Grief, Grit and a Damn Good Rum Punch

Wotcha!

I was recently chatting with a good friend who also happens to be a ModSub reader. I don’t remember exactly how it came up, but as we were discussing the newsletter’s partnership with The Zero Proof, he mentioned he wasn’t aware that ModSub readers get a discount on all the products available in their online store.

That made me realize I’ve never really explained that to you all.

You’ll have noticed that each week The Zero Proof advertises a selection of their non-alcoholic beverages, and that includes a 10% discount on those drinks.

You may also have seen that some—though not all—of the drinks I write about each week come with that same 10% discount. Whether the discount applies simply depends on whether The Zero Proof carries that particular brand.

What I haven’t made clear, however, is that you’re not restricted to just those featured products.

If you’d like to use the reader discount on a different beverage, you can do so using this link: https://thezeroproof.com/MODSUBREADER

Even better, The Zero Proof is running a special 15% off promotion this weekend, from March 20–23, as part of their Spring Refresh campaign.

There are, quite literally, hundreds of products you can apply the discount to.

As always, enjoy some great drinks this week.

Myles

P.S. As I mentioned in the last issue, I’m off to Canada for a week with the family—so no issue next week. I’ll see you back here on April 4.

In this week’s edition:

NAN
New NA Drink News

COCKTAILS
Medase - The Collection (Part 1)

BEER
Great Notion Brewing - Ripe AF

Read time: 6 minutes 56 seconds

From our sponsor: The Zero Proof

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If you're looking to find the best drinks to pair, The Zero Proof just launched its Spring Edit including brands like De Soi, Aplós, Athletic Brewing, Proxies, Band of Vintners, Ghia. Leilo and many more.

Thank you for supporting our sponsors who in turn support this newsletter.

COCKTAILS: This one sounds intriguing—Aplós launch Dragon Fruit Martini their take on the Pornstar Martini. (Link)

BEER: Two new beers from Go Brewing: Watermelon Wheat Ale and Pineapple Yuzu Radler. (Link)

COCKTAILS: Over in the UK, Turn 6 have debuted Sieno, a premium alcohol-free bitter orange spritz. (Link)

COCKTAILS

ModSub’s thoughts: “A true friend is one soul in two bodies.” — Aristotle

Monica Cornitcher and Inga Dyer met at Brown University and remained close friends for over three decades, sharing the ups and downs of their respective lives. Both dealt with their own health issues during Covid and, as a result, made the decision to stop drinking alcohol.

Searching for alternatives to enjoy social occasions—and coming up short—is now a familiar story when it comes to many NA beverage company founders from this period. Suffice to say, the outcome, for these two friends, was the birth of Medase—a non-alcoholic beverage company producing a wide selection of ready-to-drink cocktails inspired by the classics.

By 2023, they were ready to launch their first two cocktails—the Moscow Mule and the Margarita—at Expo West, the highly influential annual trade show that features natural, organic and health products. The two drinks drew significant interest and they knew they were onto something.

Tragically, in early 2024, Inga passed away from cancer, leaving Monica shattered by the loss of her long-time friend and with the weight of the entire company now solely on her shoulders. She would have been forgiven for calling it quits at this point, but with the support of her daughter, she found the strength to continue Inga’s legacy.

As I write this in early spring of 2026, Medase is now up to six flavors, available in both hemp-infused and non-infused versions. The idea to include hemp-infused options relates to the pain management Inga experienced during her battle with cancer.

The variety pack that arrived at my doorstep a few weeks back included all six of the non-alcoholic cocktails (without hemp). After popping the tab on the first can—the Jamaican Rum Punch—I knew I’d probably have to split this review over two issues.

The Rum Punch is a fabulous fruity mix of lemon, lime, sweet cherry, and pineapple, with a flurry of spices towards the end that had me daydreaming about jerk chicken at beach bars and sunsets on white sandy beaches. [Can you tell I’m ready for a vacation]. The mouthfeel has a welcome viscosity, and whatever is creating the rum flavor is doing a fine job. As RTD tropical cocktails go—of which, frankly, there aren’t too many around—this one is a treat.

The Moscow Mule was equally impressive. I particularly liked the balance of the citrus, which gave the lemon juice as much prominence as the lime. So often, I find the ginger overwhelming in these Moscow Mule interpretations, as if the spice is turned up to distract from the lack of alcohol. Here, the ginger juice blends beautifully with the citrus and agave sweetener to create a truly cracking cocktail.

I won’t lie—the Old Fashioned took a little time to grow on me. It really does smell like the original cocktail, but initially it lacked a bit of the bold flavor you expect from the real thing. That’s okay. These non-alcoholic drinks are meant to be inspired by the originals, not exact replicas. As I said, it did grow on me—but this is a cocktail that few have truly nailed.

But hey, two winners out of three is a result in my mind, and I can’t wait to try the remaining three. Go get yourself a variety box for $29.00 and try them for yourself—then let me know which are your favorites.

I’ll be back with the remaining three cocktails—Lemon Drop, Mojito, and Margarita—later in the year.

How Medase describes Goodnight Moon Moscow Mule: A tantalizing blend of natural vodka flavor, spicy ginger beer flavor, zesty lime juice, and organic premium agave creating a symphony of flavors that dance on the palate. This contemporary twist on the classic Moscow Mule offers all the refreshing qualities of the original cocktail with a delightful non-alcoholic twist.

How Medase describes Hey Big Dipper Old Fashioned: A twist on the timeless classic, cherished by whiskey enthusiasts. It will make you stop and ask, “Is this non-alcoholic?” Its simplicity allows the character of the whiskey to shine through, while the addition of premium organic agave, bitters creates a harmonious balance.

How Medase describes Golden Hour Jamaican Rum Punch: A sultry non-alcoholic spirit that brings the taste of the Caribbean to your lips. This exotic concoction is a tantalizing blend of smooth rum flavor, zesty citrus, and sweet tropical juices, with a splash of premium organic agave. One sip, and you'll be hooked on its luscious, sun-soaked flavors.

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Derek Brown — award-winning bartender, author, and beverage consultant — will lead a panel of acclaimed judges.

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BEER

ModSub’s thoughts: As Tyler McMahon and I were wrapping up the 2026 NA Craft Beer Directory a few months back, he mentioned over our Zoom meeting, “You’ve forgotten to add Great Notion Brewing.” I responded with a quizzical look, and he said, “They’re from Portland.”

“Right,” I said, trying to look like it had just slipped my mind. “Of course. I’ll add them in.”

Once the Zoom call was over, I jumped onto Google, only to find—to my mild embarrassment—that Great Notion’s flagship taproom was, in fact, less than a mile down the road.

I thought no more of it until last night, as I was preparing to write about Ripe AF, the brewery’s first NA beer. It was only then I realized I used to frequent that very taproom quite regularly back in the day—and had completely forgotten about them. I’ll put my poor memory down to age, and leave it quietly there!

Since I last drank there, Great Notion has drastically expanded its operations, with taprooms across the Portland metro area, as well as locations in Seattle and Northern California. They became known for their pastry beers and were among the first breweries to push unusual flavor profiles, leaning into experimentation rather than just sticking to traditional styles.

They were also known for their hazy IPAs, with Ripe quickly becoming one of their flagship beers. In August 2024, the brewery launched Ripe AF—the non-alcoholic version of the beer Tyler had mentioned needed inclusion in the directory.

So, it was probably high time I tried this hazy NA beer that had been right under my nose for the last 18 months. From the light, hazy pour, there’s a hint of pine and a lot of citrus on the aroma, and it’s the citrus that dominates throughout. Grapefruit and mango come to the fore, while the bitterness stays minimal. The mouthfeel is light and soft, never verging on watery. It’s juicy in all the right ways, and while I have no way of knowing how closely it resembles the original, this version is very, very good.

For fans of hazy IPAs, this is one to check out. The brewery ships to 16 states, or if you’re local to one of their taprooms, it’s well worth stopping by. You won’t be disappointed. 

How Great Notion Brewing describes Ripe AF: Ripe AF is a non-alcoholic Hazy IPA that gives you maximum Citra hop flavor without the alcohol of a regular IPA when you need to dry out.

EXTRA READS

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• Blog thumbnail photo credit: Leonardo Delsabio