Big Drop confirms Holland & Barrett Listing
Big Drop Brewing, which produces a range of 0.5% ABV craft beer, has re-launched its lager with a new fuller-flavoured recipe that is Vegan-friendly and gluten-free.
The new lager, which is now available in 330ml cans as well as bottles, has obtained a listing in over 800 Holland & Barrett stores nationwide as part of the retailer’s strategic move to boost its alcohol-free portfolio. Priced at £1.49 per can, it is available to buy online now (www.hollandandbarrett.com/) and in store from 15th July. It will sit on shelves alongside Big Drop’s top two best-selling beers: its Pale Ale and Stout.
We’re really excited by the quality of alcohol-free beer coming on in leaps and bounds, with brewers like Big Drop innovating and pushing the boundaries.
As with all Big Drop beer, the lager is brewed naturally using pioneering techniques to fully-ferment at a maximum of 0.5% ABV, thus avoiding the need to artificially remove any alcohol during production. Its ingredients include oats and rye alongside barley, with the resulting taste being crisp, refreshing and surprisingly flavourful for an alcohol-free beer. Significantly, though, the new lager is the first time that Big Drop has successfully removed lactose from its list of ingredients – and so becomes Vegan-friendly.
Luke Shutler, Head of Food at Holland & Barrett, said: “We’re really excited by the quality of alcohol-free beer coming on in leaps and bounds, with brewers like Big Drop innovating and pushing the boundaries. That’s good news for our customers because the demand is certainly out there, plus we think the new can format is going to appeal to those who care about their beer’s carbon footprint as much as its alcohol content.”
Nick Worthington, Big Drop’s Commercial Director, added: “Having a presence on the High Street with a partner like Holland & Barrett creates a whole new level of awareness for Big Drop and puts us in a prime position to supply the ever growing consumer demand for Low/No ABV beers.”
Big Drop has also recently gained a listing in 190 Morrisons stores and is now available on draught – nationwide – thanks to a new listing with Brewhouse & Kitchen
For further information on where Big Drop is available, visit the Where to Buy page
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]