Description
Big Drop Brewing was the world’s first brewery dedicated solely to the production of only the finest alcohol-free craft beer, based in Ipswich their non-alcoholic beer is naturally brewed to be no more than 0.5% ABV. They use natural fermentation in all their beers to ensure the very best quality taste.
Big Drop have become the Gluten Free experts as even though, in their brewing process, they use over 20 speciality grains to give the beer extra body and flavour including barley, rye, wheat and oats, thanks to their top-secret brewing techniques, the gluten level is reduced to a certified safe level. One of the reasons they can brew their beers naturally to 0.5% ABV, without removing the alcohol afterwards, is the fact that they use a lot less grain in their recipes than other beers. So that means, simply, that there’s a lot less grain to start with, meaning they can achieve a really tasty beer within safe gluten levels, meaning more people can enjoy a good alcohol free beer.
For the unfamiliar, milk stout isn’t exactly made with milk; it’s made with lactose, the sugar you get in milk. As for the chocolate, that’s a type of dark roasted malt; although this beer also does have coco nibs (crushed cocao beans) in it, just to make it extra chocolaty.
Of all the alcohol-free beers we’ve tasted, this is one of the ones mostly likely to leave you wondering whether you’ve just knocked back a regular beer by mistake. Nice taste of coffee and hint of chocolate. Sweet with good mouthfeel black dark, nice tan with a small foam, smoky fruity, coffee, roast, raw, dark chocolate, bitter, sweet, citrus sour, freaky funky tart, cherry, malt, toffee, raspberry. Basically, a great tasting beer that gives flavours at the first sip and continues to keep giving long after you’ve finished the bottle.
Taste Notes: Stouty roasted coffee and chocolate on the nose, with a hint of malt and berry/cherry. Dried fruit, some smoky chocolate and even a hint of tobacco.
Serve really cold pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes, great for a Sunday afternoon after a walk with the dogs. Excellent with a beef stew or a beef pie and chips.
STOP PRESS:
This great beer from Two Roots is now featured in the 2022 CAMRA CAMRA World’s Greatest Beers This book is the definitive guide to the 250 best beers in the world today, selected by a panel of eight renowned international beer writers and influencers.
This great beer was reviewed by the renowned accredited Beer expert, Pete Brown who says of it “In the critical rehabilitation of low-/no-alcohol beers, this one for
me proved to be a turning point.”
What the People Say about Big Drop brews:
“A fantastic range of alcohol free craft beers. Way above any others on the market in terms of taste and choice (and I’ve tried a lot). Really happy to have discovered these, which makes not choosing alcohol an easier decision.” Susan M Google Review
“I wanted to reduce my unit intake but wasn’t prepared to sacrifice taste or even worse, give up beer. Thanks to Big Drop I’ve had my cake and eaten it.” Alan L Google Review
“The beer from Big Drop Brewing is, of course, alcohol free but more importantly tastes brilliant” David S Google Review
“Best alcohol free beers I’ve ever tasted, and being gluten free to boot is the icing on the cake” Kristian Google Review
“Best tasting low alcohol beers so far, glad to have found these guys, made going alcohol free during the Euros a breeze” M R Google Review
A word about the founders:
Big Drop Brewing Co. is dedicated exclusively to making the finest 0.5% ABV beer.
Big Drop, based in Ipswich, is another dedicated alcohol-free specialist, with a range of convincing beers from light lager styles to milk stouts, launched in October 2016 by the-then City lawyer Rob Fink, along with his school-friend/band-mate, designer and entrepreneur, James Kindred.
The idea for a brewing business that only made alcohol-free beer was driven by their own lifestyle changes (eg fatherhood) and the frustration that there were no good alcohol-free beer options. Along with renowned experimental brewer, Johnny Clayton (formerly of Wild Beer Co), they’ve perfected techniques to make alcohol-free craft beer without the need for artificial removal of alcohol. The result doesn’t compromise on taste and yet is no more than 0.5% ABV.
Big Drop doesn’t just use barley. It uses barley, rye, wheat and oats to give great flavour and aroma. And it doesn’t use just one type of each. Across its beers, it uses over 20 speciality grains. Its wide-range of beers includes Stout, Lager, Pale Ale, IPA, Brown Ale, Golden Ale, Winter Ale and a Sour. So there really is something for everybody.
Big Drop have become the Gluten Free experts as even though in their brewing process, they use over 20 speciality grains to give the beer extra body and flavour including barley, rye, wheat and oats. However, thanks to their top-secret brewing techniques, the gluten level is reduced to a certified safe level. One of the reasons they can brew their beers naturally to 0.5% ABV, without removing the alcohol afterwards, is the fact that they use a lot less grain in their recipes than other beers. So that means, simply, that there’s a lot less grain to start with, meaning they can achieve a really tasty beer within safe gluten levels, meaning more people can enjoy a good alcohol free beer.