Staying DRY Doesn’t Require a Poncho

WORDS: Krista Hall, Certified Cicerone PHOTOGRAPHY Freepik.com

Sometimes a little sobriety is a wise move

Dry Jan, Dry July, Oct-sober, 100 days off, there are many different sober challenges people participate in yearly to try and bring back some balance in their life with drinking, or for a good cause like a fundraiser to bring awareness to a charity of their choice.  Non-alcoholic or ‘sober curious’ has been growing in recent years and regardless of your reasons, the non-alcoholic ‘movement’ is here to stay.  Studies have shown that people are drinking less and the younger generations are drinking a lot less and more mindfully.  People are opting to drink better quality and less of it as well as non-alcoholic options when going out or cracking a can.

Rewind a few years ago when going out to meet some friends for a ‘drink,’ there were little to no non-alc options on menus.  Mocktails or sodas would likely be your only options and the prices charged for a mixed fruit and cordial punch wasn’t ideal.  Trends across the world are now showing menus and fridges stocked with many non-alcoholic options.  If you’re anything like me, I hate going to a venue and just having water.  Coming from the hospitality industry, I feel as if I’m taking up a chair and should be spending some kind of money towards that business, so bring on the non-alcoholic beer.

If we go back to when non-alc first came out, like many industries or trends starting, there weren’t always great examples out there but in 2024 we are spoiled for choice, and more and more are coming at us.  A few of my favourite non-alc brews are:

Weihenstephaner Non-Alcoholic Wheat Beer

Brewed by one of the oldest breweries in the world, Weihenstephaner makes one of the best non-alcoholic beers in the world, in my opinion.  Unlike most non-alc, the beer is brewed differently from a ‘regular’ beer because the machinery is a multimillion-dollar investment. Weihenstephaner has the technology to remove the alcohol so they brew the beer exactly the same way they make all their beers, then remove the alcohol.  Leaving a delicious quenchable product that tastes just the same as a regular brew.  You can usually buy this beer at Dan Murphy’s, but I haven’t seen it sold anywhere else, unfortunately.

Hiatus Non-Alcoholic Pacific Ale

This brew has a full-flavoured Pacific Ale profile that we have all grown to love over the years with Stone & Wood paving the Pacific Ale way.  Hiatus showcases passionfruit, guava and hints of mango balanced by a subtle bitterness to round it out.  This brew is probably the closest non-alcoholic option to Pacific Ale on the market.  You can find it in many restaurants and pubs around the Gold Coast and Brisbane area as well as some great small bottleshops.  This brand is gaining traction quickly and making its way into each state and city.

Sobah

Brewed in 2017, Sobah started as a small non-alc story to provide a better choice for those wanting to ditch the booze, for whatever reason.  Sobah resides in Burleigh Waters where they have a brewery and café so make sure you pay them a visit.  I like Sobah’s brews with the addition of local Australian Botanicals like finger lime, pepperberry and Davidson plum.  My favourite of the bunch I’ve tried is the Finger Lime Cerveza.  Sobah is also a purpose-led business, raising awareness and promoting First Nations culture, arts, language and history.

Heaps Normal

This brand is probably one you have seen or noticed more than the others because it is more readily available at most Coles or Woolies as well as Dan Murphy’s and the chain bottleshops.  This brand has done well for the category to showcase that non-alc beers can taste good and you won’t miss the alcohol.  They have a few to choose from the Half Day Hazy, Another Lager and Quiet XPA.  I think my favourite of the bunch is the Quiet XPA because of the mouthfeel and flavour profile they’ve created.

So, if you are ‘sober curious’ pick up a non-alc to try and see what you think.  Most people who drink non-alc also drink alcohol whether they are taking the day off the grog, pacing themselves and taking it easy for the day or sober in general.  Non-alc stigma has changed dramatically and it’s very socially accepted to crack a zero.  More big companies are bringing out non-alc options so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for your favourites.  Guinness has even brought out a zero and I’ll be so excited to try it!