Dry July is coming and these are the non-alcoholic craft brews that can help beer lovers get through
Beer drinkers don’t have to put up with non-alcoholic brews that are pale imitations of their full-strength cousins this Dry July. Here are five tasty options that will see you though …
National
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Dry July is a lot less daunting for beer lovers than it used to be.
For many amber fluid enthusiasts, the prospect of turning to alcohol-free options for a whole month wasn’t too appealing when the majority of products on the market were pretty pale imitations of their full-strength cousins.
But given that the no-alcohol sector is by far the fastest growing in the beer market – a trend that dates back several years and is expected to continue – more and more craft breweries are getting on board and coming up with more adventurous and far better options.
“Non-alcoholic drinks are certainly not going anywhere,” says Andy Miller of Canberra-based non-alcoholic beer brewing specialist Heaps Normal. “It’s been well established now that it’s not a fad or a trend that sees any signs of stopping.”
The growing demand for no-alcohol (the term applies to anything under 0.5% ABV) can be put down to several factors. There’s an increase in the sober curious and those who want to reduce their alcohol consumption for health reasons, and stats also show that Millennials are consuming less alcohol than the generations that came before them. And there’s also a rise in what are called “blenders”, which Miller says is “a term used to describe people switching between no and low alcohol products and full-strength alcohol on the same occasion”.
When Heaps Normal started four years ago, they saw a gap in the market to create alcohol-free beers that tasted good and appealed to drinkers as well as those who were abstaining entirely for personal, health or religious reasons. They also didn’t want to come across as preachy.
“Our mission is to change drinking culture, but I think we’ve been really conscious that it doesn’t mean telling Australians to stop drinking,” Miller says. “We’re changing drinking culture by creating more options and I think what we’ve seen generationally, but also across different cultural groups and different demographics, is that people have been looking for options and looking for ways to make choices that work more for them for a long time.
“We set about creating a brand that we felt more accurately represented how people felt about their alcohol consumption and appeal to a wider audience of people who might still want to have a drink every now and again, but also just want something that they can take to a barbecue or have at a gig where they’re not having to try to convince themselves that they’re enjoying it.”
Bottle shops and supermarkets are heaving with non-alc options these days – most are lagers and big names such as Carlton, Great Northern, James Squire, Heineken and Peroni are all represented (there’s even a Guinness that’s not half bad) – but here’s five brews covering some different styles worth checking out this Dry July.
HEAPS NORMAL QUIET XPA
The only non-alc beer to feature on last year’s GABS Hottest 110 list, coming in at No.32. Their Half Day Hazy won a gold medal at last’s independent Brewers Association Awards and is a top tipple too.
HOP NATION NO BUZZ ALC-FREE AMERICAN RED
Luscious amber colour looks enticing in the glass and then the first sip is bursting with flavour thanks to the citrusy Aussie hops, peachy American hops and a whole lotta malt.
STOMPING GROUND FOOTLOOSE PALE ALE
One of the best non-alc options around, and a cousin to their excellent Gipps St Pale Ale. Pleasantly hoppy, refreshingly fruity and not too bitter.
BETTER BEER ZERO ALC LAGER
Like most of the Better Beer family, it’s a no-nonsense, straight-up, refreshing drop that will suit traditional lager lovers – minus the hangover.
TINY BUT MIGHTY NO REGRETS HAZY IPA
It’s a style that gives non-alc options plenty to work with and Kiwi outfit Garage Project takes full advantage, with pilsner malt, golden naked oats and three different kinds of hops for that juicy IPA flavour.
For the best craft beer deals, visit Brewery Direct and get 10% off any order
https://craftcartel.com.au/brewery-direct/
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Originally published as Dry July is coming and these are the non-alcoholic craft brews that can help beer lovers get through
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