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Looking for a cracking selection of NA Oktoberfest beers to enjoy this weekend? Well, look no further.

Before that though, I’m going to get a little giddy about Tilden’s Lacewing and some of their gorgeous cocktail recipies.

But first, this from Go Brewing.

Enjoy!

In this week’s edition:

NAN
New NA Drink News

RTD COCKTAIL
Tilden - Lacewing

BEER
The Oktoberfest Beer List

Read time: ? mins ?? secs

/NAN
New NA Drink News

NORTH AMERICA

• Kin Euphorics is back with another exciting new RTD; Luna Morada is their take on a Latin American Chica just in time for Latin Heritage month. (more)

• Upland Brewing Company have launched their first non-alc product in the form of Hop RX, a lime-flavored hop water. (more)

• Molson Coors have partnered with Naked Life to bring three RTDs from Australia to the U.S. market; market your calenders for March when Naked Life’s Gin & Tonic, Negroni Spritz, Margarita, Cosmo and Mojito will hit the shelves. (more)

• New Zealand’s Giesen 0% have added Chardonnay to their extensive line. (more)

• Bolle have announced the launch of two new non-alcoholic wines. Their Blanc De Blancs and Rosé are available to purchase both in the U.S. and the UK. (more)

• Sentia Spirits have just announced a new addition to their Gaba line; Sentia Gold will available soon. (more)

WORLDWIDE

• Smiling Wolf are entering the NA market with six new functional non-alcoholic spirits kicking off with a Gin, Vodka and an Aperitivo - UK. (more)

RTD COCKTAIL

When you signed up for this newsletter, you may remember receiving a welcome email outlining what to expect from my weekly updates. One request in that email was for you to share your favorite non-alcoholic drink at the time. It’s been fascinating—and immensely helpful—to see the variety of responses. Among these, one thing stood out: the number of fellow beverage company founders and industry folks who mentioned the same drink—Tilden.

So during a recent visit to the Venice location of The New Bar, I was thrilled to finally get my hands on a bottle of Tilden. By the way, if you ever find yourself in LA or San Francisco, do treat yourself to a visit to one of The New Bar’s locations. I had such a lovely visit, chatting with Anaya, the store manager, while picking up some drinks I hadn’t been able to find in Portland.

It was Tilden though that was the object of my fancy as I scanned the shelves. Mindful of budget and the limited space in my check-in bag, I asked Anaya which of the two Tilden bottles, Lacewing or Tandem, I should buy and despite expressing mild angst at the difficulty of choosing between the two, she told me it had to be Lacewing. 

Tilden was founded by Mariah Wood and Vanessa Royle in 2021 while they were both attending Harvard Business School. A light bulb went off when they realized that, like the two of them, almost half their class either didn’t drink or were looking to slow down their alcohol consumption. 

This sparked a two-year journey to create ready-to-drink cocktails with three key flavor profiles: herbaceous, savory, and fruity. With each of the three drink foundations in place, they then went about experimenting with various ingredients taking all three drinks on their own taste adventure. The result was Lacewing and Tandem, with the third to be launched in the not too distant future.

When I finally got around to opening Lacewing, I intentionally avoided checking the ingredients beforehand so I could approach my first sip with no expectations. Still, I had a preconceived notion of what Lacewing might taste like, but I was so completely wrong.

Neat over ice, Lacewing pulls you in one direction, and before you know it you’re quickly pulled somewhere completely different. Then before you can blink, you’re back where you started. Swirls of cucumber and basil dance with the lychee, pear and juniper berry, a waltz of flavors, a flourish of herbs and fruit designed to delight. 

There is undoubtedly a sophisticated elegance to Lacewing, and if cocktails are your thing, I can’t encourage you enough to try it. If you’re unsure, start with the flask duo, which offers a 6.8 fl. oz. bottle of both Lacewing and Tandem to sample for a reduced price. I’m confident you’ll come back for more.

From Tilden’s recipe selection:

Heritage Cocktail
The combination of olive oil and lemon juice boasts a list of health benefits as long as your arm. The Heritage Goods Supply store took the mix one step beyond by adding some Lacewing and came up with an unsual yet irrestible cocktail. The lemon juice pulls out the herby flavors giving them the spotlight as the fruit takes a more muted supporting role. Initially, I was thrown by the olive oil, but halfway through the cocktail, I was sold. If this was served in a restaurant, I’d be over the moon.

Garden Tea Time
However it was this recipe from Santa Barbara’s Barabareño that really blew me away. The addition of an ounce of iced mint tea mixed with two of Lacewing was simply a stunning cocktail. As much as I LOVE mint, it undoubtedly has the ability to overwhelm. With this mix though it graciously compliments Lacewing’s ingredients elevating the experience to an extraordinary level. It’s 3oz of heaven. 

How does Tilden describe Lacewing: This is a ready-to-serve non-alcoholic cocktail perfect for all sipping occasions. Voted Best NA Cocktail by the L.A. Spirit Awards 2023, Lacewing is fresh and herbaceous with aromatic cucumber, basil, and lychee built on a juniper berry base. Szechuan adds a unique mouthfeel and cayenne delivers a light bite at the finish. 

*the bottle featured in the photos is the flask-sized bottle NOT the full size 750ml bottle

BEER

Guten Tag! Munich’s Oktoberfest officially kicks off today!

While it’s fairly unlikely you will be reading this from the Bavarian capital, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy the fun.

Below are 12 NA OKtoberfest beers available in North America. I’ve only had a handful of them so I’m not going to chime in with my thoughts but I have added the brewery notes.

Here’s last year’s Oktoberfest post with ten things you might or might not know about Oktoberfest.

Lastly, here’s a link to live stream of the festival.

PROST!

Special thanks to Tyler at Reducaholic for helping me pull this list together.

Athletic Brewing - Oktoberfest Fest Brew

Athletic Brewing: Oktoberfest is a brew inspired by traditional Bavarian Festbiers and crafted for celebration every fall. It pours a sunny golden hue with a fluffy foam cap and boasts a clean malt backbone from Vienna and Munich malts. Hallertau Mittelfruh hops add light bitterness to complement the bready aromatics and slightly sweet body. Spirited, yet delicate, and supremely refreshing.

Untitled Art - NA Oktoberfest

Untitled Art: Prost! Fill your stein and celebrate the world’s favorite fall beer holiday with this non-alcoholic version of the beloved German festbier featuring rich caramel and Vienna malts for body and a crisp finish courtesy of Cascade hops. All flavor, no alcohol!

Go Brewing - Damn Good Oktoberfest

Go Brewing: We've meticulously brewed this non-alcoholic masterpiece to embody the very essence of Oktoberfest. Deep amber hues, caramel malt undertones, and a smooth finish make it more than just a drink—it's an experience.

Self Care - Kuhnheit Festbier

Self Care: With a classic orange hue and bready warmth, the depth of such a light beer is welcoming for sessionable enjoyments. And while this beer would be delicious with a salty pretzel, or a brautwurst with spicy mustard and kraut (yum yum!), you could really pair it with just about anything food wise, and it will shine.

One For The Road Brewing: No Regrets Märsen

One For The Road Brewing: Rich, Malty, Toasty. A rich beer driven by malt with a balance of clean, hop bitterness. Our award-winning Marzen’s amber colour with copper highlights is a full-bodied, rich and toasty beer with an enticing aroma.

Partake Brewing - Non-Alcoholic Oktoberfest

Partake Brewing: This 30-calorie deep amber beauty brings together German hops and a mix of malts, with spicy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg for a smooth and easy-drinking brew.

Hoplark - The Oktoberfest 2024 One

Hoplark: Oktoberfest is here! Celebrate the season with this year’s brew featuring our black tea blend and two Noble hops: Hallertau Tradition and for the first time ever Spalt select hops for a malty, herbal, spicy salute to the season.

Eastern Market Brewing - NA Märzen

Eastern Market Brewing: This is a ready-to-serve non-alcoholic cocktail perfect for all sipping occasions. Voted Best NA Cocktail by the L.A. Spirit Awards 2023, Lacewing is fresh and herbaceous with aromatic cucumber, basil, and lychee built on a juniper berry base. Szechuan adds a unique mouthfeel and cayenne delivers a light bite at the finish. 

Available in Michigan.

Atmos Brewing Co. - Oktoberfest! Non-Alcoholic Märzen

Atmos Brewing Co.: A traditional Marzen Lager for fall! A solid body with noticeable malt and lingering caramel sweetness brewed in the traditional Oktoberfest style.  This year in 12oz cans!

Bravus Brewing Co. - Oktoberfest

Bravus Brewing Co.: Let your fest commence with the Bravus non-alcoholic Oktoberfest. This copper hued ale has flavors of honey, caramel and graham cracker, followed by a slight hint of spice and hop bitterness on the finish. Prost!

Uncool Brewing - Pretzel Prost

Uncool Brewing: PROST! Pretzel and real mustard come together for a savory, seasonal addition to our Bake Shop series.

Rescue Club Brewing - Oktoberfest

Rescue Club Brewing: Our iconic Märzen Lager brings everything you love about this seasonal beer without the ABV. The long lagering of German malts and hops makes this non-alcoholic Märsen the ultimate crowd favorite. Rescue Club Oktoberfest is back baby!

Available in VT, NY, NH, MA, NJ and RI.

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