get you started with your stint of sobriety:
NA Negroni
- 30ml Lyres Dry London Spirit
- 30ml Lyres Aperitif Rosso
- 30ml Lyres Italian Bitter
- Orange slice, garnish
Method: Stir equal parts Lyres London Dry, Aperitif Rosso, and Italian Bitter in a mixing glass, pour over ice, and garnish with a slice of fresh orange. Delightful!
NA G&T
- 45ml Lyres Dry London Spirit (or Pink London Spirit)
- Long Rays Tonic Water
- Lemon & rosemary, garnish
Method: Top Lyres London Dry with your favourite craft tonic (we like Long Rays), and garnish with some lemon and rosemary. You'll feel like it's the real deal!
NA Aperitivo Spritz
- 45ml Lyres Italian Bitter
- 60ml Lyres Classico Sparkling
- Long Rays Soda
- Orange slice, garnish
Method: Build all ingredients over ice in a wine glass and garnish with fresh orange (and rosemary, if you like), and sip in the sun like you’re on the Italian riviera!
>> SHOP OUR RANGE OF ALC FREE SPIRITS
Whether you're just taking July off this year, or you've given up the booze full time, the amount of delicious products on the market today is only increasing. There's plenty of alternatives to give you the social buzz of enjoying a beverage with friends, but not lead to a fuzzy head the next day. Give some a try this July and you might be pleasantly surprised!
