NAN

Non-Alcoholic News my Nan would approve of!

🍺 BEER: Citrus Cacao IPA is the latest offering from the prolific Athletic Brewing Company. Only availble online. (link)

🍺 BEER: Crux Fermentation Project has just released Hoppy Red to add their NA line. (link)

🍹 MOCKTAIL: A Cucumber G&T has just been launched by Free AF. Yum! (link)

🍺 BEER: A few months old this but worth mentioning. ENAY Brewing out of Virginia has launched their first NA product - Day Ripper. Their online store should be open soon. (link)

ON THE BAR

In each edition of The Modern Substitute, ON THE BAR focuses on three drinks you should be on the look out for. We’ll give you a quick rundown of our thoughts on the drink, who makes it, where to buy it or, in the case of mocktails, how to make it.

Please note: due to popularity or limited runs, some drinks may be out of stock - please check with the beverage companies for updates.

RICK’S ORIGINAL

• Austin, TX

• Calories: Unknown

• Serving: 12 fl.oz.

• ABV: <0.5%

• Buy: drinkricks.com • store locator for lots of option in TX

• Price: $10.99 for a 6-pack

The ModSub thoughts: Austin has always held a special place in my heart. My initial four years in the United States, during the mid-90s, were spent in this lively city, and it was an unforgettable experience.

From the fantastic music scene and learning the art of two-stepping on a Saturday night at the Broken Spoke, to the beginning of my love affair with Mexican cuisine, albeit with a distinct Texan slant. When I left to move to Oregon, it was time, but I do look back fondly on my first taste of America.

Late last year, Josh Hare, known for his brewing background in the Austin area with Hops & Grain Brewing Company, founded Rick's Near Beer. Instead of merely creating non-alcoholic versions of the beers he made with Hops & Grain, he aimed to establish a unique experience for his new non-alcoholic product line. The result was Rick's Near Beer.

As he told Brewer Magazine, “The idea with the name is the fewer the syllables the better. Just like someone would order a PBR or a Hamm’s, they’d say give me a Rick’s. It harkens back to beers like someone in their 70s would recognize.”

The first two beers introduced to the public by this new brewery were Rick's Original and a Hazy IPA. Rick's Original, for a light beer, boasts a well-balanced bready malt flavor and is very tasty. In a category where craft breweries are crafting light lagers with significantly more depth and complexity than the major national breweries, brews like Rick's Original are destined to stand out. If this was available in my local stores I would be buying it every single week.

As it is, at a price point of $10.99, you can stock up on a handful of six-packs and even with the shipping, it makes the price per can worth pursuing it. Also newly available online is a Rick’s West Coast IPA and Rick’s Light. Great stuff!

How Rick’s describes their Original: “The original is always a good choice. Drinks like a Pilsner and less than 0.5% ABV. Low strength for high times. Pale, crisp, clean and refreshing. Good with life. Mornin, Noon & Night. Brewed with premium malted barley, fine American hops and Rocky Mountain water for that classic lager character.”

Learn more about Rick’s Near Beer at drinkricks.com

SPIRITLESS - OLD FASHIONED

• Austin, TX

• Calories: 45

• Serving: 8.45 fl.oz.

• ABV: <0.5%

• Buy: spiritless.com • store locator • widely available online

• Price: $15.99 for a 4-pack

The ModSub thoughts: There's a certain amount of bravery that goes into creating a non-alcoholic version of one of the grand old cocktails, such as the Old Fashioned. It does help if you have already launched a bourbon alternative, as Spiritless did with their Kentucky 74, but it's still a challenging feat at best.

Originally conceived and launched in Louisville, Kentucky, Spiritless has also made its way to Austin opening their headquarters there in 2021. The distillery was founded in 2019 by three women: Lauren Chitwood, Abbey Ferguson, and Lexie Larsen, all with extensive backgrounds in the alcoholic beverage industry.

Like many others who have started similar businesses in the last five years, they were driven to find tasty alternatives to both alcohol and, at the other end of the spectrum, water or cola. Spiritless now offers both bourbon and tequila alternatives, as well as ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails.

Upon the first sniff, there are strong oak and bourbon notes, and from the first sip, you might think, “Huh, this does actually taste like a bourbon drink.” However, the chai flavor then takes over your taste buds and starts to divert you from where a normal alcoholic Old Fashioned would take you.

And here's the catch: this takes me back to my thoughts from a few weeks ago on trying to mimic a gin and tonic. If you go into this thinking you'll get an Old Fashioned in a can, you're likely to be disappointed. But if you approach it with the mindset of trying a bourbon alternative, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised. Just by looking at the reviews, there's a clear divide between those who like it and those who don't.

Pop the tab on this can with the right mindset, though, and I think you'll be very pleased you did. I certainly was.

How Spiritless describes their Old Fashioned: “Say hello to our perfect pour-over version of a classic Old Fashioned. We begin with Kentucky 74, our award-winning non-alcoholic bourbon, add a dash of all-natural cane sugar, then throw in some Chai for spice and orange zest for zing. The result is a zero-proof, ready-to-drink masterpiece for even the most sophisticated whiskey connoisseur.“

Learn more about Spiritless at spiritless.com

🥇 THE SOBER OCTOBER CONTEST 🥇

LAST CHANCE - WIN A DELICIOUS BOTTLE OF PATHFINDER

I came across Anders Erickson’s YouTube channel earlier in the year at the recommendation of a neighbor. The highly popular and charismatic mixologist is well-known for his w/alc cocktails, but he has also put out a couple of videos with some delicious-looking non-alcoholic drinks.

So to celebrate Sober October, I’m going to make each of the four drinks during the course of the coming month. Here’s where YOU come in.

Each week you can make them too, send me a quick pic of the drink and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a bottle of The Pathfinder (previously recommended here - $40 value).

HERE’S HOW TO WIN THIS LOVELY BOTTLE OF PATHFINDER:

1. Make the cocktail and send me a picture of the drink and let me know whether you liked it.

2. Reply to this email and attach the photo.

3. Each photo will equal one entry.

4. As there are four cocktails you have four chances to enter. (Max four entries per person)

5. I’ll let you know who the winner is in the October 28th edition of the newsletter.

Here’s the full video with all four drinks.

SOBER OCTOBER CONTEST - FINAL WEEK!

CHERRY ZIP

• Anders Erickson

• ABV: 0%

Recipe from Anders Erickson:

• 1 oz. (30 ml) tart cherry juice (no sugar added)

• 1 oz. (30 ml) orgeat

• 1 oz. (30 ml) black tea (cooled)

• 1/2 oz. (15 ml) lemon juice

• 1/4 tsp. red chili flakes

• Mint sprig for garnish

Watch the video to learn how to make it. (0:58)

The ModSub thoughts: Just between you, me and the lamppost, I’d left this one until the end of th contest because it seemed the least interesting. How wrong was I? It turned out to be the best of the four!

It’s a wonderfully complex drink combining tart, almond sweetness and the gentle heat from chili flakes. This is absolutely delicous and unquestionably the stand-out drink of the contest. Mrs. ModSub was particularly vocal about how much she loved it.

If you have yet to try one of these cocktails then at the very least give this one a go!

Orgeat: I initially struggled to find this almond syrup with none of my local supermarkets carrying it. Then it dawned on me to check out my old go-to liquor store and there were three options. I splurged on the Liquid Alchemist version and was very happy with the results. I visited their website and I would suggest bookmarking it for future drinks. I like that they have two sizes available so you aren’t committing yourself to trying to finish a larger bottle before it goes bad, though their refrigerated shelf life is pretty decent.

If you are concerend about what you will do with the remaining oregeat then just Google ‘Non-alcoholic cocktails using orgeat’. There’s even a Pineapple Orgeat Fizz if you need to use up the pineapple juice from last week’s Placebo.

How Anders Erickson describes Cherry Zip: “Up front you get tart cherry, almond and black tea in the middle and then that pepper on the end. Your lips will tingle a little but. It’s very lively.”

Learn more about Anders Erickson at anderserickson.com or follow his YouTube channel here.

Miss the first three weeks of the contest? Click here:

WEEK 1 • WEEK 2 • WEEK 3

THE BOARD

What’s The ModSub Community Up To?

• Will started and operates Hot Head Candles, a dad and daughter small business, who make and sell a whimsical line of political novelty candles that look like the heads of actual world leaders.

• Stan co-leads The Water Project – a global nonprofit helping communities in Kenya, Uganda, and Sierra Leone access sustainable clean drinking water.

Want to get featured in the section? Share the newsletter with three friends by using your personal referral link provided below and you’ll be highlighted in one of our future newsletter editions. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Thank you and have a great weekend!

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