Maverick Serves Up a First in Quench for Thirst
A celebration of all things Americana is to become the first music festival in the UK to provide its visitors with alcohol-free craft beer on tap.
Maverick, which has been an annual event at Suffolk’s Easton Farm Park since 2008, has teamed up with Big Drop Brewing for this year’s event, running from 5th to 7th July. Big Drop’s beers – all 0.5% ABV – will be served alongside full-strength beers supplied by the likes of East Anglian Brewers Grain and the Earl Soham Brewery as well as cocktails from Southern Comfort, one of the event’s sponsors.
Having an alcohol-free option available is all part of the progressive nature we’re actively encouraging at Maverick.
James Kindred, co-founder of Ipswich-based Big Drop, said: “We’ve been supplying kegs of award-winning 0.5% beer to pubs since the start of the year but this is the first time that we, or any other brewer for that matter, will be pouring pints of alcohol-free beer at such an established music festival. It’s great that festival-goers who prefer a drink that doesn’t get them drunk now don’t have to compromise on choice or taste.”
Paul Spencer, Maverick’s Festival Director, added: “Big Drop will be on draft and have just as much presence on the bars as other drinks. Having an alcohol-free option available is all part of the progressive nature we’re actively encouraging at Maverick. We’re also doing away with plastic bottles from the site this year and The One Foundation will be supplying water in recyclable cardboard containers.”
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]