Award-winning alcohol-free brewer, Big Drop, has a new beer ready in time for the New Year and to help the ever-growing army of drinkers doing ‘Dry Jan’.
The new 0.5% ABV craft lager, Reef Point, is a malt-forward offering that brings a soft, honey aroma – balanced with a gentle bitterness and a delicate uplifting waft of citrus. This is down to the hops used – Hallertau Hersbrucker – being one of the traditional ‘noble’ hop types that are high in aroma and low in bitterness.
Not only is Reef Point gluten-free but it’s also vegan-friendly and – at only 33 calories (per 330ml can) – this beer is the perfect alternative for any craft beer lover who is looking to moderate their alcohol consumption or watch their waistline after Christmas and into the New Year.
‘Dry Jan’ has grown tremendously since 2013, transcending from being perceived as a gimmick to an initiative recognised in households nationwide. In 2022, 1 in every 8 drinkers committed to completing the entire month sober (*YouGov1) and considering the alcohol-free market’s growth in the past year, this figure is likely to be higher in 2023. According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis the compound annual growth rate for the alcohol-free beer market in the UK will be +12% until 2026. It says that alcohol-free beer is no longer a ‘distress purchase’ and appeals to drinkers beyond January: “Improving taste experiences enable no-alcohol beer to compete with soft drinks and venture into new occasions where alcoholic beer cannot.”
Meanwhile, Vegans already make up 6% of the adult population in Britain (*YouGov2), with polls suggesting a similar percentage also take part in Veganuary for all or part of the month (*YouGov3).
Big Drop’s Head of Production, Johnny Clayton, commented: “Big Drop is on a mission to make any style of beer taste so good that you simply won’t miss the alcohol and Reef Point is a classic example. With this beer, we really wanted to expand our craft range, and in particular our vegan range, without compromising on flavour. I’m confident that we have just done just that by creating a beer that is well-balanced, full-bodied, aromatic and leaves you wanting more. It’s a beer for everyone to enjoy on any occasion and one that your waistline will thank you for whilst your taste buds are none the wiser.”
Reef Point is available from £24 (12 x 330ml cans) from the first week of January (https://shop.bigdropbrew.com/products/reef-point) and in-store at Club Soda: the UK’s only alcohol-free dedicated tasting rooms, shop & bar at 39 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2.
– ENDS –
Images: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1U_LmxNgvVvUAc1X3X8O41Wum2aFzyId8?usp=sharing
Notes to Editor:
* YouGov:
- https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/articles-reports/2021/12/30/how-many-people-will-abstain-alcohol-january
- https://yougov.co.uk/topics/health/articles-reports/2022/02/02/profile-peek-vegans-us-and-britain
- https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/survey-results/daily/2021/02/10/1ff44/3
About Big Drop:
Big Drop launched in 2016 as the world’s first brewer dedicated to alcohol-free beer. Founders Rob Fink and James Kindred are old school friends/bandmates who both love beer but decided to cut down the booze on becoming Dads. Their mission is to make any style of beer taste so good that you simply won’t miss the alcohol and have pioneered a new process called Reduced Amylase Brewing. This is a fully-fermented brewing cycle which never rises above 0.5% ABV – so nothing is extracted and means it retains all the flavour. Now producing five million cans a year – Big Drop has clocked-up 100 international awards, including seven times crowned ‘World’s Best’ at the World Beer Awards (a record for any UK brewer, AF or otherwise). And – the Holy Grail for any AF brand – it’s even won awards when entered into full-strength categories, beating 6% ABV beers in blind-tastings. Recognized as a market leader in this rapidly growing sector, Big Drop is now available in over 20 countries. In the UK, Big Drop has listings with retailers (eg Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons and Ocado), throughout the on-trade as well as on doorsteps with Milk & More. For more information about Big Drop’s beers, tasting notes and availability, visit www.bigdropbrew.com
Press release from Big Drop.
Further Info: Harry Seymour 07511 796934 / harry.seymour@bigdropbrew.com