Sober October’s a cinch with this fall four-pack
/A review of some fresh non-alcoholic beers made in Canada - offerings that’ll satisfy your cravings without breaking your streak
Summer's over and with it the good times that sunshine, carefree days and much-deserved vacations brought.
Which makes fall the ideal season to dial down the drinking.
So if you’re participating in the annual month-long celebration of moderation that is Sober October, let me offer you early congratulations. And encouragement. Hang in there ⏤ It’s almost over!
Maybe you need a little boost to get you through the last couple weeks. Or maybe you’re planning to turn your one month off into two or three.
Either way, I sampled a four-pack of current non-alcoholic beer offerings from a variety of Canadian companies to give you a glimpse of what’s available right now.
Without further ado, here’s four tasty brews that will satisfy your cravings without breaking your streak.
Phillips Brewing - iOTA Hazy IPA
Victoria's king of craft beer ⏤ seriously, their brewery occupies most of a city block ⏤ Phillips Brewing pushes the envelope when it comes to non-alcoholic offerings, too. Besides making inordinate amounts of Blue Buck (and other beers), malting barley, and distilling spirits, Phillips also concocts a bevy of throwback sodas, non-alcoholic cocktails, and Iota ⏤ a line of non-alcoholic beer.
The mainstays include a pilsner, a pale ale (try it on tap in the tasting room for a real treat) and the stand-out hazy IPA.
If turning your back on alcohol even temporarily made you miss trekking through the deep, dank jungle of tropical hop delight that is a hazy IPA, you'll find a happy homecoming with this cloudy, juicy gem.
It smells divine, drinks smooth and satisfying, and lingers with a tantalizing bitterness.
It's the closest a non-alcoholic beer has come to satisfying my insatiable craving for hops.
Tuesday Brewing - Freebomb Pale Ale
The first offering from Calgary-based Tuesday Brewing, Freebomb Pale Ale boasts aromatic and flavourful Citra and Amarillo hops over a distinctly British malt backbone.
The result is a surprisingly well-rounded non-alcoholic pale ale.
Phillips IOTA is the best n/a hazy IPA ACCORDING TO CONTRIBUTOR LIAM FORD.
Following in the footsteps of Rally Beer's Dry Run and Corona's Sunbrew, Tuesday opted to boost their concoction’s salubrious effects by supplementing it with vitamins C and D.
And why not? We could all use a little more of the sunshine vitamin now that the glowing orb in the sky has begun its annual game of peekaboo.
Definitely give this one a try if your palate leans more towards subdued and slightly sweet British pale ales over wild and woodsy West Coast ones.
Nonny Beer - Lime Gose
The latest seasonal release from Vancouver's Nonny Beer, the Lime Gose is a pleasant slap to the salivary glands.
Sour and salty ⏤ like a fizzy, non-alcoholic margarita ⏤ this distinctly North American take on the traditional German variety is perfect for those strange October days when the mercury still manages to tickle the 20s.
Props to Nonny for packing a ton of flavour into this quaffable daddy juice while sticking to the traditional recipe of water, barley, hops, yeast, coriander, and salt (plus lime).
Kick back, crack one open, and say cheers to climate change.
Strange Fellows Brewing - Nevertheless Pale Ale
The brainchild of famed B.C. brewer Iain Hill, Strange Fellows has carved out a unique niche in the bustling East Van craft beer scene with an ever-changing array of well-executed takes on traditional beer styles with modern twists.
From this bastion of beer comes their first non-alcoholic offering, Nevertheless.
Brewed with a combination of stalwart West Coast hops ⏤ namely Centennial, Citra, and Mosaic ⏤ Nevertheless doesn't disappoint with its bright, distinct aromas.
The German malted barley provides a light base that doesn't distract from the hop dominance, and a dose of lactose complements it all nicely ⏤ while adding a bit of body that's often lacking in non-alcoholic beers.
My final take?
If these beers are any indication, exciting things are continuing to brew in the Canadian non-alcoholic craft beer scene. I can’t wait to see what bubbles up next.
Liam Ford, Contributor
Liam is a poet, writer, and editor with a decade of experience as a bartender under his belt. His mission? To find an alcohol-free craft beer that satisfies his craving for hops.
