Twice in a Blue Moon

Plus Christmas bubbles and a Stand-Out Stout

Author

Myles Faulkner
January 06, 2024

Wotcha! Happy New Year and Happy Dry Jan if you are doing it this year.

Last week, I was incredibly honored to be included in Laura Silverman’s round-up of nonalcoholic beverage industry newsletters. Laura is one of the most significant and respected voices in the NA industry and her website Zero Proof Nation is the epicenter of the nonalcoholic drinks world. Way to start the year with a huge boost. Thank you, Laura!

DRY JAN: One more quick thing before we dive into this week’s drinks. I wrote this post, “Three Tips For Getting the Most Out of Dry January,” for The Water Project, a nonprofit providing reliable water projects to communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Please check them out and support them if you can.

You might find some helpful pointers in my post especially if you are just starting this NA journey. If you live in Portland, Oregon, you get your own special version. Feel free to forward!

 In this week’s edition: 

  • 📰 NAN - Nonalcoholic News my Nan would approve of!

  • 🍺 BEERS: Blue Moon - Belgian White Non-alcoholic

  • 🍷 WINE: Vinada - Crispy Chardonnay

  • 🍺 BEER: Go Brewing - Street Cred Nitro Bold

First time reading this? (Join here).

Enjoy!

Read time: 5 mins 32 secs

NAN

Non-Alcoholic News my Nan would approve of!

  • 🍺 BEER: Welcome to two new beers, a Golden and a Hazy IPA from Momentum Brewery. (link)

  • 🍷 WINE: German NA wine producer Kolonne Null has launched Cuvée Blanc No.01 Sparkling - Magnum which is available at Boisson. (link)

  • 🍺 BEER: Another new one for this month is Paulaner’s Weizen-Radler 0.0%. (link)

  • 🇮🇹 AMARO: I’m particularly excited by the U.S. launch of Amaro Zero from Lucano. (link)

  • 🍷 WINE: Wine Down is the latest herbal tincture from Apothékary. (link)

  • 🍹 COCKTAIL: Last but not least, Free AF have released a Cucumber G&T. (link)

ON THE BAR

NA beer, NA wine

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.

NA Beer

BLUE MOON - BELGIUM WHITE

NON-ALCOHOLIC

*As of the time of publishing, Blue Moon has not updated their website with details of the beer. 🤷🏼‍♂️ There is a good ad for it on the home page though!!

The ModSub thoughts: The story goes that Blue Moon Belgium White was originally named Bellyside Wit until someone amongst the beer's legions of fans in the basement of Coors Field exclaimed, “A beer this good only comes around once in a blue moon,” and the rest, as they say … well, you know.

Once in a blue moon? Well, now twice. To say that Blue Moon Non-Alcoholic Belgian White has knocked it out of the park with this NA version of their flagship beer is an understatement of the tallest order.

I know I can get enthusiastic about these drinks, but holy heck, this is about as close to NA beer perfection as I think it’s possible to get. And I’m not really even a huge fan of Belgian-style beers.

But this. This, is something else. Beautifully smooth, a perfect balance of spice (coriander) and citrus (Valencia orange peel), a little malty at the backend, and just a hint of bitterness on the way out. Some may find it a little sweet, but hey, there’s always a little room for some sweetness in our lives.

I don’t give any of these drinks a rating, as I’ve always said this is a newsletter that recommends drinks, not reviews them. But I’ll make an exception for this. 10/10.

How Blue Moon describes Belgian White Non-Alcoholic: No description on the brewery’s website at the time of publishing.

Learn more about Blue Moon Brewing Company at bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

NA Wine

VINADA - CRISPY CHARDONNAY

The ModSub thoughts: The holidays are a time for many things, but popping a cork on some bubbles is definitely high up on the list for me. After savoring a selection of sparkling wines and Champagne alternatives over the last couple of weeks, I'm eager to share my discoveries with you in the upcoming editions.

First up is the Crispy Chardonnay from Vinada. Like many of her peers in the NA beverage world, Jessica van Spaendonck - van der Kist, inspired by the dearth of satisfying nonalcoholic wine options, took matters into her own hands and decided to make her own.

Six years on, her three wines—Amazing Airen Gold, Tinteling Tempranillo Rose, and the lovely Crispy Chardonnay I enjoyed with Christmas Eve dinner—have amassed over 20 awards and are available in 32 countries.

Crafted from grapes sourced in Languedoc, France, the Crispy Chardonnay perfectly complemented the shrimp and rocket linguine that Mrs. ModSub whipped up for us. 

It's pleasantly dry, medium-bodied, with a subtle crispness, and little of the heavy oaky flavour that I have experienced with a lot of Chardonnays in the beforetimes. Less buttery, more fruity—this one's a winner for both the palate and the pocketbook. I'm already eyeing some tempting cocktail recipes on Vinada's website. Uitstekend!

How Vinada describes Crispy Chardonnay: Experience the charm of our Premium French Chardonnay, a delightful vegan gem that offers a finely balanced flavor. This sparkling wine shines with crisp, fresh notes of apple, melon, and a touch of citrus on the palate. Sourced from the prestigious Languedoc region in France, it's a unique blend of Chardonnay grapes that gives you a low-calorie, yet full-flavored and stylish drink.

Learn more about Vinada at vinadawines.com

NA Beer

GO BREWING - STREET CRED NITRO BOLD

  • Naperville, IL

  • Calories: 60

  • Serving: 12 fl.oz.

  • ABV: <0.5%

  • Buy: gobrewing.com • store locator • widely available at online stores

  • Price: $13.99 (6-pack)

The ModSub thoughts: Anyone who has been following my posts in recent months knows I'm a big fan of dark beers, especially during this time of year. Equally, I'm enthusiastic about Go Brewing. So, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Street Cred Nitro Bold, a delightful stout from the brewery's core product line.

The addition of nitro to the Street Cred recipe sets it apart from other stouts I've tried in the nonalcoholic category. The immediate comparison might be Guinness 0, but while Street Cred is smooth, it doesn't reach the velvety smoothness of Guinness. It falls somewhere between that and a regularly carbonated stout.

In fact, it reminds me a bit of cask beer or, more precisely, the Original Guinness my grandad used to drink from the bottle, as opposed to the more popular Draught Guinness widely available today.

Street Cred is not as thick as some stouts, but don't mistake that for a thinly veiled accusation of being watery—it most certainly is not. Flavor-wise, we're talking chocolate, caramel, robust coffee notes, maltiness, and a fair amount of bitterness. A complex array of flavors, but nothing to shy away from.

A big thumbs up from me. Definitely one to look out for if you're a fan of dark brews. I'd love to see a cask of this appear at my local one day. I might have to relocate to Illinois, though.

How Go Brewing describes their Street Cred Nitro Bold: We can be dark, but we can also be sweet. Our contradictions make us stronger. This dark brew is more than the sum of its parts - and better because of them.

Learn more about Go Brewing at gobrewing.com

Previously on The ModSub from Go Brewing: New School Sour

Did You Miss The Last Newsletter?

Fairytale in Dublin: Christmas Eve and The Black Stuff

The week's nonalcoholic drink recommendation: Just one this week. For a good reason. Guiness 0.

www.themodernsubstitute.com/p/fairytale-in-dublin

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