With the exponential growth of the low- and no-alcohol beer sector set to continue, brewers are starting to realise that they need to be a part of this dynamic market.
One such company is Jump Ship Brewing, founded in 2018 by Sonja Mitchell, as a result of ordering a box of alcohol-free beers to enjoy throughout Dry January.
However, Sonja found the quality of most of the beers was variable, at best, and decided to have a go at brewing her own beer.
Her journey started by enrolling on a brewing course where she met a brewer who helped to develop her own recipes for alcohol-free beers.
Three, 50-litre batches of beers — using different recipes — were produced, with variable results. Two of the batches didn’t really work, but one was very good.
After further experimentation they finally perfected the recipe that delivered the required 0.5% ABV. The beer was named Yard Arm Lager, which has gone on to become their flagship beer.
Initially, the beers were produced in partnership with an established brewery, but Sonja needed the flexibility of her own dedicated premises. Relocating her business to central Edinburgh was the original plan, but was ruled out due to the property prices in the city.
Fortuitously, Sonja met a developer who had suitable premises in Mid-Lothian, which were adjacent to a biomass boiler.
Keen to reduce her company’s impact on the environment, the new premises could be heated from the biomass boiler, and today Jump Ship Brewing is powered by 100% renewable energy. The waste hops are recycled to become fertiliser and the grain goes to farms as animal feed.
In January 2024 their first batch of beer was brewed at their new premises, where they now employ six people and produce a range of eight beers — seven of which we recently sampled.
When Sonja, a former marketing consultant for Unilever, isn’t brewing or developing new recipes, she enjoys sailing, which was the inspiration for her company’s name.
Sonja metaphorically jumped ship into the no alcohol sector and, to continue with the sea-faring analogies, is very much enjoying being at the helm and riding the wave of a trend that shows no signs of slowing.
By June 2024 the fastest growing beer category in the UK was alcohol-free beer (year-on-year growth of 23%) and over 80% of pubs sell at least one alcohol-free beer.
As consumer demand for alcohol-free beers continues to grow, the quality of the beers has also improved beyond recognition. In 1986 Guinness launched an alcohol-free beer, but if that was compared with the current crop of alcohol-free beers, from a growing number of breweries, the experience would be worlds apart.
We were sent seven of their beers, including Yardarm Lager, which we all agreed was excellent.
Light gold in colour with fine bubbles, it was refreshingly light; there was a malty sweetness, perfectly balanced with the bitterness of the hops, with citrus notes delivering a contemporary and very satisfying finish.
It was awarded the best non-alcoholic lager in the world at the World Beer Awards 2021 and we can see why.
The other beers that we sampled included Haar New England IPA, Stoker’s Stout, Unchartered Raspberry & Vanilla Sour, Flying Colours Pale Ale and Jackstaff IPA.
All were very good, but Stoker’s Stout was one of our favourites. Dark and moody with an authentic creamy head, we could have been forgiven for mistaking this for something originating on the Emerald Isle. It had that bold stout mouthfeel and a rich, satisfying finish.
IPAs are very much on trend at the moment and the market is wide open for a convincing no-alcohol version. Haar New England IPA could well be that beer. A hazy IPA with delicate bubbles, Haar delivers a citrus fruitiness, with hints of the exotic – there are subtle coconut and pineapple cues, and the overall experience was immensely satisfying.
The outlook for the business, which currently produces 800 hectolitres (140,000 pints) a year is very positive; there are plans to double production to help keep up with demand — the result of changing consumer habits when it comes to the consumption of alcohol here in the UK.
Consumers might not want the alcohol, but they do want an authentic experience and the beers that we were sent from Jump Ship Brewing were amongst some of the best we have sampled.
For more information visit their website