Swimming in Seaweed Spirits

MODSUB#92

Wotcha!

The ModSub family is close to wrapping up their summer road trip through California and I have some fun drinks, people and places to share with you in a future issue.

Found any new drinks on YOUR travels recently? I’d love to hear about them.

In the meantime, here are a couple of favorites from the archives. Enjoy some great drinks this week.

Cheers, Myles

In this week’s edition:

NAN
New NA Drink News

SPIRITS
Parenthesis - Before and After

BEER
Momentum Brewery - Golden

Read time: 5 minutes 37 seconds

NAN
New Non-Alcoholic Drink News

NORTH AMERICA

• BEER: Still looking for a refreshing citrus brew for the summer? Partake might just have what you need with their new limited edition Lime Goserita. (Link)

• SPIRITS: Breckenridge Distillery have launched a new sister company, Mock One, debuting four new non-alcoholic spirits. (Link)

• SPIRITS: Journeyman Distillery, straddling Michigan and Indiana, has just released its first non-alcoholic spirit: Zero Proof Field Gin. (Link)

• FUNCTIONAL SPIRIT: This one could be a big hit this summer—Cann have launched a low-dose THC Spritz. (Link) 

WORLDWIDE

• SPIRITS: Mother Root, based in the UK, is releasing a new limited-edition aperitif: Rhubarb launches this week. (Link)

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SPIRITS

The ModSub thoughts: One of the busiest people in the non-alcoholic drinks scene is Tawny Lara. She’s the author of Dry Humping and the newsletter Beyond Liquid Courage, co-author of The Sobriety Deck, and co-host of the Recovery Rocks podcast.

Somehow, she’s found time between writing and podcasting to launch (parentheses), a vinegar-based botanical spirit company. Her partner in this venture is her husband, Nick Mechak, a sommelier and the owner of the artisanal cooking vinegar company Sour Humanoid.

As a former whiskey drinker, Tawny found nothing on the adult non-alcoholic market packed the same punch she was used to. Together with Nick, she set out to create something that filled that void. Drawing on Nick’s experience building his vinegar business, the two began experimenting.

Of course, there’s no shortage of drinking vinegars—also known as shrubs—already out there. Many are made with apple cider vinegar, fruit and sugar, resulting in a drink that tempers sour and tart notes with sweetness to appeal to a broad audience. They have their place—I’m personally a big fan—but that’s not what (parentheses) was aiming for.

They focused on traditional herbal medicine, using kelp vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar to strengthen the base flavor. Botanicals were grouped and infused, and additional natural flavors were introduced to create balance.

What the couple created is a bold sipping spirit with layers of flavor that reveal themselves gradually, coating the taste buds and lingering before fading with as much presence as they arrived. It’s as complex as it is punchy—and boy, is it punchy.

That’s how it is neat (see below). But much like any quality spirit, it shines on the rocks but arguably blossoms even more as the base for a cocktail. The recipes from Third Place Bar are outstanding, each one highlighting different characteristics of the spirit.

Let’s have check them out.

BEFORE

Neat: Floral on the way in, bitter on the way out with a gentle burn in the throat as it goes down. Grapefruit, herbal and peppery.

With Novara: Tones down the sourness from the vinegar, adds a little sweetness while increasing the bitterness and herbiness. Less of a peppery exit too. This was absolutely lovely.

Breakfast Sour: The orange from the marmalade is emboldened by the vinegar with the botanicals taking more of a back seat. The sichuan pepper is last to leave and mixed with vinegar aftertaste, it’s a delightfully breathy exit. Impressive is an understatement.

How does (parentheses) describe Before: Take a deep breath and enjoy this botanical beverage. The herbs in this drink have been traditionally used to stimulate the senses or prepare one's palate for a meal. Enjoy neat, with your favorite tincture, over ice, with a splash of soda, or in a cocktail. Great with salty snacks, fried appetizers, mild cheese, and more. Sip slowly and mindfully.

AFTER

Neat: There’s a real woody earthiness to the elevated sourness. It brings to mind the peat of some whiskeys. Not because it is trying to mimic the flavor but it will likely cause similar division. You’ll either love or you won’t.

Honey Spritz: For me, adding After to this cocktail was the highlight of the entire (parentheses) journey. The mix of honey syrup and citrus (I confess adding a grapefruit twist) with the botanicals, orange bitters and just a hint of the vinegar, resulted in one of the best cocktails I have had this year. Fantastic!

How does (parentheses) describe After: Unwind from the grind with this botanical beverage. The herbs in this drink have been traditionally used to calm the nerves and aid digestion. Enjoy neat, with your favorite tincture, over ice, with a splash of soda, or in a cocktail. Great with dark chocolate, roasted nuts, strong cheese and more. Sip slowly and mindfully.

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BEER

The ModSub thoughts: From an idea that most in the beverage industry initially dismissed, to the release of a series of standout non-alcoholic beers, it has been a long journey for Lars Dalhaus and Momentum Brewery.

His extensive background in both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage industries is impressive—not least for launching Proof No More in 2021, an online retailer for all categories of non-alcoholic drinks and a regional distributor to local bars and restaurants.

Teaming up with longtime friend and beverage industry colleague Wolfgang Menzel, the pair brought on board Alexander Himberg, a world-renowned German brewmaster, to help formulate the beers for their new venture. The trio then partnered with Great South Bay Brewery in New Jersey, where the beer is currently brewed.

Rather than de-alcoholizing the beer, Momentum uses an innovative brewing process that prevents alcohol from forming in the first place. The process takes two weeks—one in the tank and one for maturation—and the alcohol level never exceeds 0.4% ABV.

Lars describes the Golden as a pale ale that edges toward an IPA, paying homage to classic West Coast IPAs. It’s a well-balanced citrus-forward brew made with Mosaic, Simcoe and Amarillo hops, delivering just the right amount of mild bitterness to leave you thoroughly refreshed. Another excellent beer to add to your list as the days grow longer and hotter.

How does Momentum describe their Golden: Our NA GOLDEN "Pale Ale" Style NA-Beer is your perfect rewarding sip after a work out or other recreational activity. Brewed to quench your thirst for a beer without giving you a buzz. All the flavors of a Pale Ale, we brewed MOMENTUM GOLDEN to shine bright, smell hoppy and drink crispy smooth.

COMMENTS
Share Your Thoughts

Let’s get the conversation going. Hit REPLY to share your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.

Here are some suggestions:

1. What’s the boldest non-alcoholic spirit you have tasted?

2. What’s the wildest ingredient you have seen used in an NA cocktail?

3. Have a road trip planned this summer and want some suggestions for non-alc drinks to look out for?

Have your own questions? Let me know. Hit REPLY.

READS
Last Week’s Edition