Yohanna Best talks to Drop Bear Beer Co co-founder Joelle Drummond about their multi award-winning alcohol-free beers and new brewery in South West Wales.
Gareth and I first discovered Drop Bear beers in what became our local craft beer bar and bottle shop. We were house hunting in Aberystwyth, and checking out the local ‘attractions’. We would always need to drive home afterwards, so alcohol-free (AF) brews were on the radar for one of us. Like many other designated drivers, we had both unenthusiastically sipped at overly sweet, gassy, watery, flavourless AF beers in the past. So we were pretty excited when our friendly bar tender at Bottle & Barrel served us a Drop Bear. An AF beer that actually tasted like craft beer. And had the mouthfeel of a proper beer. Cue double take to check that it was only a 0.5% ABV brew. We’ve been loyal fans ever since, and regularly down a Drop Bear either in between alcoholic homebrews, when we have to drive, or are on a bit of a health kick (hello, Dry January!).
Those sad early versions of AF beer were exactly what spurred the launch of Drop Bear Beer Co back in 2019 by co-founders Joelle Drummond and Sarah McNena. They spotted the opportunity for brewing a really good AF beer, and then went about building on their basic homebrewing knowledge, starting off with a 10L saucepan and a jam thermometer, and then investing personal money to get the business started. Fast forward 4 years and Drop Bear produces millions of cans each year, is enjoyed all around the globe, and the brewery proudly holds not one but two titles as European Champions of alcohol-free brewing, as well as many other awards. They have been through a couple of rounds of funding bringing them £1.8 million in equity investment, and now Drop Bear Beer Co are about to open a huge 16,000 sq ft alcohol-free brewery (the largest in the UK) and taproom in Swansea. So they are a pretty big deal.
Joelle Drummond generously took time out of her whirlwind (whirlpool?) schedule to talk more about their brews. Hot on the heels of news of their expansion, I was keen to hear more about their new brewery and taproom. They are due to launch in January 2024 with a massive Dry January party. “It’s really going to bring the brand to lifeâ€, Joelle told me. The taproom is a really exciting step, not just for the team, but for the customers too. There are not many places where you can sit in a taproom and enjoy fresh alcohol-free beer on tap, against the backdrop of mash tanks. In fact, Drop Bear are the only brand that has an AF brewery of that scale with a taproom.
The vision is to provide “an inclusive space reflective of the marketâ€, she says. So while they will be able to educate people on what a really good AF beer should taste like, they’re not preaching and shaming those who do want to enjoy an alcoholic brew. Because even if, like me, you do love a good AF beer, you might not want to drink AF 100% of the time. Naturally, the focus will be on their traditionally brewed AF beers, but they will also have on tap guest beers that do contain booze. Plus other fun things that you would hope from a taproom, like events, board games, good times, plus (my personal favourite) a retro crisp flight, as well as a retro soft drinks menu.Â
Beer lovers can also satisfy their curiosity about the brewery first hand on a Drop Bear brewery tour, which will be available from January 2024.
SUPER STYLING
Unlike many AF beers, Drop Bear beers are made using traditional brewing methods. So there’s no removing of alcohol involved, thereby stripping the beer of its characteristics. If you are wondering if brewing alcohol-free limits the styles of beer you want to brew, the news is good. You can brew most styles as an alcohol-free brew, except something like an Imperial Stout, which relies on a high ABV.
While the Drop Bear brewery capacity enables them to produce tens of millions of cans each year, they can also do smaller batch experimental brewing. On this topic, Joelle hinted that they would be keen to release a sour, which would be perfect for the summer. So stay posted on seasonal brews from Drop Bear!
“We aim to honour and keep to the traditional brewing processâ€
HOW TO MAKE ALCOHOL-FREE BEER
There was one obvious question I had to ask: how do Drop Bear make their award-winning AF beers? “We aim to honour and keep to the traditional brewing processâ€, says Joelle. She went on to reveal that they brew to strength, and their secret lies in the fermentation times and temperatures. And because of the reduction in malt they use, they have had to develop a finely tuned understanding of flavour retention. But anything more specific than that remains confidential. So you’ll just have to give it a go yourself and brew your own champion formula!Â
To help you on your way, Joelle does have a couple of great tips:
Understand the science, and spend loads of time learning about the subject - tap in to your local library, internet resources etc. Joelle admits that, when they were learning to brew, they were saturating their brains with so much knowledge she started talking about sparge water in her sleep. While the bed was surrounded with fermentation vessels, I might add. I mean, that’s commitment!Â
Use the best ingredients possible, as there’s nothing to hide behind - “there’s less going in… so there’s more room for errorâ€, she says.
Dream Drinking Buddy?
“It’s a bit nerdyâ€, she laughs, “but I would step into a time machine, and try and find the group of women who brewed the first beersâ€. She would bring them to the Drop Bear taproom and serve a super juicy hoppy IPA with new world hops, and talk about how beer and women’s roles in the brewing process has evolved over time. Because, as you might know, brewing was originally done by the women of the households. “They would probably be shocked to hear that the beer was alcohol-free!â€, she adds.
Down a Drop Bear
Buy brews direct from Drop Bear at their shop in Llansamlet, Swansea, or order them from their website (see below). They are also available at grocery retailers like Ocado and some branches of Tesco, Coop and Asda.
Join The Party
The epic Drop Bear Brewery launch party is on Saturday 6th Jan 2024 in Swansea. Book tickets via Eventbrite or follow them on social media for links. Maybe see you there!
MASHED! Reader Offer
Save 20% on a mixed 12-pack of Drop Bear beers from their website:
How to get your discount: add the Core Range Mixed 12 pack to your cart. At checkout type in the code: MASHED20Â Â
Valid for one use per user only and until 31st January 2024.  Â
