Fresh to their core
Earlier this year there was a flourish of new alcohol free beers released by big names in the craft beer world, committing a low alcohol option to their core range. I’ve been predicting for a couple of years that soon every craft brewery will have an AF in their roster, with Cloudwater, Wiper & True and Arbor being some of the most recent indie names to join the movement.
Who else is embracing the AF wave? I’ve virtually nipped around the nation to compile the originators and adopters of alcohol free in the craft beer world, celebrating those who have committed the style to their core range.
Scotland
Early adopters Tempest Brewery led the charge with Sleight of Hand, way back in 2020, before a recent flourish over the last twelve months. Having earned a name as one of the the country’s most consistent craft producers, Edinburgh’s Dozonko added a ‘Tiny’ alcohol free to their iconic Foam range this year, while Williams Brothers have launched an AF younger sibling to their supermarket-bothering Joker IPA. Elsewhere, Innis & Gunn brew a zero lager, Burnside have their Right to Roam in Aberdeenshire, and Inverness’s Black Isle have their own range of Halo beers on the brewing schedule.
North
Thornbridge take the prize for being the first northern brewery to commit an AF beer to their core range, with the Derbyshire outfit celebrating five years since the launch of Big Easy, which was renamed Zero Five in 2019. Across the county border, Leeds’ early adopters Ridgeside settled on Light & Sound while Northern Monk have dedicated a slot on their heavy roster for Holy Faith, a hazy AF pale ale. Heading west out of Leeds, Ilkley and Saltaire are two established breweries committed to the AF cause, with the former adding Maiden (pale ale) and Nowt (stout) to their famous ‘Mary’ range, while this year Cold Bath in Harrogate have thrown themselves into AF activity with the addition of 1571.
Crossing the Pennines, Salford’s First Chop first brewed Yes back in 2019 and it quickly became an AF mainstay in their celebrated range. In Manchester, still in its early days, legendary craft brewery Cloudwater launched Fresh AF on draught in their taproom and selected local pubs.
Heading further north, three breweries are putting AF permanently on the Lancashire and Cumbria maps. Early adopters Bowness Brewery launched their Swan Free range in 2020, and it’s still brewed today, while this year both Fell and Farmyard committed to an alcohol free option.
South East
Starting down in Sussex, Only With Love have been one of craft beer’s biggest advocates for alcohol free beer; not only do they have a range of core beers but they’ve also developed kombucha and hop waters. Staying by the sea, This is a Thirst Trap became Merakai’s core offering, with one of craft beer’s most progressive breweries joining the AF party. Slightly more traditional in appearance, Harveys of Lewes have brewed a couple since way back, while Hepworth Brewery have contracted for a number of AF brands and also produce Aztec, Spartan and a newly launched lager.
Four craft breweries in London have AF brewing on a regular basis, if we’re excluding Beavertown’s Lazer Crush now it’s a Heineken brand. Gipsy Hill have an alcohol version of their legendary Hepcat (cleverly called HepcAF), Big Smoke do Pure Shores, Sambrooks have Stand Easy and you can trace Hammerton’s adventures in AF back three years with their Zed core beer still available today.
Outside of the smoke, you’ve got Renegade Brewery (formerly known as West Berkshire) who have rebadged their SOLO alcohol-free options, whilst any AF ‘legends’ list wouldn’t be complete without Adnams’ alcohol free Ghost Ship, which by all accounts shifts more than the full strength offering these days.
Midlands
Three big names in the midlands all have alcohol free in their core ranges, with Birmingham Brewing Company leading the charge back in late 2020 and to this day offering Sober Brummie in cans and taps locally. Heading south on the A435 you’ll find supermarket players Purity and their Point Five, while slightly further west you’ll eventually get to Hobson’s and their 500ml bottles of Free IPA.
South West and Wales
Last but by no means least, the South West of England is arguably Britain’s hotbed of alcohol free beer. Bristol Beer Factory collaborated with mental health charity Talk Club back in 2020 to produce Clear Head, which today is prominent in bars and pubs across the city. Another huge name in Bristol, in January Wiper & True added Tomorrow to their core range, kicking off their AF adventure with a lager rather than the usual pale/IPA debut offerings.
Fellow icons of the Somerset cask and keg scene, Arbor and Butcombe have both committed to AF, with the former widely available on draught in their pubs across the south. Back in Bristol both Fierce & Noble and Good Chemistry have added alcohol free options to their range. Further south in Wells, Wookey Brewing Co have Elixir as part of their growing roster, and even further south in Cornwall, Firebrand have added Shorebreak to their brewing calendar. In Wales, Tiny Rebel first brewed alcohol free back in 2018, before settling on Clwb TropicaNA a year later; their famous fruited pale Clwb Tropica turned non-alcoholic.
What are your favourites? What have I missed? Let me know in the comments!