Big Drop was launched in 2016 as the world’s first brewer dedicated to alcohol-free beer by City lawyer, Rob Fink (right) and long-time friend James Kindred (left). Both had recently become fathers and were looking to cut back on the booze but could not find any decent alternatives to their favourite craft beers. They launched their first beer - an alcohol-free Stout - in November 2016 and then a Pale Ale the following year. Both beers scooped top prizes in beer awards - including ‘World’s Best’ at the World Beer Awards (‘Pine Trail’ Pale Ale has won it twice) and even going on to beat their full-strength rivals in blind-tastings. The AF-only brewer has since produced acclaimed brews spanning every type of beer - from coconut stouts to pastry sours and everything in between. Known for having bolder, hoppier flavours, they have a reputation for thinking outside the box to brew what beer drinkers love. Its unique brew-to-strength method means that each beer goes through a full and natural fermentation cycle, yet never exceeds 0.5% abv. This means all its beers are packed with flavour and, because nothing has to be removed in the process, they don’t have to comprise on taste just because they’re alcohol-free. Big Drop is for everyone who, for whatever reason, wants to enjoy a beer but without the alcohol. They could be driving, looking after kids, pregnant, on a diet, going back to work after lunch, getting up early the next day, training for a triathlon. And to be as inclusive as possible, Big Drop has also made a big effort to be low calorie, gluten-free and Vegan-friendly whenever possible. Rob says: “We sit in the craft beer scene – we’re unashamedly craft and about 80% of our consumers drink alcohol on a regular basis. So, really we seem to scratch an itch that drinkers of craft beer have – that sometimes you just want a great beer, but you don’t want the alcohol.” “We brew our beer naturally to 0.5% ABV, without the need to artificially extract alcohol like most alcohol-free offerings, but that means we’ve had to turn the rules of brewing upside down.” “We’ll be making 4.5 million pints of AF beer this year for consumption around the world, up from just 1,500 when we started in 2016.” “We use a lazy yeast, which isn’t very good at converting sugar to alcohol, as well as brewing at slightly higher temperatures at various points to further inhibit alcohol production. We also use less grain which means there are less sugars available to convert to alcohol, but we use far more types of grain than normal beer which helps amplify the flavour and brings complexity to our beers. We don't just use barley, we use barley, rye, wheat and oats and a number of different varieties of each.” Big Drop can now be found in over 20 countries worldwide – including throughout Europe, Australia, Canada and the US. Covid Context Whilst overall alcohol sales fell in 2020-21, the Pandemic appears to have led to an increase in consumption of low and no alcohol, with retail sales growing 50% year-on-year (Kantar: 52 weeks ending 21 Feb 2021). On this basis and with sales growth of 150%, Big Drop has been outperforming an already fast-growing sector by a factor of three. As you would expect in Lockdown, its retail and direct-to-consumer sales channels went mad whilst the on-trade fell into a state of slumber. Interestingly though that demand has not been dented at all by pubs and restaurants opening-up again, suggesting that the thirst for alcohol-free beer is growing – and particularly for home consumption. As unlikely as it sounds, Big Drop has landed ALL of the major international objectives it made at the start of 2020 - ie before anyone had heard of Coronavirus. It’s now brewing in the US, Canada and Australia – selling nationwide in each of those territories via colossal listings such as LCBO (660 stores) and Dan Murphy’s / BWS (1,100 stores). And it’s not just listings that it’s winning abroad… it’s already been named Brewery of the Year at the Melbourne International Beer Competition and awarded Gold medals at the US Open Beer Championship. With ‘boots on the ground’ in the form of Territory Managers, Big Drop is also having doors opened overseas by board advisors that include Mark Hunter, the former Global CEO of Molson Coors, and Stefan Orlowski, former President Europe of Heineken.

“B.O.B”s (Bewust Onbeschonken Bestuurder / Consciously Sober Driver) all over Netherlands really are spoilt for choice on alternatives drinks to alcohol these days. I’ve picked out 5 of the best breweries championing ‘AF in the Lowlands’ and some of their best options. The craft beer scene in the Netherlands has gone from strength to strength in recent years with one category becoming harder to ignore by cicerones, breweries, hospitality, bottle shops and ‘beerfluencers’ alike – alcohol free (AF). Before I get stuck in, I should say there are some notable brewery omissions in the main article who all have at least one option that tickles the tastebuds and is well worth trying; Oedipus, Oersoep, Van Moll, 100 Watt, Jopen and Uiltje to name but a few. We’re inevitably starting in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital and where I call home. It was here that Brothers in Law set up shop in 2010, releasing their 0.5 Hoppy Lager in 2018 which was one of the first AF beers I had in the wild, spotting a shelf full of them at Foodhallen. Recently adding the delicious caramel flavoured, tropical and complex Pacific IPA to their range was a great move - solidifying their commitment to AF beers and providing another luscious option for fans. Brouwerij ‘t IJ can be found just a few canals away and they arguably boast the most recognisable craft label in the Netherlands, with their iconic windmill brewery perched on the banks of the Nieuwevaart the east of the city. It’s fair to say these iconic brewers were a bit late to the game only releasing their first effort in 2020 – better late than never! Kicking off with their fresh and hoppy Free IPA they quickly added the softer and subtler Vrijwit. In my view the latter is a little lacking in flavour but does offer welcome variety to wash down snacks with whilst evading seagull divebombs out on a terrace. Another Amsterdam brewery that captured my imagination upon settling here was Lowlander. Brewed with reclaimed lemon and orange peel from hospitality partners, their sharp 0.0% Wit soon found its’ way into restaurants and bars across the city in the main due to its’ 0.0 appeal. They quickly followed up with four 0.3% options; a Blonde, Lager, Tropical Ale and IPA. The latter is influenced by Sri-Lankan flavours, packed full of mango, cardamom and bitter orange which don’t hide at all in this gorgeously crafted and refreshing brew. It also happens to be my favourite of the bunch. Lowlander are putting a lot of stock into their AFs and it´s paying off. Late last year and early 2021 saw both a shift to cans from bottles and the appearance in one of the top supermarket chains in the UK. Big moves. A short drive west of Amsterdam you will find the picturesque town of Haarlem. I encourage you to take a wander through the cobbled streets and when you do, you’re bound to happen upon the stunning ‘Jopenkerk’ which is home to the Jopen taphouse. This dazzling converted church is undoubtedly the most spectacular of tap rooms I have ever visited. In it you can find the highly successful and now canned Non(netje) IPA which like many other AFs uses a ´lazy yeast´ to keep alcohol conversion down, yet continue to give a full and juicy flavour profile. Their second AF option is a ginger version of this IPA which not only brings a really welcome sharpness and spicy bite to proceedings, but also offers a lovely fresh alternative to the reliable if now slightly saturated AF IPA market. To complete the tour, Bob´s driving south east, swinging past the capital towards Utrecht to find VandeStreek on an industrial park in amongst the car shops, furniture stores and driving schools. Don’t be fooled by the location – this brewery is an absolute diamond and it’s hard to argue they aren’t leading the way with their now world famous (at least in AF circles) Playground IPA. Found in bars, stores and online bottle shops as far away as Australia and winner of the AF Beer Cup in November 2020 it’s widely considered as one of the best across all categories. Through 2020 and into 2021 VandeStreek added to their range introducing a NEIPA, Grapefruit IPA and Sour bringing their non-alcoholic offerings to six in total with more to come over the rest of the year. Recognizable, playful, attractive and most importantly full of flavour – in my view the Playground IPA is the true AF king of the Netherlands… For now. Matt Chauhan - @Guiltfreepints