This Dry January, Find Your Nirvana! – It is no secret that I am a fan of beer. A family favourite that dates back to my childhood years, sharing homemade bitter with my father from his home brew kits in the garage.
I have experimented with the odd low alcoholic alternative in the past with disappointment, simply because it wasn’t very nice, however, I am pleased to say that the selection on the market, with time is improving. While there are still a few less desirable beers floating around, there are also scores of alcohol-free beers that easily rival their full-strength peers in flavour and aroma.
Set up in 2016, Nirvana is the UKs only dedicated no/low-alcohol brewery, producing a wide range of beers – from lagers, IPAs, and stouts to less usual ‘gose’ and ‘sour’ brews. Every beer is vegan and low-calorie.
Based in East London, the family-run brewery is headed by Becky Kean, a recent winner of Management Today’s ’35 Women Under 35’. Becky set Nirvana up after her father went teetotal but missed the taste of beer and struggled to find decent alcohol-free alternatives. Determined to bring a smile back to his face, she made Nirvana her mission!
This brings us to today – the brewery has just had its best-ever year, all fuelled by Nirvana’s delicious beers and Britain’s continuing love affair with no/low alcohol. Dry January obviously sees sales peak, but the range Nirvana offers means there are beers for all seasons – last Spring saw it launch a limited-edition elderflower beer that quickly sold out.
Nirvana’s beers are all available via its website and Ocado. From January, you’ll also find a selection at the National Trust’s 119 properties. Here’s a taster of what they’re like:
Bavarian Helles Lager: Brewed to Bavarian traditions and a World Beer Awards medal winner, Nirvana’s flagship lager is crisp and immaculately balanced. Golden, pleasant biscuit notes, nectar finish. 0.3% ABV. 66 calories. Vegan.
Hoppy Pale Ale: An everyday beer, using fruity Mosaic hops, it’s refreshing and light. A dry, bitter, finish. 0.5% ABV. Just 30 calories. Vegan. £1.80/330ml.
Organic Pale Ale: Delivers a punchy ‘hit’ from bold Amarillo hops, with citrus dominating and hints of pine and spice. A gorgeous light amber colour. 0.5% ABV. 33 calories. Vegan.
Classic IPA: This crowd-pleaser uses Amarillo hops, packing a punchy hit perfect for a hot summer’s day. Light amber body, citrus aromas, hoppy notes of pine & spice. 33 calories, 0.5%.
Dark & Rich Stout: A rich and chocolatey stout, with hints of vanilla. A gloriously balanced, bold, beer of its style. 0.0% ABV. 66 calories. Vegan, gluten-free.
Why opt for a low-alcoholic alternative:
To help cut down on your drinking:
Whether you want to drink fewer units of alcohol every week, take a temporary break or give up completely, non-alcoholic beer can help with this process.
As an alternative to water or other soft drinks, you may find that drinking non-alcoholic beer gives you the same feelings of reward as full-strength beer, giving you the positive effects of alcohol without the negative consequences.
Less calories:
Check your ingredients and brewing process, but you may be surprised at how many calories you will be saving going down the low-alcohol route.
No hangover:
Drinking non-alcoholic beer means no more of the negative effects of being drunk, like hangovers poor productivity, tiredness and potentially making a fool of yourself.
And you can still drive home from the pub.
It is Natural
Most non-alcoholic beers are made using the same four natural ingredients brewers have used for years, being water, yeast, malt, and hops.
This means most non-alcoholic beers are natural products – unlike the many alcohol-free alternatives that can contain additives, artificial sweeteners and who-knows-what.
Poppy Watt