There are absolutely loads of reasons why people choose not to drink alcohol. For some, it's a health choice, for others pregnancy, while a few may just want a night off every now and then. For a long-time, non-alcoholic alternatives had a bit of a rubbish reputation because they never tasted like the real thing, were hard to find, and costly.
But in recent years, loads more effort has been put into them by companies, including some which make well-known alcoholic brands, and the result is a market that's growing, and producing some stuff you might actually choose to drink.
It's not just the big name brands either. If you're happy to hunt around, and probably lose a few bottles to either the back of the cupboard or down the drain, there are some alternatives out there that are definitely worth your time and will get your tastebuds tingling, no matter what the reason you're not picking up a bottle of booze. You can get more food and drink news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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Beers
There's a good few options in the booze-free beer market. If you want to try some interesting beers I’d recommend Big Drop brewery where you can get a milk stout, Citra IPA, pale ale, and even a sour. They are sold at a big range of retailers including Waitrose, Morrisons, Ocado and Sainsbury's or you can buy direct online.
A mixed case of 12 is £24, and if you spend over £30 you get free delivery. The sour, an alcoholic favourite of mine, definitely doesn't have the sort of power that a full-strength one does, but it's not bad. The stout wasn't for me, but it'd be rare I'd order one of those anyway if drinking so it's probably not a fair comparison. What I like about these is the variety of beers that they produce, that it looks like a beer (handy if you're trying to conceal the fact you're not drinking) and that they are trying to produce a wide range of flavours.
Drop Bear was recommended to me and what a recommendation. Not only did the company reply to an email within minutes when I asked for local stockists, this was a beer with body. Run by couple Joelle and Sarah, it launched in 2019 and has won more than 20 awards, is stocked in major supermarkets and has raised millions in funding. Drop Bear was the first female-owned alcohol-free brewery in the UK when it launched and the Tropical IPA I tried (£2.25) was a revelation. You can read about them here.
If you're out and about and want a beer that doesn't make you feel you're missing out, Brewdog's Punk AF is a great pint and if you love the vibe in their bars it's a great way to still feel included (or not give the game away if you're trying not to let on you're not drinking). They also sell it in cans (£4.50 for four). It isn't totally alcohol free though and is 0.5 ABV.
Having tried a few of the big brands' lagers, Heineken would be my go to but I had high hopes for the Peroni (£4.50 for a pack of four from Sainsbury's). It’s very light but does lack a bit of oompf. It’s fine, it’s not bad and on a summer’s day in the sun, it’d be a refreshing drink but there’s better booze-free beers on the market. However, it’s worth noting this is a 0.0% beer, something not all can claim.
Lyre’s
I cannot recommend this brand enough. I’ve tried three things from it. One an American Malt to make an Old Fashioned, two, the Italian Spritz to make what you’d call an Aperol Spritz, and the third, their fizz. So what makes it so good? They promise "the finest range of non-alcoholic classic spirits the world has ever seen" and not only do they deliver but the range is increasing all the time.
First up, the Italian Spritz. I actually tried this in a bar in Cardiff (thanks Bacareto) but wanted to check I could recreate it at home. I invited a fellow pregnant friend round and, having partaken in several of the real things several times, we both agreed this is an excellent replacement.
The bottles are £23.50 each which isn’t cheap but it contains 23 servings so just over £1 a go is good enough for me and it really is an alternative that you could sup all summer long without the guilt, or the mid-afternoon hangover. Making an Old Fashioned somewhere near as good as the original does need some bitters, so you'd need to find a non-alcoholic one or have a few drops of the (alcoholic) original.
Bubbles
Ah, bubbles. I’m usually a Cava sort of girl but if I'm being honest, I'll happily try most things that have come with bubbles. There is now a good range of non-alcoholic fizz on the market.
The one I've seen most is Nozeco (£3.25 at Tesco). It is described as having a "natural grape profile with fine and elegant bubbles" and I suppose that's true. It is sweet, but not as sweet as some. For this, I tried the rose Nozeco (£4 for 75cl at Sainsbury's) which is nice. It’s sweet, yes, but it’s nice and frankly at £3.50 a bottle you can't really complain. Unlike their alcoholic counterparts the novelty wears off and I've never finished a bottle in one night but I did also spot Sainsbury’s do a small bottle which may be a better idea. I've definitely found this a great go to when you're trying to feel like you're one of the gang.
I didn't have huge hopes for the Sainsbury's alcohol free sparkling wine (£2.75). Partly as it doesn't have the fancy marketing of the other bottles. It looks like the sort of thing you'd have at the back of the booze cupboard and keep ignoring. However, I was really pleasantly surprised. Again, I got my taste test panel involved and we all agreed, for its price it was a bargain and probably had more flavour to it than the better marketed Nozeco.
Lyre’s (yes, them again) do a fizz too and given how impressed I was with their faux spirits I wanted to try it. It’s £10 a bottle which is considerably more than its rivals but my argument was that if it’s a good alternative then I’d happily shell that out for a special occasion and at the risk of joining their fan club, it is definitely the best non-alcoholic fizz I’ve had. However, if you're using a bubbles as a mixer, for the aforementioned spritz for example, save your pennies and use a cheaper alternative.
Cider
There's a big range of ciders, more than I realised before starting this feature. For this I tried the Old Mout pineapple and raspberry alcohol free (£1.30 from Sainsbury's), canned Kopparberg and a Stowford Press (£1.30 for 500ml bottle at Tesco). Without a doubt, the winner was the Stowford Press. Piled into a glass with ice, it was a great alternative. Even the drinker in our house said it was a good alternative. It's dry and doesn't have the faux sweetness the others did.
However, I should say I wouldn't ever pick a fruit cider, I always think they're too sweet and like pop, and the non-alcoholic ones were pretty similar to be honest. They're a fizzy fruit juice with a bit of a twist but again, hot day, or a barbecue with friends, I would happily sit with a glass piled with ice and one of these but again, I was just delighted to find such a range on the market.
Wine
This has long been the trickiest one. I've had such meh experiences with alcoholic free wines, that it's not something I ever even consider buying and just accept I can't have it for a while. So this time I tried the red and the white versions of McGuigans. The red is a Shiraz and I'm sorry but it was just awful. I actually spat it out. It's not a red wine, it's a fruity juice and sorely misses the flavour and depth of a proper red wine. The white from the same company was a Sauvignon Blanc and was similarly disappointing, I'm afraid to say. Both are £4 a bottle but neither are something I'll be returning too. One idea a friend did suggest was using these as the base for a Sangria-type cocktail which I think is the best option I've heard.
Aperitifs
I adore a Vermouth (blame my local Spanish eaterie Curado for that introduction) and part of it is the flavour, but also what goes with it. A pre-dinner drink with nibbles is the best kind of drink for me. There are a range of aperitifs on the market, and I tried the Martini Vibrante (£10 at Sainsbury's). This is very much at the herbal end of the aperitif spectrum and I'd go as far as to say it has an almost savoury taste. Made with a selection of botanicals including Italian Bergamo, it's not unpleasant, but it is an acquired taste. The recommendation is to serve neat, or with tonic, and I definitely preferred it as a long drink.
However, if you're after something like this, can I recommend Lidl, although you'll need to find it in Italian week. The Aperitivo Rosso is an absolute revelation. A pack of six, 98ml bottles, this is one of my favourite drinks whether drinking or not. I make it a touch longer by adding sparling water or tonic, with loads of ice and orange, and it's delicious. They are £1.99 for a pack, and if you see them, stock up! Close to a Campari-style taste, it's refreshing, tasty and crucially for me, not too sweet.
The conclusion
Overall I’d say if, for whatever reason, you’re going booze-free, you shouldn’t expect a direct match. I haven’t found anything with the body of an alcoholic drink but it’s not all bad - it’s definitely not all water or overly fizzy drinks either.
If you’re after an interesting beer delivered to your door, go to Drop Bear or Big Drop who offer interesting and tasty beers that are close to the real thing. For a lager to keep in the fridge for barbecues, I’d vote Heineken. Fizz wise, the Sainsbury's one was a pretty good option or if you're splashing out, go to Lyre's Classico. If you like a proper cocktail, Lyre’s is worth the extra money and will help you get excited by Friday night cocktail night (or is that just in our house?) but wine? If anyone has any good ideas, please let me know. I’d be forever grateful.
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