Alcohol Free Beer Explorers

I was sorting out the old beer cupboard when I realised I had a few mango alcohol free beers. I wouldn't say I'm an evangelist of fruit beers, but here we are. I'm writing about them and you're reading about me writing about them. Shall we make a start? First up was something that I pre-ordered. Not something I've done before with beer and not a style I've ever had before - Mash Gang Death Mall, a mango milkshake IPA. This was living dangerously. Not just because of the new style but because it included an ingredient that is banned in the States. The Tonka been. Similar to vanilla but know to cause lover problems, and even death, if consumed in great quantity. This is a refreshing fruity beer. Lots going on, but you can definitely get that vanilla edge with a beer essence to it. Not a bad start on my mango journey. Loving the work from Mash Gang at the moment and keeping a close eye on anything new on the market from them. Next was an controversial beer, but not

  Well this box was made for me to try how could the Alcohol beer Explorer resist a box called The Big Explorer box.  This box is from Big Drop and sold exclusively through Waitrose stores & Waitrose Online , it sells for the bargain price of £12.  The pack contains 8 beers from the big drop range each a different style giving you a chance to try various styles of alcohol free beer from the big drop range. Not all the beers in here will be for everyone and not all the beers in the box are the best examples of the style they represent but for me this box is a great starting point for anyone wanting to try a variety of alcohol free beers.  Working out at £1.50 a beer it is also at a great price point.  Hopefully this box or similar will be made available across other supermarkets too.   All the Beers except for Coba Maya which at time of writing is exclusive to the bog  are available direct from Big Drop    or from all good online alcohol free retailers.  A link to the product pages

  Encoder beers started back in 2013 by two brothers, Will and Tom, who grew up on the countryside. They have stayed to their roots and have continued brewing beer in the countryside. They set out on a mission "to produce great beer that is crafted to be at maximum altitude on flavour, yet perfects balanced and drinkable". They brew a range of 8 beers, which includes a, alcohol-free been in Doppler. I think it's great that for a small brewery, they have decided to add an alcohol-free option to their core range. Good for them.  Brewery:   Encoder Beers Beer: Doppler Style: IPA Country: UK @HoppyAF 's thoughts I was really pleased to stumble upon this brewery when scrolling through Twitter. it appears that not many others in the alcohol-free beer twitter world had heard o this one, so it's great to be showcasing it here. I'm always up for trying something new so needed to introduction to make an order and give it a try.  Firstly, I was totally made up to receiv

  This is a very dark colour for a lager looks and smells more like a dark ale. I get a dark malty toffee sort of aroma none of the tropical fruits described on the can.  The taste is quite malty with a bitter finish.    To me the taste also comes across more of a dark ale than a lager.   Don't know if this is down to the Chaga mushrooms affecting the flavour or something.   For me this is a nice tasting beer but it doesn't really stand out from the crowd.  Although it does have the added benefits of the adaptogenic mushrooms going for it if you are someone into those. There is a great article available from the yada collective on these benefits I purchased this from wise bartender . Also available from the yada collective

  My 2nd beer from two roots this time an IPA combining new England and West Coast styles with bold juicy hops used to create a crisp finish with a hint of bitterness.  Like the straight drank this pours with a good thick head, although not quite as thick as straight drank. The aroma is lots of tropical fruits getting pineapple and a bit of grapefruit.  The taste is very fruity, I get apricot and some citrus fruits.  Decent mouth feel to this as well.   Once again a great beer that I can see becoming a regular in the fridge for me.   These guys certainly do great IPAs. This is currently only available from dry drinker in the UK 

  My first beer from the American brewery Two roots.  This IPA comes with eureka and comet hops which are not ones I am familiar with.  It poured with a thick head and had to pour very carefully to not be nd up with too much foam and an ice cream head   The drink looks quite thick in the glass.   There's a decent hop aroma.    Lots of flavour to this one and the thickness continues in the mouth feel.   Citrus fruits come through along with a little peach and a nice bitter finish.    This is an excellent beer and one I hope stays around in the UK for a while longer.  I will admit to being slightly sceptical about the hype of these American beers coming over but after this one I can't wait to try some more.  This has everything you could ask for in an IPA and I think will become a regular in my fridge Currently only place I have seen available is at dry drinker

  Back in the late 90's Heineken took over a small French brewerys project of a tequila flavoured beer.   The beer was unique at the time and tried to introduce the beer as a way to get parties going.   Now you could have something tequila flavoured at the start of your night and build up to end your night with some tequila slammers.   The product proved highly popular and is now sold worldwide with a variety of different flavours all based around the tequila theme and cocktails you would have with it. Mockingbird Quite a few years later in 2020 Fern McCoy launched her Mockingbird spirit.  This is an alcohol free tequila flavoured spirit.  This is made using the same blue agave that is used in Tequila.   Fern experimented a lot to try and replicate the traditional tequila flavour. They also use  Ashwagandha which is an adaptogen that helps your mind and body manage stress and anxiety.  I was never a big tequila fan when I did drink it it tended to be those shots at the end of the n