NAN

Non-Alcoholic News my Nan would approve of!

• 🍺 BEER: Vancouver based Strange Fellows Brewing have just released a new NEVERtheLESS Non-alcoholic IPA, adding to last year’s debut NA Pale Ale. (link)

• 📖 READ: As I’m learning more about functional drinks, I came across an interesting article (via Curious Elixirs) that gives an overview of adaptogens. (link)

• 🍷 WINE: Australian pop-star Kylie Minogue is launching her 0% Sparkling Rosé in U.S. (link)

• 🥃 SPIRITS: Scottish spirits producer, Spirits of Virtue, will have all 19 of their 0.0% proof spirits available in the U.S. (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.

MONDAY - ZERO ALCOHOL GIN

• Carlsbad, CA

• Calories: 0

• Serving: 25.4 fl.oz (1.5 fl.oz per individual serving)

• ABV: 0%

• Buy: drinkmonday.co • store locator • widely available online

• Price: $40

The ModSub thoughts: One of the drinks I’m most asked about when the conversation turns toward nonalcoholic options is gin. The quest to find a good gin alternative is a well-travelled road and opinions are strong, to say the least.

In the past year, I've explored several brands, each offering a different experience. Some have successfully replicated the classic gin and tonic, while others have fallen short, leaving me questioning their gin-like qualities. One particular brand from England caught my attention, though it remains elusive in the States. This one came along and turned my head even though it wasn’t selling itself as a gin.

As the search went on, I kept seeing snippets of consumer reviews, singing the praises of Monday Zero Alcohol Gin. So last week I bought one and you know what? It’s pretty flipping brilliant. 

The idea for Monday traces back to a Sunday epiphany, as co-founder Chris Boyd contemplated the need for enjoyable beverages without the accompanying drawbacks for the following day. Partnering with Ben Alcott, they collaborated with a Los Angeles distillery to develop a nonalcoholic gin that truly captured the essence of its alcoholic counterpart. With a successful Kickstarter campaign and a meticulously crafted recipe, Monday Gin was born.

Upon uncorking the bottle, you can’t escape the bold juniper aroma just like a traditional gin. Unlike many nonalcoholic spirits, Monday Zero Alcoholic Gin holds its own when sipped neat. Floral notes intermingle with a subtle peppery essence, mimicking the characteristic kick of alcohol, followed by a refreshing citrus finish. I experimented with two cocktails from Monday's recipe collection, The O.G. and the Cos-Whoa Cosmopolitan, both of which showcased the versatility and depth of flavor of Monday Gin. This is not a gin that gets lost in a cocktail like so many of its peers, nor does it overwhelm it.

Monday Zero Alcohol Gin goes to the top of the gin charts for me and while I’ll continue to explore new options, I’m excited to have found one that is as near to the real thing as it gets. Bravo! 

How does Monday describes their Zero Alcohol Gin: The nose is bold and juniper forward in classic London Dry fashion. On the palate, strong juniper throughout is accompanied by notes of bitter lemon, grapefruit with a hint of coriander. Finishes long with complexity and heat that develops over time.

Learn more about Monday at drinkmonday.co

JØYUS - SPARKLING WINE

• Seattle, WA

• Calories: 30

• Serving: 25.4 fl.oz (8 fl.oz per individual serving)

• ABV: 0.5%

• Buy: drinkjoyus.com • store locator • widely available online

• Price: $26.99

The ModSub thoughts: In the lead-up to holidays, it was intriguing to observe the many of social media posts highlighting one of the significant challenges people face during December, and indeed the rest of the year. It's the same hurdle that anyone choosing to be sober or sober-curious encounters all too frequently.

Trying to navigate social events without drawing attention and the inevitable accompanying questions can be daunting. For someone like me, it gives me a chance to unabashedly bang on about how many amazing NA drinks there are out there. For others, it puts them in the uncomfortable position of having to explain themselves. It goes without saying that the insensitivity surrounding the whole topic is something we all need to improve upon.

Jessica Selander is one such individual who grew weary of being put in these situations and decided to take matters into her own hands. She set out to create premium wines that made individuals feel special, enabling them to be part of the crowd rather than standing on the periphery of social events.

It took her seven years of research and development to introduce her wine to the world. Like Ted Fleming at Partake, she faced considerable industry backlash from those who scoffed at the idea of NA wine. Launched in 2021, JØYUS debuted two wines, the sparkling white and sparkling rose, quickly accumulating unprecedented awards at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. For some perspective, there were 3,000 entries from 31 countries.

The Sparkling Wine is truly exceptional. It’s a crisp first sip, with notes of apples and pears dancing on the palate and a balanced acidity that leaves you with the delightful aftertaste characteristic of a white wine. The carbonation hits just the right note, neither overly intense nor lacking the liveliness one expects. Nope, it's simply perfect.

NA wines still have some ground to cover in winning over the same loyal audience as NA beer does. However, as that tide unquestionably turns, it's exciting for Jessica Selander and JØYUS to know they were there right at the beginning. Cheers to that.

How does JØYUS describe their Sparkling Wine: With notes of crisp green apple, fragrant fall pear and a ripe melon finish, these flavors do a delicious dance on your palate.

Learn more about JØYUS at drinkjoyus.com

ROAMING NOBLES BREWING CO. - IPA

• Portland, OR

• Calories: 46 (per 12 fl.oz. average analysis)

• Serving: 16 fl.oz

• ABV: 0.5%

• Buy: Oregon store locator

• Price: $12.49 (4-pack)

The ModSub thoughts: I have two rules for the drinks I write about in this newsletter. First, I only write about drinks that I like. I have no desire to add any more negative words to the world right now. Second, given that there are readers across the country, indeed the world, the drinks have to be available to purchase—at the very least directly from the beverage company. But I’m making an exception because I’m such a huge fan of this brewery.

Roaming Nobles Brewing Company is a Portland-based brewery started by Marla and Liam Hoban in 2021. After a stint living in Germany, they were inspired by their experience of visiting Gasthauses (pubs) where alcohol-free beer was almost always on the menu. What was even more intriguing to them was watching Germans interchange regular beers with NA beers as commonplace behavior. They were naturally pacing themselves but not skipping a beat when it came to enjoying the beer.

So on their return to Portland, they came up with the idea of starting Roaming Nobles, Oregon’s first nonalcoholic craft brewery, one that would create German-style beers as a nod to their experiences in Europe. After a year of experimenting and with the help of local brewers, they debuted an IPA. In two years since, they have added a pilsner to their flagship line, and two seasonals: Tropical Pilsner and Piney IPA.

If some of the IPAs on the market are a little too intense for you, then Roaming Nobles’ IPA is a beer you need to seek out. With the combination of centennial, amarillo and citra hops, an abundance of citrus notes intertwine with a medium hop character, leaving a gentle touch of bitterness and spice on the palate. It’s an all-season IPA, as refreshingly quaffable as it is complex and sippable. 

A blue-blooded beer that we can all enjoy and one that us Oregonians can be mighty proud of. 

Available in bottle shops, bars and restaurants in Portland, Bend, Medford, Eugene and Astoria.

How does Roaming Nobles describes their IPA: Featuring centennial, amarillo + citra hops. It is a lighter IPA with a full bodied flavor + citrus aroma.

Learn more about Roaming Nobles at roamingnobles.com