NAN

Non-alcoholic News my Nan would approve of!

• 🍹 COCKTAIL: The Sparkling Apple Ginger Sour Cherry and the Oak Smoked Lemonade are two new canned cocktails from Betty Buzz. (link) 🇺🇸

• 🥃 SPIRITS: Bravus Brewing’s Philip Brandes has branched out to spirits with a new brand, Phil & Goode and a debut tequila, La Planta. (link)  🇺🇸

• 🍹 COCKTAIL: Vancouver-based Edna’s Non-Alcoholic Cocktails have launched their fifth drink—the Mezcalita! (link)  🇺🇸 🇨🇦

• 🍺 BEER: As part of Athletic Brewing’s Fruit Stand Series, they have a Blackberry Berliner Weisse available online for a limited time. (link)  🇺🇸

• 🍺 BEER: This just in from Self Care (Three Magnets Brewing), Painted Red comes out July 22. (link) 🇺🇸

• 🍺 BEER: And sneaking in right at the wire, Uncool Brewing announce another new beer. This time it’s Undrunken Noodles! (link) 🇺🇸

• 🍺 BEER: The UK’s Nirvana Brewery released Nirvana Pils a few weeks back. (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.

BRASSERIE D’ACHOUFFE - NA CHOUFFE

• Achouffe, Belgium

• Calories: Unknown

• Sugar: Unknown

• Serving: 11.2 fl.oz.

• ABV: 0.5%

• Buy: Store finder • local bottle shops • widely available online

• Price: $13.99-$16.49 (4-pack)

The ModSub thoughts: It’s been ages since we last reviewed a Belgian beer, and to be honest, Marcel, the gnome on this bottle of Chouffe Sans Alcohol, has been staring at me for weeks every time I open the ModSub fridge. So I think it’s time to let him out.

You don’t need an extensive knowledge of Belgian beers to have heard of Chouffe. Ask someone to name three Belgian breweries, and odds are one of them will be the brewery from the Ardennes. Given that it was started by two brothers-in-law over four decades ago, perhaps that's not terribly surprising. If you haven’t heard of them you will likely have seen one of the red-hat wearing gnomes that accompany each of Chouffe's beers. It’s a cute marketing ploy that sets their bottles apart from the typical Trappist monk imagery adorning Belgium beers and works to set the brewery apart from the competition. 

Counter to what we see from many breweries today, Chouffe set out to make one beer and make it well. Over and over again. It would be five years before they introduced a second offering, McChouffe, six years after that with N’ice Chouffe, and not until 2006, 22 years after their debut, did they release their fourth, Houblon Chouffe.

The NA Chouffe came out toward the end of 2022. It’s a pretty golden pour, with a decent head and an enviable amount of lacing as you work your way through the beer. Fruity, yet slightly floral, on the front end with a malty middle that quickly gives way to a mildly bitter but crisp exit that’s in no hurry to dissipate from your taste buds.

It’s a solid beer and fans of the Belgian variety, won’t be disappointed. Marcel’s got your back!

How does Brasserie D’Achouffe describe their NA Chouffe: Refreshing and tasty, with hints of spices and that uniquely fruity CHOUFFINESS, Chouffee Alcohol-Free has a peerless lightness.

Learn more about Brasserie D’Achouffe at chouffe.com

EDNA’S NON-ALCOHOLIC COCKTAILS

• Vancouver, BC

• Serving: 12 fl.oz.

• ABV: 0%

• Buy: ednascocktails.com • store finder • online stores • Target • check your local bottle shops

• Price: $14.99 (4-pack)

The ModSub thoughts: If anyone should be able to make a cracking non-alcoholic cocktail, it’s Nick Devine. With a career spanning nearly three decades, this veteran mixologist is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Vancouver B.C.’s cocktail scene.

Seeing the emerging trend toward more mindful drinking in the bars and restaurants he owned, he was inspired to create a better consumer experience for a market he could see quickly blossoming. The result was Edna’s, a name conjured from Cockney rhyming slang—Dame Edna Everage, thus “beverage”—a nod to the founder’s roots back in England.

Initially only available in Canada, Edna’s has now secured distribution in the U.S. and is currently making quite a splash. Their product line includes four flavors: Mojito, Collins, Paloma, and Mule, with a fifth released this week (see above).

Each cocktail combines natural ingredients with apple cider vinegar to give the drinks a little bit of a bite. What sets Edna’s apart from most other canned non-alcoholic cocktails on the market is the inclusion of de-alcoholized spirit extract. So, the flavors of traditional spirits—rum, bourbon, tequila, and gin—are added into the mix, creating a cocktail that’s far closer to the original than most.

To be clear, these spirit extracts are very subtle, helping to nudge the senses with aroma and flavor but truly taking a backseat in the overall profile of the drink. Still, subtle or not, it makes a significant difference and sets Edna’s apart from so many “soda mimics.”

So, here’s the rundown of all four drinks. They were created to be enjoyed on their own or as mixers for spirits. I’ve tried them both straight out of the can and with some NA spirits from the bar cart.

COLLINS

• Calories: 100

• Sugar: 24g

Edna’s Collins (plus Monday NA Gin): A traditional Collins is essentially a boozy lemonade, which makes a non-alc version all the more tricky to make. Afterall a lemonade is a lemonade. Edna’s pushes their version closer to a cocktail with a twist of freshness from the cucumber and some pineyness from the juniper gin.

I liked this a lot as a stand alone drink but as a mixer with an ounce and a half of Monday Gin, it really shone. The juniper was kicked up a level and Monday’s characteristic peppery finish mixed with extra cucumber I had added to the glass made the cocktail an absolute corker.

How does Edna’s describe their Collins: Our sparkling alcohol-free Collins bursts with lemon citrus, with subtle notes of natural cucumber and juniper gin.‍

MOJITO

• Calories: 100

• Sugar: 23g

Edna’s Mojito (plus Ritual Zero Proof Rum): The Mojito is definitely one of my faves of the pack. Mint forward but not so much that it drowns out the lime and rum spirit extract. The rum flavor rounds off the drink nicely and gives it a little caramel warmth.

To try it out as a mixer, I added 1.5 oz of Ritual Rum Alternative and was a little torn by the result. I LOVE Ritual Rum but I have to say it overwhelmed the mixer and the lovely minty lime flavors got completely lost. Perhaps a small pour of rum would result in a much better mix and to be fair the cocktail was pretty darn good. It just overwhelmed Edna! I think for this I would leave the Edna’s untouched.

How does Edna’s describe their Collins: Our Mojito offers bright natural mojito mint and a smash of lime juice, with subtle Rum notes.

MULE

• Calories: 100

• Sugar: 23g

Edna’s Mule (plus Spiritless Kentucky 74): Honestly I popped this can with the least amount of enthusiasm, firguring that it would likely be a glorified ginger beer. Not so. Most Mules I had when I was drinking were overpowered by the ginger beer to the point of obliterating any other flavors. Edna’s Mule is a more balanced mix, the ginger slightly more reserved allowing for the lime to shine through. There’s vanilla and caramel in there somewhere, presumably from Bourbon extract and this is the first of the three I’ve tried so far, where the apple cider viengar plays more of role. Yeah, I’m really into this one.

Let’s try it with the Spiritless Kentucky 74 (NA Bourbon). Two minutes later. Nope, don’t do that. I couldn’t tell you the last time I have a with alc whiskey sour but my guess is that’s what I’ve just made. For me, I’m sticking with this straight from the can which was delightful and so far my favorite.

How does Edna’s describe their Mule: Our sparkling alcohol-free Mule, blends a kick of natural ginger with a burst of lime juice and a hint of Bourbon whiskey.

PALOMA

• Calories: 110

• Sugar: 27g

Edna’s Paloma (plus Trejo’s Tequila Alternative): Hmmmm. This one might rival the Mule for thumbs up straight out the can. Fresh tart citrus from the grapefruit dancing with the lime and chaperoned by the apple cider vinegar. Much the same as the Mule, I expected one thing and got something so, so much better. This one is real treat.

Adding the Trejo’s Tequila Alternative works really nicely combining the Edna’s citrus with Trejo’s marzipan earthiness and finishing with a nice peppery kick. Serves this up to me at bar or restaurant, and I’m going to be singing the establishment’s praises.

How does Edna’s describe their Paloma: Our sparkling alcohol-free Paloma offers a burst of citrus, with pink grapefruit and lime, with aromas of Tequila Anejo and a touch of salt.

The Verdict: Four delicious ready-to-drink cocktails with something for everyone. I’m going to be rushing toward the Mule and the Paloma next time I see them in the stores but y’all will have your own favorites. Also fun to be able to add some NA spirits to the mix, enhancing flavors and creating new cocktails to show off Edna’s versatility.

With that new distribution deal kicking into gear in the coming months, it shouldn’t be too hard to find Edna’s Non-Alcoholic Cocktails at a store near you. Don’t waste time. Go find some.

Oh and I’m going to leave this, right here.

Learn more about Edna’s Non-Alcoholic Cocktails at ednascocktails.com