Reasons to be Cheerful, Parts 1-5

Favorite ModSub Moments in 2024

MODSUB#66

Wotcha!

I hope you are enjoying the holidays and spending quality time with family and friends.

This week, I wanted to revisit a few of my favorite moments from 2024. To be honest, it was hard to narrow down the list. But below are five of them.

Thank you so much for your support this year. It means the world to me you continue to read these emails each week.

Cheers,

Myles

P.S. Early next week, I’ll be sending an email with news of a project I‘ve been working that I’m excited to share with you. Keep an eye out for it!

In this week’s edition:

NAN
New NA Drink News

RE-CAP
Favorite ModSub Moments in 2024

Read time: 5 minutes 19 seconds

From our sponsor:

We’re thrilled to partner with Mindful Drinking Fest, the largest mindful drinking festival in the U.S., happening Jan. 10–12, 2025, in D.C.’s Union Market District. Celebrate wellness, inclusivity, and innovative beverages with us! Use our code MINDFUL35 for 35% off tickets.

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

NAN
New NA Drink News

NORTH AMERICA

• BEER: Milwaukee’s Broken Bat Brewing will debuting their first two non-alcoholic beers: the NA version of their flagship Pineapple Milkshake IPA and On An Island, a bohemian light lager can be enjoyed at their launch party on January 3. (Link)

• BEER: Also launching their first couple of NA brews: Border Brewing Company out of Kansas City have created a Baseline Amber and a Baseline Pale. (Link)

• TONIC: An “oh wow” slipped out of my mouth when I read about this new Plum Pomelo & Cardamom Social Tonic from Luck Frog Beverages up in Western New York State. (Link)

ONE

At the beginning of the year, Mrs. ModSub and I headed to D.C. for our first visit to the Mindful Drinking Fest. Over three days, we sampled more than 100 non-alcoholic drinks, listened to keynote speakers and panelists from across the industry, and enjoyed happy hour cocktails crafted by some of the top mixologists in the game.

At the time, I was less than six months into writing this newsletter. While I had heard of numerous drinks, I hadn’t had easy access to try them. Having over 40 beverage vendors gathered in one hall felt like stepping into Wonka’s chocolate factory. Read more.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend this year’s event. To make up for my disappointment, though, it’s already penciled into my 2026 calendar. But if you can go, you absolutely should.

Before Christmas, Derek Brown, author of Mindful Mixology and founder of the event, reached out to offer ModSub readers a 35% discount on tickets for this year’s fest. If you’ve ever wanted to sample 120+ beers, wines, spirits, and cocktails; connect with founders, store owners, and mixologists; and mingle with hundreds of curious, like-minded people, then treat yourself. I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Mindful Drinking Fest
Union Market - Washington D.C.
January 10-12, 2025

Get your tickets here and use the code: MINDFUL35

TWO

This year, I’ve been fortunate enough to try dozens of non-alcoholic beers, ranging from outstanding to, well—let’s just say, room for improvement. Overall, the quality of non-alcoholic beer being produced today is incredibly impressive and only continues to improve.

One that truly stood out to me was an IPA from back home in England. Walking into a remote country pub in the West Country and being served a pint of draught NA IPA straight from the tap was a highlight of my year.

The Goram IPA Zero from Butcombe Brewing Company is one of the best beers I’ve ever tasted. It’s absolutely worth seeking out if you ever find yourself in that part of the world.

More than just a spectacular beer, this experience marked a significant moment in my alcohol-free journey. I felt an overwhelming sense of inclusion as I was served that beer—without it being treated as anything out of the ordinary.

While there’s still work to do in leveling up this nascent beverage industry to match what we’ve always been used to, we’ve already come some distance.

First time reading The Modern Substitute? Why not subscribe?

THREE

Until May this year, I had never been to a bottle shop that exclusively stocked non-alcoholic drinks. A year before that, I’m not even sure I knew such places existed—and truthfully, only a handful did.

While new ones are steadily opening across the country, they’re still the exception rather than the rule. If you come across one, you’re likely to meet owners or managers who are both knowledgeable and passionate about the products they stock. They’re a wealth of information and can help guide you to drinks that suit your preferences.

In the last seven months, I’ve been fortunate to visit Club Soda in London, The New Bar in Los Angeles, Spirited Away in New York and Cheeky & Dry in Seattle. These visits have been some of the highlights of my year. If these drinks excite you as much as they do me, a visit to one of these stores will bring you equal parts joy and frustration: joy from the vast selection of drinks at your fingertips, and frustration because you’ll likely want to buy them all!

FOUR

Forgive me for the self-congratulory inclusion of this one. Back in September, I reached the milestone of 1,000 days—or the Comma Club, as some call it (yes I forgot to include a comma on that day). To celebrate, I wrote a short piece dedicated to the people I’m most grateful for, who helped me get there.

What was truly inspiring were all the comments from others on their own journeys, sharing their own “number of days.” It meant a lot.

FIVE

As we wrap things up so you can get on with your weekend, it would be remiss not to mention the drinks themselves.

In the 47 newsletters I sent out this year, I highlighted 159 different drink recommendations and reported on 320+ new drink launches in the NA space.

And yet, I feel I’ve barely scratched the surface.

To close out the year, here are three drinks Mrs. ModSub and I have been enjoying this festive season.

Wilderton Aperitivo Company - Citrus Aperitivo

• Wilderton Aperitivo Company’s Citrus Aperitivo: While the oven worked overtime on various holiday dishes, we tried the Wilderton Winter Spritz recipe shared by Stephanie Eads-Paul. A bittersweet festive flourish for the senses, and one to keep up your sleeve when you want to impress guests.

Look for an expanded feature on Citrus Aperitivo next month.

NON - No. 2

• Dinner was accompanied by NON No. 2, a wine alternative from Australia. I had been eager to try NON for months, and the anticipation was at its peak by the time I opened the bottle. I need only list the ingredients to give you a sense of how insanely delicious it was: whole pears, kombu, ginger, cardamom, peppercorn, star anise, black tea, agave, clove, vanilla, olive brine and verjus. Swoon.

De Soi - St. Moritz Mule

• On Boxing Day, with a wood fire roaring in the background and Maria on the TV, we sipped De Soi’s new St. Moritz Mule. This latest addition to Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan’s range of adaptogenic apéritifs brings together the best of winter ingredients. Tart cranberry and sweet pomegranate are layered over a burst of spicy ginger and rounded out with piney woodiness of rosemary. They absolutely nailed it with this one.

And with that, Happy New Year to you.

Myles

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