Dry July: Non-alcoholic beer brewed in Burleigh Sobah now sold in bottle shops

After launching Australia’s first non-alcoholic beer three years ago, the Gold Coast founders are saying cheers as their product achieves a major milestone

AFTER launching Australia’s first non-alcoholic beer three years ago, the Gold Coast founders are saying cheers as their product achieves a major milestone – it is now sitting on the shelves in major bottle shops.

Sobah, which is brewed at Burleigh, can be found in selected BWS and Dan Murphy’s stores across the state.

SOBAH founder Clinton Schultz. Picture Glenn Hampson

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It was founded in 2017 by Gamilaroi man and psychologist Clinton Schultz and his wife Lozen, who are thrilled about the launch into mainstream outlets.

“The Gold Coast market has been very slow on the uptake of the non-alcohol beverages movement,” Mr Schultz said.

“Historically speaking, non-alcoholic beers have been known to be lacklustre, so punters have a preconceived notion that NA drinks are not good enough or not satisfactory.

“We have a warehouse welcoming punters, however we’ve not been able to pick up a local retailer.

Lozen and Clinton Schultz. Picture: Jerad Williams

“But with new technologies and brewing processes we can make non-alcoholic craft beer that tastes damn good.”

The “craft beer” is flavoured made with Australian bush tucker, giving drinkers unique flavours from pepperberry IPA, lemon aspen pilsner, boab and wild ginger lager and finger lime cerveza.

“Native foods in Australia are considered exotic and expensive so many people generally don’t have an opportunity to experience these foods,’’ Mr Schultz said.

“We launched a food truck doing native food across the menu on the Gold Coast in the beginning of 2017.

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The Sobah beer range. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

“We created our own drinks to pair with the menu.

“After approaching several local contract breweries with our recipes, we found one brewer in Tweed Heads keen to give it a go.

“By May 2017 we had NA beer on tap in our food truck and before long locals were tracking us down at various events just to fill growlers to take home.”