It's Cool To Be Uncool

MODSUB#53

Wotcha!

I was lucky enough to talk to so many great people in the NA industry this week. The future is bright.

I’m introducing a new section in this edition called 'Three In The Fridge,' which will appear at the end of each month. In this segment, I’ll highlight three drinks I’ve been enjoying over the past month, providing a more concise write-up compared to the usual in-depth mini-reviews.

Lastly, 1,000 Days is NOT the new single by The Cure.

Enjoy!

In this week’s edition:

NAN
New NA Drink News

BEER
Uncool - Hazy IPA

BEER, RTD COCKTAILS
Three In The Fridge
- Little Saints, Stiegl, Curious Elixirs

Read time: 4 mins 55 secs

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NAN
New NA Drink News

NORTH AMERICA

• Phil and Goode have followed up their recent tequila alternative release, La Planta, with a new bourbon alternative by the name of Ironwood. (More)

• Anheuser-Busch have announced a January release for Michelob ULTRA Zero, a 0.0% ABV version of the highly popular Michelob Ultra. (More)

• Pommies Beverage Company have announced the launch of Pommies Anytime Cider a non-alc dry cider using 100% Ontario apples. (More)

• Casamara Club have added Super Classico, an Italian aperitivo, to their delicious line of drinks. (More)

• Zeronimo announce the release of Century Blend, the world’s first 20-year old dealcoholized wine. Don’t blink or you will miss out on this limited release. (More)

BEER

As far as I’m aware, there are no awards for the most fun place to work in the NA beverage industry. If there were, I’d wager that Uncool Beverage Company would be up there with the best of them.

Uncool is an offshoot of Three Notch’d Brewing from Charlottesville, Virginia, which opened in 2013 and to date has six locations across the state. Though Three Notch’d have had an NA IPA on rotation since 2020, it was only at the twilight of 2022, that brewery expanded it’s NA beer products under the newly formed Uncool Beverage Company.

There was a point this year when it seemed like Uncool was releasing a new beer every week. It was actually every other week, but who’s counting. Their manufacturing output was one thing; their choice of flavors was quite another. Each beer seemed designed to outdo the previous one, pushing the boundaries of acceptability—or fun—week after week. Still, one person’s oddity is another’s delight.

While early releases like their Wit and Galaxy IPA kept the less adventurous more than happy, the intrepid opted for their Coconut Cream Pie, Rocket Pop, and Undrunken Noodles. This summer, it felt like all anyone was talking about was their Big Pickle Dill and by all accounts, for all the right reasons.

I went old school with this review though, playing it safe with their Hazy IPA—I’m probably genuinely too uncool for Uncool anyhow. The Hazy IPA is a solid brew, with Citra and Idaho 7 hops, providing a strong tropical fruit flavor, particularly grapefruit and lime, rounded off by a piney finish. It’s both tart and bitter, with the fruit unwilling to show even a hint of sweetness. Unquestionably top-notch.

While they are by no means alone, Uncool are one of the few NA breweries willing to look beyond playing it safe. For that, for the great beer, and for all the fun they seem to be having, they should be applauded.

In the words of George Kastendike, the CEO of Uncool Brewing, “It’s cool to be uncool.”

I couldn’t agree more.

How does Uncool describe their Hazy IPA: Because being yourself is cooler than trying to be someone else. Packed with Citra and Idaho 7 hops, this non-alcoholic brew brings all the flavor without any of the buzz. With Uncool Hazy IPA, every sip is a nod to embracing your true self. So go ahead, be unapologetically you with Uncool Hazy IPA.

COCKTAILS, BEER

Little Saints - Moijto

ModSub: There are a number of non-alcoholic Mojitos out there in the marketplace right now. Some, and I’ll say this as politely as I can … are rubbish. Others hit the mark, delivering a cocktail you’ll be quickly reaching for your computer to re-order. Others still, take the standard recipe and create a new version, weaving in signature ingredients and giving an old classic a fresh new twist.

Little Saints have have done exactly that with their Mojito, launched back in June. While the lime and mint are still the backbone of the cocktail, they are joined by the earthy woodiness of the reishi mushroom and wrapped up in a butterscotch finish. Sure, it’s a little unusual when you compare it to the original, but I couldn’t stop coming back for more. Besides, original is only original until something more original comes along. Right?

It’s a limited run, and word is stocks are starting to run low. Get your hands on some, while you still can.

Little Saints: Enjoy sensory notes of fresh mint and ripe limes with a rich, buttery finish. Sip from a chilled can or pour over ice with a sprig of mint.

Stiegl - Zitrone Radler

ModSub: In the before times, there was a year or two when a Stiegl Grapefruit Radler was pretty much all I would drink in the summer months. Then a switch flipped, they started tasting metallic and I couldn’t bear them anymore. I’m not sure what happened but that was the last they saw of me. Until I spotted a Stiegl Zitrone Radler Non-Alcoholic sitting all alone on a fridge shelf in my local bottle shop. Since then, I’ve started adding them back into the rotation.  I mean they are what they are, a light lager with a hefty dose of lemonade. But boy are they a fruity thirst quencher when you need one! Just the type of thing I’m looking for after a long run or bike ride!

Stiegl: For the first time ever, Stiegl Radler, a beer synonymous with refreshment, can be enjoyed in a non-alcoholic style. Stiegl Radler Zitrone NA is a blend of Stiegl non-alcoholic lager and lemonade made with all natural ingredients. Available in slim can six packs, it’s the perfect refresher for your next warm weather occasion.

Curious Elixirs - No. 9

ModSub: I had this grand idea (at least in my mind) that I would work my way through all nine of the Curious Elixirs cocktails in chronological order. However, given the extraordinary influx of new non-alcoholic drinks in the marketplace and the attention they deserve, this would be an endeavor years in the making. So, while I’ll return to Curious Elixirs 3-8 at a later date, I’m going to focus on No. 9 because I don’t want you to have to wait potentially three years to find out how good this drink is.

This has been one of my summer favorites this year. If there was a salad being prepared in the kitchen, opening up a No. 9 to accompany it was not far behind in the order of events. The cocktail is their take on a sparkling rosé, with a sweet floral aroma and chardonnay grapes as its base. Lime and rose extract take the lead among a host of ingredients that enhance the flavor and bring a sense of calm to the experience. Refreshing, sophisticated, and celebratory—bravo.

Curious Elixirs: Our sparkling rosé with fizzy-lifting lime infuses chardonnay grapes with rose, California poppy and South African kanna to help you unwind.

GOOD READS
Last Week’s Edition + Other Suggestions