The north of the UK has some truly excellent breweries these days with cities such as Manchester and Leeds becoming real hubs for craft beer. They’ve opened up brewery taps, while exporting their beer all over the country, and indeed world, picking up plenty of awards and honours in the process.
And while many beer lovers go on quests to find the latest imperial stout or NEIPA, there has also been a growing trend of them brewing non-alcoholic alternatives too.
We live in an age where alcohol rehab UK wide is seeing more and more people seek treatment as a result of rising levels of addiction, while there’s also an increase in non-drinkers for health and wellbeing reasons too. So, it only makes sense that northern breweries are jumping on the 0% market too. A market that is worth over £800million.
But what are the best northern breweries offering non-alcoholic options?
Northern Monk
Based in Leeds, Northern Monk has really gained a reputation for producing innovative and unique flavours, but it’s also moving forward with its non-alcoholic options too. You can find a number of their flagship beers in 0% form, including their Eternal Session IPA and Faith. Both are called “Holy” versions, sticking with the brewery’s theme, while they also have released hop water, which is essentially beer flavoured sparkling water.
It’s a unique taste, and it doesn’t look remotely like beer, but carries the flavour and various fruity subtleties and is well worth a try.
Thornbridge
Thornbridge is nestled in the Derbyshire hills and has long been a trailblazer in the world of craft beer with Jaipur one of the world’s most renowned and loved IPAs.
Over the years they’ve produced a number of different non-alcoholic beers with Big Easy being the most popular choice. It is bursting with tropical fruit flavours and has a real balanced bitterness to it.
What’s more, you can find it relatively easily these days with it often stocked in supermarkets.
Cloudwater
Another brewery that’s well known for its award wins is Cloudwater. Once named one of the top three breweries in the world, the brand knows how to make a smooth and juicy brew and you’re certainly getting that with Fresh AF. It’s their 0.5% ABV IPA and is a real champion of the non-alcoholic craft beer scene.
You can’t find it everywhere, but many specialised beer shops in the north will stock it, as well as craft beer bars. Interestingly, Cloudwater have also launched a Root Ginger Beer soda as they look to improve their non-alcoholic options for customers.
North
North was a bar in Leeds for many years before beginning to produce its own beer, so it has plenty of experience in selecting the best products. However, the brewery has gone from strength to strength since then and has a wealth of incredibly pale ales especially.
When it comes to non-alcoholic stuff, Flat Moon Society is their collection of 0.5% products, where they offer a peach pale and grapefruit pale, both of which offer all the balance of an IPA and are jam-packed with flavour. Just without the hangovers! Well worth a go, you can find it in many craft beer shops across the north.
