Big Drop comes of age at World Beer Awards
Big Drop’s Pine Trail Pale Ale scored a first for an alcohol-free beer yesterday (10.9.20) by winning ‘World’s Best’ at the World Beer Awards for a second time. The 0.5% abv beer came top in the category for Pale beers below 2.5% abv – just as it did in 2017.
And it wasn’t the only one of Big Drop’s beers to win a coveted World’s Best – as its popular ‘Galactic’ Milk Stout was judged favourite in the Flavoured Low Alcohol category as well. That brings a total of four World’s Best titles in the competition so far for a brewer that only came into existence four years ago. Big Drop’s World’s Bests:
- Pine Trail Pale Ale: 2020 & 2017 World’s Best Pale Beer (Low Strength)
- Galactic Milk Stout: 2020 World’s Best Flavoured Beer (Low Strength)
- WoodCutter Brown Ale: 2019 World’s Best Dark Beer (Low Strength)
What is arguably more impressive, however, is that another beer from its 0.5% abv core range was declared best in the UK in a full-strength style category where the runners-up were 6% abv beers. Big Drop’s Paradiso Citra IPA, which picked-up a Bronze medal in last year’s Session IPA category, was this year’s country winner in the Specialty IPA category. In total, there were 2,200 beers entered from over 50 countries across all categories.
Rob Fink, founder and CEO of Big Drop, commented: “It really feels as if alcohol-free beer has finally reached maturity when the world’s top judges give it higher marks than it’s full-strength cousins in blind-tastings. No wonder it’s flying off the shelves! We’re very honoured to be the vanguard of the category and will continue to push the boundaries, both technically and geographically.”
Anita Ujszaszi, Awards Director at the World Beer Awards, added: “With the ever-increasing demand for low alcohol products, especially in younger consumers, it’s great to see that the quality now on offer is outstanding. Over the past years, Big Drop has shown that low alcohol doesn’t mean less flavour and is as good (if not better) than the standard alcohol beers.”
To put Big Drop’s achievement into perspective, it was among just four UK brewers to satisfy the judges and make it on to the World’s Best list of 88 beers last year and, this year, it was among only eight UK brewers on the list.
2020 World Beer Awards: http://www.worldbeerawards.com/winner/beer/2020/taste
Photo by Erwan Hesry 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]