Under the Cherry Blossom Moon

Wotcha!

Thanks to all of you who downloaded the NA Craft Beer Directory. The response to the project has been fantastic.

We’re especially grateful to Chris Clemons, aka Nonrocaholic, for this generous shout-out to his audience. If you’re not already following him, check Chris out for his thoughtful takes on non-alcoholic beers, cocktails, and drinks—and for his finger firmly on the pulse of New York State’s non-alcoholic scene.

Haven’t checked out the NA Craft Beer Directory yet? There are 300+ beers waiting for you right here.

As always — enjoy some great drinks this week.

Myles

In this week’s edition:

NAN
New NA Drink News

BEER
Rationale Brewing - Japanese Style Dry

FUNCTIONAL SPRITZ
OSIA - Ease Spritz

Read time: 4 minutes 27 seconds

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BEER: I wondered which brewery would be the first to make our 2026 Craft NA Beer Directory almost immediately out of date — and here we are! Santa Fe Brewing has launched its first NA beer: a non-alcoholic Pilsner. (Link)

BITTERS: Super stoked to hear Bark & Bitter has launched the brand-new Boker’s Best Cardamom Bitters. (Link)

FUNCTIONAL WINE: Supposedly a first, Whirlwined has debuted a non-alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc infused with Delta-9 THC. (Link)

CIDER: Local cider superstars 2 Towns Ciderhouse expand their NA line-up with NA Guava Get Down. (Link)

BEER: More fabulous NA brews from Wisconsin — this time from Eagle Park Brewing, who’ve launched the Solid State beer line, consisting of four brand-new non-alcoholic beers. (Link)

BEER: Over in the UK, Sheffield’s Abbeydale Brewery gets into the NA beer game with Reverence Low Alcohol Pale Ale. (Link)

BEER

ModSub’s thoughts: Watching the College Football Final last night reminded me of the one bright spot from the semi-final the week before. As a Ducks fan, it was not the best of evenings by any means, but kudos to the Hoosiers. The best team won on the night, and they deserved to walk away with the silverware against Miami a week later.

That bright spot? Cracking open the first of three Japanese Style Dry beers from Rationale Brewing. Initially launched last year as part of the new Maverick Series, this Japanese lager was initially added to the brewery’s variety packs. Presumably, the feedback was so positive that the beer was elevated to its own standalone six-pack offering, resplendently adorned in a pink-and-black case that doesn’t have to try too hard to jump out at you from the shelves.

Like many popular Japanese lagers, Rationale’s is brewed with rice, lightening the body and boosting the karakuchi (dryness) while adding a snappy, sharp finish. The rice joins Pilsner malts and Saphir hops, the latter providing a mild, restrained bitterness. The pièce de résistance, though, is the addition of organic cherry blossom, which lends the beer just a hint of floral and fruit. It’s just enough to turn your head in admiration and gives this crisp lager an edge over the competition. Subtlety is Japanese Style Dry’s greatest strength and boy is this a quiet giant of a beer.

I have a whole host of new beers to review now that the NA Craft Beer Directory is complete, and this was a fabulous one to help kick off the year.

How Rationale describes Japanese Style Dry: Japanese Style Dry is a crisp, dry lager brewed with rice and pilsner malts. Subtle notes of cherry blossom with a touch of grain, and a pop of hop character from a Saphir hop addition to add a floral and fruity complement.

FUNCTIONAL SPRITZ

ModSub’s thoughts: Colorado seems to be a hotbed of non-alcoholic drink activity right now. Between breweries adding NA beers to their line-ups for the first time or expanding existing ranges, CBD-infused spirits and RTDs, and Delta-9-infused hop waters—there’s no shortage of great drinks coming out of the Centennial State.

OSIA is another brand to keep your eye on. The fledgling beverage company derives its name from ambrosia, the food and drink of the gods, believed in Greek mythology to bestow youth and vitality. For me, that word conjures memories of feeling crestfallen when served Ambrosia Creamy Rice Pudding as a child. Food of the gods it was not. Thankfully, OSIA’s four mood-enhancing drinks are nothing like those grim tins of rice pudding.

Each of OSIA’s drinks are designed to reflect a specific mood. Boost is for energy, Bliss for euphoria, Ease for relaxation and Passion for … well, you can figure that one out. All come in spritz form and contain a combination of botanicals, nootropics, adaptogens and various fruits designed to guide you toward the desired feeling. While flavor is obviously important, OSIA suggests choosing your mood first and foremost, confident that the taste will not disappoint.

With time in short supply this week—and a desire to really experience each drink—I’m going to focus on Ease for now and revisit the other three at a later date. I’ll also admit that, contrary to instructions, I chose Ease based on the ingredient list. Tart cherry, lychee, pear, juniper and lemon balm? Yes, please.

Much like the feeling it hopes to deliver, Ease is full of complexity, with each ingredient revealing itself over the course of time—albeit just a few seconds seconds. Cherry and pear give way to lemon, which is then anchored by juniper. It’s a spritz you could easily write off as fizzy juice until you realize what’s unfolding on your taste buds. As such, it’s not one to rush, as you might just miss what makes Ease genuinely special.

As I finish this can of Ease, I do actually feel quite relaxed. That calm, however, is accompanied by a nagging urge to crack open the other flavors. Is there one called Patience?

How OSIA describes Ease Spritz: The perfect way to unwind and take the edge off. The Ease Spritz blends tart cherry, lychee and white pear with relaxing herbs like lemon balm and juniper berry. Step into a dreamy state of mind without the hangover the next day.

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