AF beer gets the autumn treatment.

Alcohol-free brewer, Big Drop, has teamed up with Square Mile Coffee Roasters to produce a new coffee flavoured beer that combines the aromas and colours of Autumn. Thought to be the first of a kind in the alcohol-free category, ‘Leafkicker’ is a coffee-infused amber ale that comes in at only 0.5% ABV.

As part of its mission to create great tasting alcohol-free alternatives to any popular style of craft beer, Big Drop chose Square Mile to collaborate with because of its shared values and passion for delivering a product of exceptional quality.

For Leafkicker, the brewing team used Square Mile’s Red Brick Seasonal Espresso blend which is known for offering a sweet, slightly fruity, textured and versatile cup. It was added during the hot side of production, whilst transferring the liquid from the kettle and through the heat exchange to the fermentation tank. This option was chosen to ensure there was minimal risk of over-extraction from the coffee. As with all Big Drop beers, Leafkicker is naturally brewed-to-strength which allows it to be fully fermented while staying below the 0.5% ABV threshold throughout the whole process.

The big win is the final product; we’re all delighted with Leafkicker and can’t wait to share it with the world.

The result is a delicious beer that delivers earthy tones and subtle hints of vanilla alongside mellow Citra hops.

Rob Fink, Founder & CEO of Big Drop, commented: “There’s often more than meets the eye with a collab and this is no exception. For coffee and beer to work well together requires the roaster and brewer to be in sync with all the flavour profiles involved. Thankfully all of that togetherness is revealed when it meets your mouth. Leafkicker brings out the best of both worlds and is a perfect pairing for this time of year.”

Felicity Tahtis, Managing Director of Square Mile, added:

“We were blown away by the parallel values and processes between Big Drop and Square Mile. As a result, the collaboration came together with ease, and the whole journey from the initial conversations to profiling and tastings were rewarding and inspiring. But, of course, the big win is the final product; we’re all delighted with Leafkicker and can’t wait to share it with the world.”

Leafkicker – which is gluten-free and only 75 calories per can – is available from Tuesday 19th October

at www.shop.bigdropbrew.com. It costs £16 for 6 x 440ml cans or £29.50 for 12.

– ENDS –

Samples & further info: please contact Nick Heath: [email protected] / 07720 297972

Images: TBC

Video: James Hoffmann (Square Mile Founder) and Johnny Clayton (Big Drop’s Head of Production) is joined in conversation with Melissa Cole (beer expert & author) to spill the beans on the magic that lies behind this new brew.

About Square Mile: Founded in 2008, Square Mile Coffee Roasters is a multi-award-winning coffee roasting company. Built on a vision of putting London on the map for coffee, we roast to ship speciality beans through our wholesale, web and subscription services worldwide. Lead by taste and curiosity, we’re obsessive about detail and on a mission to delight and foster a global coffee culture.

Photo by Takahiro Sakamoto on Unsplash

Further information

Big Drop’s Awards & Accolades

Big Drop’s Pale Ale was named World’s Best Pale Beer (low strength) at the World Beer Awards 2017.

Its Stout won a Gold Medal at the International Beer Challenge and a UK Silver Medal at the World Beer Awards when judged against full-strength stouts and porters. It also won a Gold medal at the US Open Beer Championship.

Its Citra IPA was crowned ‘King of Craft’ at the 2019 Casual Dining show, which was dominated by full-strength beers. It also won the overall Champion’s trophy for ‘Non and Low Alcohol Beer’ at The International Brewing and Cider Awards and a Silver medal at the US Open Beer Championship.

Big Drop was also one of three ‘Best Drinks Producers’ in the 2018 BBC Food & Farming Awards.

“Big Drop specialises in alcohol-free beer and it’s all good. I tried the pale ale and the lager, too, and both are excellent, but the stout really is the business.” — Adrian Chiles, The Guardian

“The most impressive no/low alcohol beer I have ever tried; no argument, it just is.” — Melissa Cole, British Guild of Beer Writers

“In my view, by far the best of the low-alcohol brigade is Big Drop Brewing Co. All its beers come in at just 0.5%, and all of them are excellent – the stout in particular is a jaw-dropper. Superb flavour without compromise.” — Olly Smith, Mail on Sunday

About Big Drop

Big Drop was launched in 2016 as the world’s first brewer dedicated to alcohol-free beer by the-then City lawyer, Rob Fink and long-time friend James Kindred.

Both had recently become fathers and were looking to cut back on the booze but could not find any decent alternatives to their favourite craft beers.

Along with experimental brewer, Johnny Clayton, they perfected techniques to make a range of 0.5% abv beer styles – but crucially without the need for alcohol extraction – resulting in a fuller-flavour.

Big Drop has won over 40 major international beer titles including four times being judged ‘World’s Best’ at the World Beer Awards and beating full-strength beers in blind tastings.

Big Drop contract brews in batches through a network of brewing partners worldwide, meaning it can produce fresh beer – locally and ethically – with a minimal carbon footprint.

Recognised as the market leader in the rapidly growing AF craft beer sector, Big Drop can now be found in over 10,000 locations – including throughout Europe, Australia, Canada and – soon to be – the US. In the UK, Big Drop has listings with major pub groups (eg Mitchells & Butlers), restaurant chains (eg Nando’s) and retailers (eg Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons and Ocado) as well as on the High Street with Holland & Barrett and on doorsteps with Milk & More.

Its range of beers, which are all <0.5% abv, currently consists of: Stout, Lager, Pale Ale, Citra IPA, Brown Ale, Golden Ale, Hazelnut Porter and a Sour as well as special editions and collaborations with other leading brewers.

Further information: [email protected]