NAN

Non-alcoholic News my Nan would approve of!

• 🍺 BEER: An NA version of Two Roads Brewing Company’s flagship beer has just been announced; look out for Road To Ruin Zero Non-Alc IPA. (Link) 🇺🇸

• 🍷 WINE: Big Red is the new non-alc red from Proxies. (Link) 🇺🇸

• 🍺 BEER: Tropical Sour is the last in Athletic Brewing’s Fruit Stand Series. (Link) 🇺🇸

• 🍺 BEER: It’s coming up to Oktoberfest and Go Brewing are out of the gates early with Damn Good Oktoberfest. (Link) 🇺🇸

• 🍺 BEER: Visitor have just launched their new Extra IPA. (Link)

• 🍺 BEER: Hong Kong’s Breer has launched its first NA Beer—the Cocktail Bun Pale Ale. (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.

OOSO SPARKLING TEA - GML & HGC

• Brooklyn, NY

• Calories: GML - 45, HGC - 40

• Sugar: GML - 8g, HGC - 7g

• Serving: 8 fl.oz.

• ABV: 0%

• Buy: drinkooso.com • available online at multiple store • check your local NA bottle shops

• Price: $39.99 (8-pack)

The ModSub thoughts: Brooklyn-based Ollie Spring and Sophie Racciatti are the latest in a growing community of New York founders starting non-alcoholic beverage companies. The couple launched OOSO Sparkling Teas just three months ago, and the drink, inspired by wine, is already making waves across the country.

OOSO debuted two SKUs in May: Green Tea • Mint • Lime (GML) and Hibiscus • Ginger • Currant (HGC), in groovy single-serve cans adorned with a nifty Bauhaus movement-inspired design. Each drink starts with a tea base to which natural organic ingredients, adaptogens and vitamins are added to create a delicious wine alternative.

The Green Tea • Mint • Lime is the couple's reinterpretation of a white wine, though its flavor profile leaves any grape-like resemblance in the rearview mirror. Instead, it’s replaced with the herbaceous and woody flavor of fermented green tea, while mint and lime surf around your mouth on a wave of carbonation. This is a fun drink. The tea really gives it some depth, and the rest of the ingredients are the perfect complement.

I’m not going to lie; the Hibiscus • Ginger • Currant combination tickles my fancy. On the nose, the ginger is quite prominent, but as you take your first sip, it takes much more of a back seat. What comes to the forefront is the juiciness of the hibiscus mixed with the currant, the tartness from both softened by the organic honey.

The inspiration for this one was, unsurprisingly, red wine. Of the two, this one gets a little closer to the real thing, if indeed that’s what you need it to do. However, it’s a pretty magical alternative, especially given the addition of passionflower. It not only helps to reduce anxiety, but also adds a deep floral taste on the exit as it vies for the last bit of attention with the spice and earthiness of the ginger.

Hibiscus • Ginger • Currant for the win, but both deserve a spot on the podium. Yea, got my Olympics reference in there!

How OOSO describes GML and HGC: The best of both worlds. The delicate and herbal notes of green tea set the foundation for GML, while the zingy mint and zesty lime add the perfect pop of brightness. Our HGC is grounded by a rich, floral hibiscus and highlighted by the warm, lingering kick of ginger and the sweet-tart burst of currant.

Learn more about OOSO Sparkling Tea at drinkooso.com

NOWHERE FOODS

• Seattle, WA

• Calories: Tidal Break (80), Alpenglow (70), Ridgeline (70 )

• Sugar: Tidal Break (15), Alpenglow (13), Ridgeline (13)

• Serving: 12 fl.oz.

• ABV: 0%

• Buy: nowherefoods.com • store locator • multiple online options

• Price: $35.94 (6-pack)

The ModSub thoughts: Removing alcohol from my drinks menu left a void that has thankfully been filled with the wonderful drinks I write about every week. It has also left me somewhat obsessed with coffee. I won’t bore you with that journey, but it has become the first thing that pops into my head when the alarm goes off in the morning.

So, when I saw a post a few months back about Tidal Break, an RTD cocktail with the unusual combination of pear, coffee, and maple, I had to find out more. The cocktail is the fourth SKU from Seattle-based Nowhere Foods, which came onto the scene last year and has been gradually winning fans in restaurants, bars, and among consumers up and down the west coast and beyond.

Nowhere Foods takes pride in only using locally sourced ingredients from Oregon and Washington. Their mission is to create climate-friendly beverages from sustainably produced foods by partnering with regenerative farms—a management ideology focusing on improving soil health.

As admirable as the local sourcing undoubtedly is, it’s the combination of those ingredients that is truly intriguing. The aforementioned Tidal Break adds lavender bitters and almond extract to the coffee, maple syrup and Eastern Washington pears, resulting in an espresso martini-like cocktail tinged engagingly with fruity acidity.

Alpenglow blends apple cider with honey and three local hops to form a cider-IPA hybrid, with the taste of the honey most prominent, though its sweetness is overrun by the bitterness from the hops. It's really quite unusual, in a rather lovely way.

The Ridgeline was a very different take from last week’s Rosata but no less appealing, with the maple syrup parking its caramel nuttiness next to gingerbread cookie and a sprinkling of tart cherry to balance the sweetness. Inspired by an IG post from the company, I added a shot of The Pathfinder to the Ridgeline—a little Seattle on Seattle love, if you will—and it was a 10/10.

Nowhere Foods doesn’t take the easy route, whether that’s ensuring their ingredients come from sustainable sources or avoiding playing it safe with flavor combinations. Fortune favors the brave, right?

How Nowhere Foods describe Tidal Break: Floral and nutty, Tidal Break is our most complex. Subtle floral and smoky aromatics on the nose. Followed by a rich nutty body of regenerative coffee alongside fruity pear notes from Eastern Washington. With a complex maple finish. Most similar to a boulevardier or an espresso martini. Best served in a martini glass, garnish with lavender or a coffee bean.

How Nowhere Foods describe Alpenglow: Our latest release of Alpenglow features unique blend of three Washington Apples. We then complement it with a blend of Citra, Mosaic, and Cascade Hops. What you experience is a fantastic floral and aromatic nose from the hops, a unique juicy body, and refreshing finish. All the style of a N/A Dry Hopped Cider. Best served in a craft cider or pint glass.

How Nowhere Foods describe Ridgeline: Unique, complex, with the depth of a cocktail. Tart cherry from eastern Washington, followed by notes of candied ginger, with a smooth maple finish. Best served neat in a coupe glass with a maraschino cherry.

Learn more about Nowhere Foods at nowherefoods.com

NONNY BEER - CZECH PILSNER

• Vancouver, Canada

• Calories: 42

• Sugar: 0g

• Serving: 12 fl.oz.

• ABV: 0.5%

• Buy: us.nonny.beer • store locator • widely available online

• Price: $16.00 (4-pack)

The ModSub thoughts: It’s time to round out the first year of this newsletter with a thirst-quenching beer from one of my favorite Canadian breweries—Nonny Beer.

Also, this is going to be brief because a) I’ve already enthused profusely about how much I like Nonny Brewing and b) The ModSub charabanc is idling outside with the family staring accusatorily through the windows in an attempt to get me to hurry so we can leave for a week in the mountains.

So, to the Czech Pilsner: while there are quite a number of NA beers out there that can be deemed refreshing thirst-quenchers, this one is among a handful that rises to the top for me. Brewed with Saaz, one of the four Noble hops traditionally used to make Czech Pilsners for centuries, Nonny has produced a light, gently hopped lager, mildly bitter but with a characteristic bite.

I could drink these all day, and I fully intend to.

How Nonny Beer describes their Czech Pilsner: Ultra refreshing Czech Style Pilsner featuring Saaz hops. Finishes light, crisp, and slightly bitter.

Learn more about Nonny Beer at us.nonny.beer