Big taste without big consequences – Big Drop Brewing Co. brings its low-alcohol brews to our shores
In a perfect world, the advent of spring would come with an influx of social occasions rapidly filling up our social calendars. Picnics, barbecues, parties – sometimes many of these events land on the same day (there are only so many weekends to go around). When you’re busy being a social butterfly, it helps having a beverage that won’t have you stumbling from one soiree to the next, or too hung over for round two the next day. Big Drop Brewing Co. – one of the world’s leading producers of ultra-low-alcohol craft beers – is arriving in Australia this week, debuting its heralded range of frothy beverages that are perfect for sustained summer sipping without the ensuing sore head.
As the low- or no-alcohol beverage market expands, demand is spiking for a craft-beer alternative that manages to retain the same robust flavour as full-strength brews, just without the boozy bite. Big Drop Brewing Co. has been satiating that exact thirst since it launched in 2016, distributing its range of award-winning drops across the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada and Hong Kong. Now, just in time for barbecue season, Big Drop Brewing is expanding to the Australian market, introducing itself to local drinkers with two of its full-flavoured beers – both of which clock in at a very manageable o.5-per cent ABV. Co-founders Rob Fink and James Kindred started the business out of a desire for a low-impact beverage option that suited their busy lifestyles as business owners and fathers.
While Big Drop specialises in beers that sit on the low end of the boozy spectrum, the brewing process is much the same as the full-strength competitors. The crew is liaising with brewing partners based in Melbourne that are helping to create Big Drop’s range using local ingredients to ensure a minimal carbon footprint. The brewery’s two launch beers – the Pine Trail Pale Ale and the Uptown Craft Lager – are both low in gluten and carbohydrates. The Pine Trail Pale Ale is an American-style pale ale that boasts a floral aroma and a citrus bite, and weighs in at 14 grams of carbs and 63 calories per can. The easy-drinking (and vegan-friendly) Uptown Craft Lager is even better for the body, with a meagre eight grams of carbs and 41 calories making this herbal and hop-forward number a great option for anyone looking to make healthier drinking choices. While Big Drop is gingerly dipping its toe into Australia’s waters to start, the operation has plenty of other styles to look out for in the future, including low-alcohol stouts, IPAs, brown ales, hazelnut porters and sours. Big Drop Brewing Co. is available now at Dan Murphy’s and is set to also appear on shelves at BWS stores soon.
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