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Two Pints of Your Finest Ale, Please
Plus a boat load of new NA drinks to tell you about

MODSUB#69

Wotcha!
It dawned on me as I sat down to write this week’s newsletter: I’ve spent four decades drinking beer at pubs and bars without ever truly understanding what distinguishes one beer style from another.
How does an IPA become a double IPA?
A Pilsner and a Kölsch look pretty similar to me. So what’s the difference?
Let’s find out.
Cheers,
Myles
P.S. If you are interested in non-alc wine and the alternatives out there, check out the webinar hosted by Dry Atlas next week. There’s some top notch guests and I’m excited to hear what they have to say on the future of the category. See you on there? (details below)

In this week’s edition:
NAN
New NA Drink News
BEER
Go Brewing - The Story Double IPA
BEER
RationAle Brewing - Kölsch Style
Read time: 6 minutes 05 seconds

From our friends at Dry Atlas:
Wine: No Longer the Default Pairing Option?
Thursday, January 23, 10 AM EST
Join an insightful panel discussion bringing together sommeliers and trailblazing producers of non-alcoholic specialty beverages and dealcoholized wines.
This conversation will explore the shift away from wine as the default pairing in fine dining, highlighting the rise of innovative alternatives that enhance flavor experiences—without the effects of alcohol.

NAN
New NA Drink News

NORTH AMERICA
• HOP WATER: Hop Twist is a new citrusy, tropical hop water from Partake Brewing. (Link)
• WINE: Californian winery Josh Cellars have entered the NA wine market with their Non-Alcoholic Sparkling made over in Italy. (Link)
• WINE: Also from the Golden State, Bouchaine Vineyards have just announced the release of their Non-Alcoholic Estate Rosé. (Link)
• COCKTAILS: Over to Minnesota and Lift Bridge Brewing Co., have recently debuted a quartet of new NA cocktails in the form of a Negroni Spritz, a Margarita, a Moscow Mule and a Blackberry Tonic. (Link)
• BEER: Heading west to Montana, Imagine Nation Brewing have a new American Pils out—Above The Clouds. (Link)
• HOP WATER: Another new limited release from the busy folks over at Hoplark. The new one is The Lightest Light One. Think Mexican lager, then think lighter. (Link)

• BEER: Talking of folks that are busy, Go Brewing have teamed up with Hop Butcher For The World to produce a new limited release, Love Letter to Hops. (Link)
• FUNCTIONAL BEER: Also from Go Brewing: the brewery have created a new brand, Easy Man—a line of functional beers. First up is Golden Pale, with 3.5 mg of THC and CBD, with more beers to come. (Link)
• BEER: How lucky are the folks over in Maine? Woodland Farms Brewery have announced a collaboration with Swift River Coffee to produce TWO coffee stouts! Coffee Stout and Swift Dark NA are available in various spots around the state. (Link)
• COCKTAILS: Last up for this week, Brewt’s have a non-carbonated virgin margarita, Re-Marg, in five different flavors. (Link)

BEER

Origin: Illinois | Serving: 12 fl.oz. |
ModSub: Sometimes, you hear about a new limited-run NA drink, and it stays with you all week. I’ve thought about Go Brewing’s Mañana Banana Pancake Stout three or four times a day since reporting on its launch last week. I’m not sure why. Probably because I love stouts and pretty much anything banana-related—from the Banana Splits TV show of my childhood to the banana-flavored protein shakes of my middle age.
Despite knowing it was released as part of the brewery’s beer club, with next to zero chance of finding it in a store, I still headed down to my local NA bottle shop—John’s Marketplace—just to fuel my disappointment. What I did find there, though, proving to be more than a worthy consolation prize, was the brewery’s The Story Double IPA.
If you’re unfamiliar with Double IPAs (as I was), here’s a very quick summary: Double IPAs, also known as Imperial IPAs, are basically IPAs with extra layers of hops and malt. Sounds simple, but apparently, they’re extraordinarily tricky to brew, as the ingredients can easily throw off the balance.

Most regular IPAs have an ABV of 5.5–7.5% and an International Bitterness Units (IBU) of 40–70. A Double IPA is significantly stronger on both counts—boasting an ABV of 7.5–10% and an IBU ranging from 60–120. In other words, it packs a serious punch.
The result is an intensely hoppy and richly malty flavor. If this were a regular beer, it would be pretty strong. But since Go Brewing’s Double IPA is alcohol-free, how does it hold up?
Well the hops aren’t shy, I can tell you that. The aroma hits your nose the instant you crack open the can. The pour delivers a generous head, and even halfway through, the lacing is impressive. If you like a robust, flavorful IPA, this one’s for you. The ever-present hops are supported by a sturdy malt backbone, and the beer finishes with a long, lingering aftertaste—floral, subtly citrusy and fiercely bitter. That bitterness might still be hanging around by the time I write next week’s newsletter.
It’s simply a thing of beauty, and it’s not likely to let you forget it.
How does Go Brewing describe their The Story Double IPA: Bold. Complex. Unforgettable. When our Head Brewer, James, set out to create “The Story,” he wanted it to be more than just a Double IPA—it had to redefine what’s possible. Crafted with Simcoe, Mosaic and Citra hops, this brew bursts with vibrant grapefruit, tropical papaya and a subtle malty sweetness. Built on a foundation of robust barley malts, it pours golden with a perfect head and a clean, satisfying finish. Proof that bold flavor doesn’t need alcohol—just exceptional vision and craftsmanship.
Previously from Go Brewing: New School Sour and Sunshine State Tropical IPA


BEER

Origin: San Diego | Size: 12 fl.oz. |
ModSub: Much like the Double IPAs I mentioned in the previous piece, a pint of Kölsch has been a staple in my revolving repertoire of beer consumption for quite some time. So, it’s great to see more and more NA breweries adding this style to their product lines. However, a recent post from RationAle Brewing on the facts and myths surrounding this German beer made me realize I knew next to nothing about this style of beer.
As it turns out, Kölsch has quite a history. Its origins are firmly rooted in the German city of Cologne, where brewing beer has been a part of the culture for over 1,000 years. Having spent a few hours reading about the beer, I could easily write pages about the history of Kölsch, but that doesn’t fit within the confines of a five-minute newsletter. Besides, this video does a much better job of explaining it.

Still, here are three things I was surprised to learn about Kölsch:
It’s not a lager, despite its appearance. In fact, it’s a hybrid of an ale and a lager. It’s brewed using top fermentation (warm-fermented ale yeasts) and then cold-conditioned like a lager. While this might sound a bit technical—and it is—you can refer to the video mentioned above for a more detailed explanation.
Its production is strictly protected under EU law. Only breweries within Cologne’s Brewers Guild are permitted to produce true Kölsch. That hasn’t stopped numerous U.S. breweries from creating their own versions but that’s the law apparently.
Kölsch has its own unique serving tradition. If you’re ever in Cologne and visit a Kneipe (pub), your Kölsch will be served by waiters known as Köbes, who wear blue jackets. They dash around with trays full of Stangen—small 6-7 fl.oz. glasses of Kölsch. The Köbes will keep replacing your empty Stangen until you signal you’ve had enough by placing a beer mat on top of your glass.
If a trip to Cologne isn’t in your immediate travel plans, you can still enjoy this rare lovely beer thanks to RationAle Brewing. They’ve launched a Kölsch just a few weeks back, carefully adding the word “Style” to avoid raising the hackles of the Cologne Brewers Guild.
Did I mention how lovely it is? Well, it really is. Pale and straw-colored, as you’d expect from a lager, but with a full malt sweetness and hints of fruit that draw it closer to a pale ale. Sure, there’s a time for a stout, and there’s always room for an IPA, but this Kölsch is a beer for all occasions. One that would no more look out of place apres-ski than it would on a beach or a lake in the summer. Great stuff!
How does RationAle Brewing describe their Kölsch: This crisp and refreshing Kölsch, with subtle fruit, breadiness and spice, has a dry finish that keeps you coming back for more.

READS + LISTENS
Last Week’s Edition + Other Suggestions
Free resource for those of you who are at the beginning of your journey of exploring non-alc drinks but aren’t sure where to start.
Here’s a great interview with Laurel Harrop as she talks about her brand Busty Lush and does her absolute best not to spill the beans on all the exciting new things coming in 2025.
Last up is a fascinating interview with Murray Paterson, founder of Muri. If you are fan of wine alternatives or interetsed in the process of how these drinks are made, this was an interesting listen.

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